Mississippi to South Carolina Moving Guide
Updated June 15, 2025

Planning a 534 mile interstate move from Mississippi to South Carolina? This moving guide will help you compare living in Mississippi vs South Carolina across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high summer humidity vs milder coastal climate), food & health (like Catfish vs Shrimp and Grits), real estate & housing (antebellum and ranch vs colonial and 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 Catfish and Pulled Pork BBQ, but get your taste buds ready for Shrimp and Grits & Fried Chicken
- South Carolina housing costs are 65% more expensive than they are in Mississippi
- Rent in South Carolina is 20.72% more expensive than in Mississippi
- Moving from Mississippi to South Carolina will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,500
- Our top recommended Mississippi to South Carolina movers is Luxury Movers Moving Company, LLC
Mississippi to South Carolina Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Mississippi to South Carolina
- High summer humidity
- Limited public transportation
- Fewer career opportunities
- Lack of diverse cuisine
- Milder coastal climate
- Better transit options
- Growing job market
- Rich culinary scene
- Higher living costs
- Large tourist influx
- Different cultural vibe
- More developed areas
- Lower cost of living
- Close-knit communities
- Rich blues heritage
- Natural landscapes
Pros of moving from Mississippi to South Carolina
- Say goodbye to high summer humidity and hello to a milder coastal climate
- Look forward to moving away from limited public transportation and moving to South Carolina with better transit options
- Swap the fewer career opportunities of Mississippi for a growing job market in South Carolina
- Get ready for a rich culinary scene in South Carolina
Cons of moving from Mississippi to South Carolina
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from a lower cost of living in Mississippi to live with higher living costs in South Carolina
- You'll lose out on the pro of close-knit communities and have to settle for the con of a large tourist influx
- Time to bid farewell to a rich blues heritage and get used to a different cultural vibe in South Carolina
- Swap natural landscapes for more developed areas
Mississippi vs. South Carolina: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Mississippi | South Carolina |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Catfish | Shrimp and Grits |
Most popular meat dish | Pulled Pork BBQ | Fried Chicken |
Most popular street food item | Hot Tamales | Boiled Peanuts |
Most popular vegan food | Okra Stew | 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 Mississippi to South Carolina, you will be trading the iconic Catfish of Mississippi for the equally delicious Shrimp and Grits of South Carolina. And while the locals in Mississippi rave about their flavorful Pulled Pork BBQ and sumptuous Hot Tamales, South Carolina residents know they have tasty Fried Chicken and Boiled Peanuts to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Okra Stew 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 Mississippi eateries like Mayflower Cafe, Weidmann's, and The Big Apple Inn. After the boxes are unpacked in South Carolina, don't wait too long before making your way to South Carolina's acclaimed eateries like Home Team BBQ, Husk, and Bowens Island Restaurant.
When comparing lifestyles, South Carolina shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Mississippi. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in South Carolina compared to what you are used to in Mississippi. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in South Carolina.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Mississippi and South Carolina
Comparison | Mississippi | South Carolina |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Antebellum and Ranch | Colonial and 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 | Proximity to beaches, modern amenities |
- The Antebellum and Ranch architecture that Mississippi is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Charleston Single House architecture typical of South Carolina.
- Compared to Mississippi's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious yards and quiet neighborhoods, South Carolina real estate listings often highlight features like proximity to beaches and modern amenities.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. South Carolina is more walkable than Mississippi.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. South Carolina is more bike-friendly than Mississippi.
- South Carolina has more of an urban feel than Mississippi.
- South Carolina housing costs are 65% more expensive than they are in Mississippi with a median home price of $293,893 compared to Mississippiβs $178,490.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in South Carolina have increased by 58% compared to a 31% increase in Mississippi.
- Rent in South Carolina is 20.72% more expensive than in Mississippi.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Mississippi and South Carolina
Comparison | Mississippi | 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 | Hurricanes, Tornadoes | Hurricanes, Flooding |
Air Quality | Good | Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 91/72 | 90/71 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 55/34 | 60/38 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 59 | 49 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 1 | 2 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Mississippi to South Carolina. South Carolina gets 2% more sunshine days than Mississippi.
- South Carolina has lower humidity and a similar average UV index compared to Mississippi.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and tornadoes in Mississippi, but be on the lookout for potential hurricanes and flooding in South Carolina.
