Kentucky to South Carolina Moving Guide
Updated June 7, 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
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 |
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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 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 | Traditionally leans conservative, but with a mix due to urban areas | Strongly conservative, especially in rural areas |
Local Politics | Mix of Democratic and Republican leadership in urban and rural areas, respectively | Mostly Republican leadership across the state |
Religion | Christianity dominant, with a significant Baptist population | Christianity prevalent, particularly evangelical Protestant |
- Kentucky tends to lean traditionally conservative, but with a mix due to urban areas in its political climate
- South Carolina, on the other hand, is often described as strongly conservative, especially in rural areas
- South Carolina's religious environment can be described as Christianity prevalent, particularly evangelical Protestant
- Kentucky's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as Christianity dominant, with a significant Baptist population
Education Guide When Moving from Kentucky to South Carolina
Comparison | Kentucky | South Carolina |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Kentucky University of Louisville Western Kentucky University | University of South Carolina Clemson University College of Charleston |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Pikeville Elementary Beaumont Middle Lexington Anchorage Public | Buist Academy Charleston Mount Pleasant Academy Meeting Street Academy Charleston |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Beaumont Middle Lexington Murray Middle Highlands Latin School Louisville | Gold Hill Middle Fort Mill Thomas C. Cario Middle Mount Pleasant Lang Middle Greenville |
Top 3 High School Schools | DuPont Manual High Louisville Highlands High Fort Thomas Beechwood High Fort Mitchell | Academic Magnet High North Charleston Charleston School of the Arts North Charleston Spartanburg High Spartanburg |
Top 3 private high schools | Sacred Heart Academy Louisville Trinity High School Louisville Lexington Catholic High Lexington | Hilton Head Christian Academy Hammond School Columbia Porter-Gaud School Charleston |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Lexington School Sayre School Lexington Louisville Collegiate School | Ashley Hall Charleston Heathwood Hall Episcopal School Columbia Christ Church Episcopal School Greenville |
Top 3 School Districts | Fayette County Public Schools Jefferson County Public Schools Daviess County Public Schools | Fort Mill School District Lexington and Richland County School District Five Charleston County School District |
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 |
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