Kentucky to South Carolina Moving Guide
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Updated August 20, 2025
Planning a 427 mile interstate move from Kentucky to South Carolina? This moving guide will help you compare living in Kentucky vs South Carolina across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winters vs milder climate), food & health (like Fried Chicken vs Shrimp and Grits), real estate & housing (colonial, craftsman 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 Fried Chicken and Hot Brown, but get your taste buds ready for Shrimp and Grits & Pulled Pork BBQ
 - South Carolina housing costs are 46% more expensive than they are in Kentucky
 - Rent in South Carolina is 26.24% more expensive than in Kentucky
 - Moving from Kentucky to South Carolina will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,000
 - Our top recommended Kentucky to South Carolina movers is Luxury Movers Moving Company, LLC
 

Top Kentucky to South Carolina Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Kentucky to South Carolina movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Luxury Movers Moving Company, LLC
Best moving company overall for Kentucky to South Carolina
Swamp Rabbit Moving

Keep On Moving Company
Kentucky to South Carolina Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Kentucky to South Carolina
- Harsh winters
 - Limited beaches
 - Higher taxes
 - Small city amenities
 - Limited seafood
 
- Milder climate
 - Expansive coastline
 - Lower taxes
 - Growing urban areas
 - Seafood abundance
 
- Higher costs in cities
 - Fewer mountain views
 - Tourist influx
 - Limited local distilleries
 - Fewer equestrian venues
 
- Low cost of living
 - Scenic hills
 - Friendly community
 - Bourbon culture
 - Horse racing events
 
Pros of moving from Kentucky to South Carolina
- Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to milder climate
 - Look forward to moving away from limited beaches and moving to South Carolina with expansive coastline
 - Swap the higher taxes of Kentucky for lower taxes in South Carolina
 - Get ready for growing urban areas in South Carolina
 
Cons of moving from Kentucky to South Carolina
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the low cost of living in Kentucky to live with higher costs in cities in South Carolina
 - You'll lose out on the pro of scenic hills and have to settle with the con of fewer mountain views
 - Time to bid farewell to a friendly community and get used to the tourist influx in South Carolina
 - Swap bourbon culture for limited local distilleries
 
Kentucky vs. South Carolina: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
| Comparison | Kentucky | South Carolina | 
|---|---|---|
| Most iconic local food item | Fried Chicken | Shrimp and Grits | 
| Most popular meat dish | Hot Brown | Pulled Pork BBQ | 
| Most popular street food item | Burgoo | Boiled Peanuts | 
| Most popular vegan food | BBQ Jackfruit | Collard Greens | 
| Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state | 
  | 
  | 
| 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 Kentucky to South Carolina, you will be trading the iconic Fried Chicken of Kentucky for the equally delicious Shrimp and Grits of South Carolina. And while the locals in Kentucky rave about their flavorful Hot Brown and sumptuous Burgoo, South Carolina residents know they have tasty Pulled Pork BBQ and Boiled Peanuts to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the BBQ Jackfruit they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Collard Greens of South Carolina. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Kentucky eateries like The Brown Hotel, Mama's Mustard, Pickles and BBQ, and Kurtz Restaurant. 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, Hominy Grill, and Poogan's Porch.
When comparing lifestyles, South Carolina shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Kentucky. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in South Carolina compared to what you are used to in Kentucky. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in South Carolina.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Kentucky and South Carolina
| Comparison | Kentucky | South Carolina | 
|---|---|---|
| Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Craftsman | Colonial, Charleston Single House | 
| Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ | 
| Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | 
| Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | 
| Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Large backyards, Proximity to parks | Ocean views, Proximity to beaches | 
- The Colonial and Craftsman architecture that Kentucky is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Charleston Single House architecture typical of South Carolina.
 - Compared to Kentucky's real estate listings that commonly reference large backyards and proximity to parks, South Carolina real estate listings often highlight features like ocean views and proximity to beaches.
 - Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. South Carolina is more walkable than Kentucky.
 - Make sure the movers take care of your bike. South Carolina is more bike-friendly than Kentucky.
 - South Carolina has more of an urban feel than Kentucky.
 - South Carolina housing costs are 46% more expensive than they are in Kentucky, with a median home price of $293,893 compared to Kentuckyβs $201,332.
 - Over the prior 5 years, home prices in South Carolina have increased by 58% compared to a 47% increase in Kentucky.
 - Rent in South Carolina is 26.24% more expensive than in Kentucky.
 
