New York to South Carolina Moving Guide
Updated June 9, 2025

Planning a 923 mile interstate move from New York to South Carolina? This moving guide will help you compare living in New York vs South Carolina across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs lower cost of living), food & health (like Bagel with Cream Cheese vs Shrimp and Grits), real estate & housing (high-rise, historical vs colonial, charleston style), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in New York), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Bagel with Cream Cheese and Pastrami on Rye, but get your taste buds ready for Shrimp and Grits & Pulled Pork BBQ
- South Carolina housing costs are 36% less expensive than they are in New York
- Rent in South Carolina is 33.86% more affordable than in New York
- Moving from New York to South Carolina will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,000
- Our top recommended New York to South Carolina movers is JP Urban Moving
New York to South Carolina Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from New York to South Carolina
- High cost of living
- Harsh winters
- Dense population
- Noisy city life
- Limited outdoor space
- Lower cost of living
- Temperate climate
- Slower pace
- Quieter environment
- Spacious parks
- Less diverse
- Fewer job options
- Limited public transport
- Quieter evenings
- Fewer dining options
- Cultural diversity
- Abundant job opportunities
- Public transit options
- Vibrant nightlife
- World-class restaurants
Pros of moving from New York to South Carolina
- Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to the lower cost of living
- Look forward to moving away from harsh winters and moving to South Carolina with a temperate climate
- Swap the dense population of New York for a slower pace in South Carolina
- Get ready for a quieter environment in South Carolina
Cons of moving from New York to South Carolina
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the cultural diversity in New York to live with a less diverse community in South Carolina
- You'll lose out on the pro of abundant job opportunities and have to settle for the con of fewer job options
- Time to bid farewell to public transit options and get used to limited public transport in South Carolina
- Swap the vibrant nightlife for quieter evenings
New York vs. South Carolina: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | New York | South Carolina |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Bagel with Cream Cheese | Shrimp and Grits |
Most popular meat dish | Pastrami on Rye | Pulled Pork BBQ |
Most popular street food item | Hot Dog | Fried Green Tomatoes |
Most popular vegan food | Avocado Toast | 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 New York to South Carolina, you will be trading the iconic Bagel with Cream Cheese of New York for the equally delicious Shrimp and Grits of South Carolina. And while the locals in New York rave about their flavorful Pastrami on Rye and sumptuous Hot Dog, South Carolina residents know they have tasty Pulled Pork BBQ and Fried Green Tomatoes to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Avocado Toast 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 New York eateries like Katz's Delicatessen, Le Bernardin, and Sylvia's 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, Bowens Island Restaurant, and Hominy Grill.
When comparing lifestyles, South Carolina shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than New York. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in South Carolina compared to what you are used to in New York. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in South Carolina.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between New York and South Carolina
Comparison | New York | South Carolina |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | High-rise, Historical | Colonial, Charleston Style |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Close to public transportation, Views | Yard space, Proximity to beaches |
- The High-rise and Historical architecture that New York is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Charleston Style architecture typical of South Carolina.
- Compared to New York's real estate listings that commonly reference proximity to public transportation and views, South Carolina real estate listings often highlight features like yard space and proximity to beaches.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away. South Carolina is less walkable than New York.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike. South Carolina is less bike-friendly than New York.
- South Carolina has less of an urban feel than New York.
- South Carolina housing costs are 36% less expensive than they are in New York, with a median home price of $293,893 compared to New Yorkβs $460,812.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in South Carolina have increased by 58% compared to a 36% increase in New York.
- Rent in South Carolina is 33.86% more affordable than in New York.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between New York and South Carolina
Comparison | New York | 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 | Snowstorms, Hurricanes | Hurricanes, Flooding |
Air Quality | Good to Moderate | Good to Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 82Β°F / 66Β°F | 91Β°F / 71Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 39Β°F / 26Β°F | 60Β°F / 38Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 42-50 | 40-48 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 25-30 | 1-5 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from New York to South Carolina. South Carolina gets 6% more sunshine days than New York.
- South Carolina has higher humidity and a higher average UV index compared to New York.
