South Carolina to Arkansas Moving Guide
Updated June 14, 2025

Planning a 701 mile interstate move from South Carolina to Arkansas? This moving guide will help you compare living in South Carolina vs Arkansas across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like humidity in summers vs less humidity), food & health (like Shrimp and Grits vs Fried Catfish), real estate & housing (colonial, ranch vs ranch, craftsman), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in South Carolina), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Shrimp and Grits and Pulled Pork BBQ, but get your taste buds ready for Fried Catfish & Smoked Ribs
- Arkansas housing costs are 31% less expensive than they are in South Carolina
- Rent in Arkansas is 20.37% more affordable than in South Carolina
- Moving from South Carolina to Arkansas will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,500
- Our top recommended South Carolina to Arkansas movers is B2 Moving
South Carolina to Arkansas Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from South Carolina to Arkansas
- Humidity in summers
- Hurricane risk
- Tourism crowd
- Higher cost of living
- Less humidity
- Fewer natural disasters
- Quieter lifestyle
- More affordable living
- No ocean coastline
- Colder winters
- Fewer historical sites
- Rural areas dominance
- Beautiful coastline
- Mild winters
- Rich in history
- Well-developed cities
Pros of moving from South Carolina to Arkansas
- Say goodbye to humidity in summers and hello to less humidity
- Look forward to moving away from hurricane risk and moving to Arkansas with fewer natural disasters
- Swap the tourism crowd of South Carolina for a quieter lifestyle in Arkansas
- Get ready for more affordable living in Arkansas
Cons of moving from South Carolina to Arkansas
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the beautiful coastline in South Carolina to live with no ocean coastline in Arkansas
- You'll lose out on the pro of mild winters and have to settle for the con of colder winters
- Time to bid farewell to the rich history and get used to fewer historical sites in Arkansas
- Swap well-developed cities for rural area dominance
South Carolina vs. Arkansas: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | South Carolina | Arkansas |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Shrimp and Grits | Fried Catfish |
Most popular meat dish | Pulled Pork BBQ | Smoked Ribs |
Most popular street food item | Boiled Peanuts | Biscuits and Gravy |
Most popular vegan food | Collard Greens | Black Bean Burgers |
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 South Carolina to Arkansas, you will be trading the iconic Shrimp and Grits of South Carolina for the equally delicious Fried Catfish of Arkansas. And while the locals in South Carolina rave about their flavorful Pulled Pork BBQ and sumptuous Boiled Peanuts, Arkansas residents know they have tasty Smoked Ribs and Biscuits and Gravy to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Collard Greens they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Black Bean Burgers of Arkansas. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic South Carolina eateries like Husk Charleston, Hominy Grill, and FIG. After the boxes are unpacked in Arkansas, don't wait too long before making your way to Arkansas' acclaimed eateries like McClard's Bar-B-Q, Sim's Bar-B-Que, and The Southern Belle Cafe.
When comparing lifestyles, Arkansas shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than South Carolina. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Arkansas compared to what you are used to in South Carolina. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Arkansas.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between South Carolina and Arkansas
Comparison | South Carolina | Arkansas |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Ranch | Ranch, Craftsman |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Hardwood floors, waterfront | Lake view, large yards |
- The Colonial and Ranch architecture that South Carolina is known for will be replaced with the Ranch and Craftsman architecture typical of Arkansas.
- Compared to South Carolina's real estate listings that commonly reference hardwood floors and waterfront, Arkansas real estate listings often highlight features like lake views and large yards.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away, as Arkansas is less walkable than South Carolina.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike, as Arkansas is less bike-friendly than South Carolina.
- Arkansas has less of an urban feel than South Carolina.
- Arkansas housing costs are 31% less expensive than they are in South Carolina, with a median home price of $203,305 compared to South Carolinaβs $293,893.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Arkansas have increased by 41% compared to a 58% increase in South Carolina.
- Rent in Arkansas is 20.37% more affordable than in South Carolina.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between South Carolina and Arkansas
Comparison | South Carolina | Arkansas |
---|---|---|
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, Floods | Tornadoes, Floods |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 90/70 | 92/72 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 60/38 | 51/32 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 49.8 | 50.6 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 1 | 5 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from South Carolina to Arkansas. Arkansas gets 0% more sunshine days than South Carolina.