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Kentucky and South Carolina
| Comparison | Kentucky | 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, Floods | Hurricanes, Floods | 
| Air Quality | Good | Variable | 
| Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 87/66 | 91/71 | 
| Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 42/23 | 60/38 | 
| Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 45 | 49 | 
| Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 22 | 1 | 
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Kentucky to South Carolina. South Carolina gets 11% more sunshine days than Kentucky.
 - South Carolina has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Kentucky.
 - Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and floods in Kentucky, but be on the lookout for potential hurricanes and floods in South Carolina.
 - Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in South Carolina is 4 degrees warmer than in Kentucky.
 - The average winter lows are 15 degrees warmer than they are in Kentucky.
 - Your umbrella might be more overworked in South Carolina. South Carolina receives 4 more inches of rain compared to Kentucky.
 
Financial & Community Snapshot: Kentucky and South Carolina
| Comparison | Kentucky | South Carolina | 
|---|---|---|
| Avg. Household Income | $59,341 | $64,115 | 
| Cost of Living Index | 87.8 | 96.85 | 
| State Income Tax | 5% | 6% | 
| Avg. Property Tax | 0.83% | 0.57% | 
| Avg. Sales Tax | 6% | 7% | 
| Top 3 Industries | Manufacturing, Healthcare, Agriculture | Tourism, Manufacturing, Aerospace | 
| Affluence | Moderate | Growing | 
| Poverty | Notable | Modest | 
| Homelessness | Concern | Manageable | 
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in South Carolina tend to earn about 8% more than in Kentucky
 - The COLI in South Carolina is 10% higher than what you are used to living in Kentucky
 - The state income tax in SC is 6% compared to 5% in KY
 - The affluence in South Carolina is growing compared to moderate affluence in Kentucky
 - The poverty level is modest in South Carolina compared to notable poverty in Kentucky
 - In terms of homelessness, it is a concern in Kentucky and manageable in South Carolina
 
Political and Religious Climate in Kentucky vs. South Carolina
| Comparison | Kentucky | South Carolina | 
|---|---|---|
| Political Make-up | Leans Republican in federal elections; GOP holds large legislative majorities. Most statewide offices are Republican, while the governor is currently a Democrat, reflecting some split-ticket voting. | Reliably Republican at the state and federal levels; GOP holds the governorship and majorities in the legislature and most statewide offices. | 
| Local Politics | Urban centers like Louisville and Lexington lean Democratic; many suburban and rural counties lean Republican. Local priorities vary by community size and region. | Cities such as Columbia and Charleston lean Democratic; many suburbs and rural counties lean Republican. Coastal and metro areas can differ from inland communities. | 
| Religion | Predominantly Christian with a large evangelical Protestant presence; includes mainline Protestant and Catholic communities, alongside a growing unaffiliated population and other faiths. | Predominantly Christian with strong evangelical Protestant and Baptist traditions; includes mainline Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, and other faith communities, plus a growing unaffiliated population. | 
- Kentucky tends to lean Republican in its political climate
 - South Carolina, on the other hand, is often described as reliably Republican at the state and federal levels
 - South Carolina's religious environment can be described as predominantly Christian with strong evangelical Protestant and Baptist traditions, including mainline Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, and other faith communities plus a growing unaffiliated population
 - Kentucky's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as predominantly Christian with a large evangelical Protestant presence, including mainline Protestant and Catholic communities alongside a growing unaffiliated population and other faiths
 
How Much Do Kentucky to South Carolina Movers Cost?
Moving 427 miles from Kentucky to South Carolina will typically cost between $2,000 and $5,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,000 - $5,000
 - Expected Time To Complete: 2-3 days
 - Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Smooth Move Relocation Services
 
| HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 | 
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,445 | 300 ft3 | $4.82 | 
| 1 Bedroom | $2,144 | 450 ft3 | $4.77 | 
| 2 Bedrooms | $3,536 | 750 ft3 | $4.72 | 
| 3 Bedrooms | $5,132 | 1100 ft3 | $4.67 | 
| 4 Bedrooms | $7,384 | 1600 ft3 | $4.62 | 
| 5+ Bedrooms | $8,217 | 1800 ft3 | $4.57 | 


