Iowa to South Carolina Moving Guide
Updated June 7, 2025

Planning a 1,086 mile interstate move from Iowa to South Carolina? This moving guide will help you compare living in Iowa vs South Carolina across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winter weather vs warmer climate), food & health (like Pork Tenderloin Sandwich vs Shrimp and Grits), real estate & housing (prairie school, ranch vs colonial, charleston single house), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in South Carolina), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Pork Tenderloin Sandwich and Corn-fed Beef, but get your taste buds ready for Shrimp and Grits & Lowcountry Boil
- South Carolina housing costs are 37% more expensive than they are in Iowa
- Rent in South Carolina is 52.95% more expensive than in Iowa
- Moving from Iowa to South Carolina will cost on average between $2,000 - $6,500
- Our top recommended Iowa to South Carolina movers is Adamantine Spine Moving
Iowa to South Carolina Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Iowa to South Carolina
- Harsh winter weather
- Limited coastal access
- Fewer cultural activities
- Flat landscapes
- Rural isolation
- Warmer climate
- Beautiful beaches
- Rich cultural scene
- Scenic mountains
- More lively cities
- Higher noise levels
- Higher housing costs
- More crowded areas
- More hustle and bustle
- Busier roads
- Quiet surroundings
- Low cost of living
- Community feel
- Simple lifestyle
- Less traffic
Pros of moving from Iowa to South Carolina
- Say goodbye to harsh winter weather and hello to a warmer climate
- Look forward to moving away from limited coastal access and moving to South Carolina with beautiful beaches
- Swap the fewer cultural activities of Iowa for a rich cultural scene in South Carolina
- Get ready for scenic mountains in South Carolina
Cons of moving from Iowa to South Carolina
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the quiet surroundings in Iowa to live with higher noise levels in South Carolina
- You'll lose out on the pro of a low cost of living and have to settle with the con of higher housing costs
- Time to bid farewell to a community feel and get used to more crowded areas in South Carolina
- Swap a simple lifestyle for more hustle and bustle
Iowa vs. South Carolina: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Iowa | South Carolina |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Pork Tenderloin Sandwich | Shrimp and Grits |
Most popular meat dish | Corn-fed Beef | Lowcountry Boil |
Most popular street food item | Fried on a Stick Varieties | Fried Green Tomatoes |
Most popular vegan food | Quinoa Salad | Okra Soup |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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Fitness/Health Conscientiousness | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ |
Abundance of Food Trucks | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Foodie Scene | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ |
Vegan Friendly | π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π± | π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π± |
If you're moving from Iowa to South Carolina, you will be trading the iconic Pork Tenderloin Sandwich of Iowa for the equally delicious Shrimp and Grits of South Carolina. And while the locals in Iowa rave about their flavorful Corn-fed Beef and sumptuous Fried on a Stick Varieties, South Carolina residents know they have tasty Lowcountry Boil and Fried Green Tomatoes to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Quinoa Salad they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Okra Soup of South Carolina. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Iowa eateries like Machine Shed, Zombie Burger, and The Great Plains Sauce and Dough Company. After the boxes are unpacked in South Carolina, don't wait too long before making your way to South Carolina's acclaimed eateries like Husk, Home Team BBQ, and Poogan's Porch.
When comparing lifestyles, South Carolina shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Iowa. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in South Carolina compared to what you are used to in Iowa. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in South Carolina.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Iowa and South Carolina
Comparison | Iowa | South Carolina |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Prairie School, Ranch | Colonial, Charleston Single House |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious yards, Quiet neighborhoods | Historic features, Proximity to beaches |
- The Prairie School and Ranch architecture that Iowa is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Charleston Single House architecture typical of South Carolina.
- Compared to Iowa's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious yards and quiet neighborhoods, South Carolina real estate listings often highlight features like historic characteristics and proximity to beaches.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; South Carolina is less walkable than Iowa.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; South Carolina is more bike-friendly than Iowa.
- South Carolina has more of an urban feel than Iowa.
- South Carolina housing costs are 37% more expensive than they are in Iowa, with a median home price of $293,893 compared to Iowaβs $214,151.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in South Carolina have increased by 58% compared to a 36% increase in Iowa.