- Say goodbye to the possible snowstorms and hurricanes in New York, 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 New York.
- The average winter lows are 12 degrees warmer than they are in New York.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in South Carolina. South Carolina receives 2 fewer inches of rain compared to New York.
Financial & Community Snapshot: New York and South Carolina
Comparison | New York | South Carolina |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $79,557 | $64,115 |
Cost of Living Index | 102.8 | 96.85 |
State Income Tax | 4.00-8.82% | 0-7% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.72% | 0.57% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 8.52% | 7.44% |
Top 3 Industries | Finance, Healthcare, Media | Manufacturing, Tourism, Agriculture |
Affluence | High | Moderate |
Poverty | Moderate | Higher |
Homelessness | Significant | Minimal |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in South Carolina tend to earn about 19% less than those in New York
- The COLI in South Carolina is 6% lower than what you are used to living in New York
- The state income tax in SC is 0-7% compared to 4.00-8.82% in NY
- The affluence in South Carolina is moderate compared to high in New York
- The poverty level is higher in South Carolina compared to moderate in New York
- In terms of homelessness, it is significant in New York and minimal in South Carolina
Political and Religious Climate in New York vs. South Carolina
Comparison | New York | South Carolina |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Liberal/Democratic | Conservative/Republican |
Local Politics | Progressive urban policies | Traditional, conservative policies |
Religion | Multicultural, diverse religious practices | Predominantly Christian, evangelical influence |
- New York tends to lean Liberal/Democratic in its political climate
- South Carolina, on the other hand, is often described as Conservative/Republican
- South Carolina's religious environment can be described as predominantly Christian with evangelical influence
- New York's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as multicultural with diverse religious practices
Education Guide When Moving from New York to South Carolina
Comparison | New York | South Carolina |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | SUNY University at Buffalo New York University Cornell University | University of South Carolina Clemson University College of Charleston |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | PS 334 - The Anderson School (New York City) PS 77 Lower Lab School (New York City) Success Academy Charter School-Bronx 1 (Bronx) | Mitchell Road Elementary (Greenville) Buist Academy (Charleston) Mount Pleasant Academy (Mount Pleasant) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | IS 187 The Christa McAuliffe School (Brooklyn) New Explorations into Science Tech and Math High School (New York City) The Anderson School PS 334 (New York City) | Moultrie Middle School (Mount Pleasant) Hand Middle School (Columbia) Rollings Middle School of the Arts (Summerville) |
Top 3 High School Schools | Staten Island Technical High School (Staten Island) Bronx High School of Science (Bronx) Stuyvesant High School (New York City) | Academic Magnet High School (North Charleston) Charleston School of the Arts (North Charleston) Greenville Technical Charter High School (Greenville) |
Top 3 private high schools | Horace Mann School (Bronx) Collegiate School (New York City) Trinity School (New York City) | Porter-Gaud School (Charleston) Hammond School (Columbia) Hilton Head Preparatory School (Hilton Head) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Spence School (New York City) The Brearley School (New York City) Collegiate School (New York City) | Hilton Head Christian Academy (Hilton Head) Pinewood Preparatory School (Summerville) First Baptist School (Charleston) |
Top 3 School Districts | Scarsdale School District (Scarsdale) Jericho Union Free School District (Jericho) Great Neck Public Schools (Great Neck) | Lexington School District One (Lexington) Greenville County School District (Greenville) Spartanburg School District 7 (Spartanburg) |
How Much Do New York to South Carolina Movers Cost?
Moving 923 miles from New York 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: 2-7 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Magical Moving & Storage
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,467 | 300 ft3 | $4.89 |
1 Bedroom | $2,181 | 450 ft3 | $4.85 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,603 | 750 ft3 | $4.80 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,238 | 1100 ft3 | $4.76 |
4 Bedrooms | $7,551 | 1600 ft3 | $4.72 |
5+ Bedrooms | $8,419 | 1800 ft3 | $4.68 |
Top New York to South Carolina Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best New York to South Carolina movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

JP Urban Moving
Best moving company overall for New York to South Carolina