- The average summer high temperature in South Carolina is 1 degree colder than in Mississippi.
- The average winter lows are 4 degrees warmer than they are in Mississippi.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in South Carolina. South Carolina receives 10 fewer inches of rain compared to Mississippi.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Mississippi and South Carolina
Comparison | Mississippi | South Carolina |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $52,719 | $64,115 |
Cost of Living Index | 92.1 | 96.85 |
State Income Tax | 5% | 7% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.8% | 0.5% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 7% | 6% |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Manufacturing, Retail | Tourism, Manufacturing, Healthcare |
Affluence | Moderate | Increasing |
Poverty | High | Moderate |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in South Carolina tend to earn about 22% more than in Mississippi
- The COLI in South Carolina will be 5% higher than what you are used to living in Mississippi
- The state income tax in SC is 7% compared to 5% in MS
- The affluence in South Carolina is increasing compared to moderate affluence in Mississippi
- The poverty level is moderate in South Carolina compared to high poverty in Mississippi
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Mississippi and moderate in South Carolina
Political and Religious Climate in Mississippi vs. South Carolina
Comparison | Mississippi | South Carolina |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Traditionally Conservative, with strong Republican support | Conservative, with Republican dominance in statewide elections |
Local Politics | Mixture of Republican and Democratic representation, depending on the region | Generally conservative across the state, with pockets of Democratic support in urban areas |
Religion | Highly religious; predominately Protestant Christian, with Baptist being the most common denomination | Significantly religious; Protestant Christian majority, a mix of Baptist, Methodist, and other denominations |
- Mississippi tends to lean traditionally Conservative with strong Republican support in its political climate
- South Carolina, on the other hand, is often described as conservative with Republican dominance in statewide elections
- South Carolina's religious environment can be described as significantly religious with a Protestant Christian majority, a mix of Baptist, Methodist, and other denominations
- Mississippi's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as highly religious, predominantly Protestant Christian with Baptist being the most common denomination
Education Guide When Moving from Mississippi to South Carolina
Comparison | Mississippi | South Carolina |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Mississippi Mississippi State University University of Southern Mississippi | University of South Carolina Clemson University College of Charleston |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Mannsdale Elementary School (Madison) Oak Park Elementary School (Ocean Springs) Madison Station Elementary School (Madison) | Buist Academy (Charleston) Mount Pleasant Academy (Mount Pleasant) Clemson Elementary School (Clemson) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Northwest Rankin Middle School (Flowood) Madison Middle School (Madison) Lewisburg Middle School (Olive Branch) | Thomas C. Cario Middle School (Mount Pleasant) Langston Charter Middle School (Greenville) Fort Johnson Middle School (Charleston) |
Top 3 High Schools | Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science (Columbus) Lewisburg High School (Olive Branch) Ocean Springs High School (Ocean Springs) | Academic Magnet High School (North Charleston) Charleston School of the Arts (North Charleston) Dutch Fork High School (Irmo) |
Top 3 private high schools | Jackson Preparatory School (Jackson) Madison-Ridgeland Academy (Madison) Presbyterian Christian School (Hattiesburg) | Porter-Gaud School (Charleston) Hammond School (Columbia) Heathwood Hall Episcopal School (Columbia) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | St. Andrew's Episcopal School (Ridgeland) Jackson Academy (Jackson) Heritage Academy (Columbus) | Pinewood Preparatory School (Summerville) Ashley Hall (Charleston) Spartanburg Day School (Spartanburg) |
Top 3 School Districts | Madison County Schools Clinton Public School District Ocean Springs School District | Charleston County School District Greenville County School District Lexington-Richland School District 5 |
How Much Do Mississippi to South Carolina Movers Cost?
Moving 534 miles from Mississippi to South Carolina will typically cost between $2,000 and $5,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,000 - $5,500
- 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 | $1,505 | 300 ft3 | $5.02 |
1 Bedroom | $2,235 | 450 ft3 | $4.97 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,688 | 750 ft3 | $4.92 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,354 | 1100 ft3 | $4.87 |
4 Bedrooms | $7,708 | 1600 ft3 | $4.82 |
5+ Bedrooms | $8,581 | 1800 ft3 | $4.77 |
Top Mississippi to South Carolina Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Mississippi to South Carolina movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Luxury Movers Moving Company, LLC
Best moving company overall for Mississippi to South Carolina