- Rent in South Carolina is 52.95% more expensive than in Iowa.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Iowa and South Carolina
Comparison | Iowa | South Carolina |
---|---|---|
Days of Sunshine per Year | βοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈ | βοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈ |
Avg. Annual Humidity | π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦ | π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦ |
Avg. UV Index | πΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈ | πΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈ |
Natural Disasters | Tornadoes, Severe Snowstorms | Hurricanes, Flooding |
Air Quality | Good | Good to Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 82Β°F / 63Β°F | 91Β°F / 71Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 31Β°F / 14Β°F | 60Β°F / 38Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 36 | 49.8 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 32 | 2 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Iowa to South Carolina. South Carolina gets 6% more sunshine days than Iowa.
- South Carolina has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Iowa.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and severe snowstorms in Iowa, but be on the lookout for potential hurricanes and flooding in South Carolina.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in South Carolina is 9 degrees warmer than in Iowa.
- The average winter lows are 24 degrees warmer than they are in Iowa.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in South Carolina. South Carolina receives 13.8 more inches of rain compared to Iowa.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Iowa and South Carolina
Comparison | Iowa | South Carolina |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $69,588 | $64,115 |
Cost of Living Index | 95.9 | 96.85 |
State Income Tax | 3.9% | 0 - 7% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.5% | 0.5% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6% | 6% |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Manufacturing, Insurance | Tourism, Manufacturing, Agriculture |
Affluence | Moderate | Varied |
Poverty | Moderate | Higher |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in South Carolina tend to earn about 8% less than in Iowa
- The COLI in South Carolina will be 1% higher than what you are used to living in Iowa
- The state income tax in SC is 0 - 7% compared to 3.9% in IA
- The affluence in South Carolina is varied compared to moderate in Iowa
- The poverty level is higher in South Carolina compared to moderate in Iowa
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Iowa and moderate in South Carolina
Political and Religious Climate in Iowa vs. South Carolina
Comparison | Iowa | South Carolina |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Mixed; swings in national elections | Conservative, leaning Republican |
Local Politics | Varies widely between rural and urban areas | Strongly conservative, especially in rural areas |
Religion | Protestant, Catholic | Protestant, with a strong Evangelical presence |
- Iowa tends to lean mixed in its political climate
- South Carolina, on the other hand, is often described as conservative, leaning Republican
- South Carolina's religious environment can be described as Protestant, with a strong Evangelical presence
- Iowa's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as Protestant and Catholic
Education Guide When Moving from Iowa to South Carolina
Comparison | Iowa | South Carolina |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Iowa Iowa State University University of Northern Iowa | University of South Carolina Clemson University College of Charleston |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Wickham Elementary (Coralville) Lincoln Elementary (Mount Vernon) Shimek Elementary (Iowa City) | Buist Academy (Charleston) Mount Pleasant Academy (Mount Pleasant) Mitchell Road Elementary (Greenville) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Ames Middle School (Ames) Northwest Junior High (Coralville) North Central Junior High (North Liberty) | Thomas C. Cario Middle School (Mount Pleasant) Moultrie Middle School (Mount Pleasant) Riverside Middle School (Greer) |
Top 3 High Schools | West High School (Iowa City) Ames High School (Ames) Decorah High School (Decorah) | Academic Magnet High School (North Charleston) Charleston County School of the Arts (North Charleston) Wando High School (Mount Pleasant) |
Top 3 private high schools | Xavier High School (Cedar Rapids) Dowling Catholic High School (West Des Moines) Scattergood Friends School (West Branch) | Porter-Gaud School (Charleston) Hammond School (Columbia) Christ Church Episcopal School (Greenville) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Maharishi School (Fairfield) Cedar Valley Christian School (Cedar Rapids) Scattergood Friends School (West Branch) | Hilton Head Preparatory School (Hilton Head Island) Spartanburg Day School (Spartanburg) Hammond School (Columbia) |
Top 3 School Districts | Iowa City Community School District Ames Community School District Decorah Community School District | Greenville County School District Charleston County School District Lexington 1 School District |
How Much Do Iowa to South Carolina Movers Cost?
Moving 1,086 miles from Iowa to South Carolina will typically cost between $2,500 and $6,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,500 - $6,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-2 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Luxury Movers Moving Company, LLC
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,818 | 300 ft3 | $6.06 |
1 Bedroom | $2,705 | 450 ft3 | $6.01 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,470 | 750 ft3 | $5.96 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,502 | 1100 ft3 | $5.91 |
4 Bedrooms | $9,377 | 1600 ft3 | $5.86 |
5+ Bedrooms | $10,459 | 1800 ft3 | $5.81 |
Top Iowa to South Carolina Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Iowa to South Carolina movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Adamantine Spine Moving
Best moving company overall for Iowa to South Carolina