- Arkansas has higher humidity and a higher average UV index compared to South Carolina.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and floods in South Carolina, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and floods in Arkansas.
- The average summer high temperature in Arkansas is 2 degrees warmer than in South Carolina.
- The average winter lows are 6 degrees colder than they are in South Carolina.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Arkansas. Arkansas receives 0.8 more inches of rain compared to South Carolina.
Financial & Community Snapshot: South Carolina and Arkansas
Comparison | South Carolina | Arkansas |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $64,115 | $55,432 |
Cost of Living Index | 96.85 | 90.5 |
State Income Tax | 0% - 7% | 0% - 5.5% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.57% | 0.63% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 7.46% | 9.53% |
Top 3 Industries | Manufacturing, Tourism, Healthcare | Agriculture, Manufacturing, Retail |
Affluence | Moderate | Low |
Poverty | Moderate | Higher |
Homelessness | Moderate | Lower |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Arkansas tend to earn about 14% less than those in South Carolina
- The COLI in Arkansas is 7% lower than what you are used to in South Carolina
- The state income tax in AR is 0% - 5.5% compared to 0% - 7% in SC
- The affluence in Arkansas is low compared to moderate affluence in South Carolina
- The poverty level is higher in Arkansas compared to moderate poverty in South Carolina
- In terms of homelessness, it is moderate in South Carolina and lower in Arkansas
Political and Religious Climate in South Carolina vs. Arkansas
Comparison | South Carolina | Arkansas |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Leans Republican | Leans Republican |
Local Politics | Conservative | Conservative, with some progressive pockets |
Religion | Primarily Protestant | Primarily Protestant, significant Baptist presence |
- South Carolina tends to lean Republican in its political climate
- Arkansas, on the other hand, is often described as leaning Republican
- Arkansas' religious environment can be described as primarily Protestant with a significant Baptist presence
- South Carolina's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as primarily Protestant
Education Guide When Moving from South Carolina to Arkansas
Comparison | South Carolina | Arkansas |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of South Carolina Clemson University College of Charleston | University of Arkansas Arkansas State University University of Central Arkansas |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Buist Academy (Charleston) Mount Pleasant Academy (Mount Pleasant) Lexington Elementary (Lexington) | Baker Interdistrict Elementary School (Little Rock) Vandergriff Elementary School (Fayetteville) Forest Park Elementary (Little Rock) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Moultrie Middle School (Mount Pleasant) Thomas C. Cario Middle School (Mount Pleasant) Hand Middle School (Columbia) | Lisa Academy North (Sherwood) Haas Hall Academy Bentonville (Bentonville) LISA Academy West Middle (Little Rock) |
Top 3 High Schools | Academic Magnet High School (North Charleston) Charleston School of the Arts (North Charleston) Wando High School (Mount Pleasant) | Haas Hall Academy (Fayetteville) Bentonville High School (Bentonville) Central High School (Little Rock) |
Top 3 private high schools | Porter-Gaud School (Charleston) Hammond School (Columbia) Ashley Hall (Charleston) | Little Rock Christian Academy (Little Rock) Shiloh Christian School (Springdale) Pulaski Academy (Little Rock) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Hilton Head Preparatory School (Hilton Head Island) Christ Church Episcopal School (Greenville) Hammond School (Columbia) | The Anthony School (Little Rock) Subiaco Academy (Subiaco) Episcopal Collegiate School (Little Rock) |
Top 3 School Districts | Lexington 1 Charleston County Greenville County | Fayetteville Bentonville Little Rock School District |
How Much Do South Carolina to Arkansas Movers Cost?
Moving 701 miles from South Carolina to Arkansas will typically cost between $2,500 and $5,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,500 - $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 | $1,600 | 300 ft3 | $5.33 |
1 Bedroom | $2,377 | 450 ft3 | $5.28 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,925 | 750 ft3 | $5.23 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,701 | 1100 ft3 | $5.18 |
4 Bedrooms | $8,213 | 1600 ft3 | $5.13 |
5+ Bedrooms | $9,149 | 1800 ft3 | $5.08 |
Top South Carolina to Arkansas Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best South Carolina to Arkansas movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.