South Carolina to Arizona Moving Guide
Updated June 21, 2025

Planning a 1,925 mile interstate move from South Carolina to Arizona? This moving guide will help you compare living in South Carolina vs Arizona across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high humidity vs dry climate), food & health (like Shrimp and Grits vs Sonoran Hot Dog), real estate & housing (colonial, ranch vs spanish colonial, ranch), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Arizona), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Shrimp and Grits and Pulled Pork BBQ, but get your taste buds ready for Sonoran Hot Dog & Carne Asada
- Arizona housing costs are 47% more expensive than they are in South Carolina
- Rent in Arizona is 15.80% more expensive than in South Carolina
- Moving from South Carolina to Arizona will cost on average between $2,500 - $8,000
- Our top recommended South Carolina to Arizona movers is Sterling Interstate LLC
South Carolina to Arizona Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from South Carolina to Arizona
- High humidity
- Hurricane risk
- Bugs and pests
- Traffic congestion
- Dry climate
- Minimal natural disasters
- Lower bug presence
- Open roads
- Less personal touch
- Arid landscapes
- Chilly desert nights
- Modern sprawl
- Southern hospitality
- Lush greenery
- Mild winters
- Rich history
Pros of moving from South Carolina to Arizona
- Say goodbye to high humidity and hello to dry climate
- Look forward to moving away from hurricane risk and moving to Arizona with minimal natural disasters
- Swap the bugs and pests of South Carolina for lower bug presence in Arizona
- Get ready for open roads in Arizona
Cons of moving from South Carolina to Arizona
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from Southern hospitality in South Carolina to live with less personal touch in Arizona
- You'll lose out on the pro of lush greenery and have to settle for the con of arid landscapes
- Time to bid farewell to mild winters and get used to chilly desert nights in Arizona
- Swap rich history for modern sprawl
South Carolina vs. Arizona: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | South Carolina | Arizona |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Shrimp and Grits | Sonoran Hot Dog |
Most popular meat dish | Pulled Pork BBQ | Carne Asada |
Most popular street food item | Boiled Peanuts | Tacos |
Most popular vegan food | Collard Greens | Vegetable Tamales |
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 Arizona, you will be trading the iconic Shrimp and Grits of South Carolina for the equally delicious Sonoran Hot Dog of Arizona. And while the locals in South Carolina rave about their flavorful Pulled Pork BBQ and sumptuous Boiled Peanuts, Arizona residents know they have tasty Carne Asada and Tacos 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 Vegetable Tamales of Arizona. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic South Carolina eateries like Husk, Hominy Grill, and FIG. After the boxes are unpacked in Arizona, don't wait too long before making your way to Arizona's acclaimed eateries like Pizzeria Bianco, El Charro CafΓ©, and Durant's.
When comparing lifestyles, Arizona shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than South Carolina. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Arizona compared to what you are used to in South Carolina. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Arizona.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between South Carolina and Arizona
Comparison | South Carolina | Arizona |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Ranch | Spanish Colonial, Ranch |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Large yards, porches | Energy efficiency, solar panels |
- The Colonial and Ranch architecture that South Carolina is known for will be replaced with the Spanish Colonial and Ranch architecture typical of Arizona.
- Compared to South Carolina's real estate listings that commonly reference large yards and porches, Arizona real estate listings often highlight features like energy efficiency and solar panels.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Arizona is more walkable than South Carolina.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Arizona is more bike-friendly than South Carolina.
- Arizona has more of an urban feel than South Carolina.
- Arizona housing costs are 47% more expensive than they are in South Carolina, with a median home price of $430,827 compared to South Carolinaβs $293,893.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Arizona have increased by 63% compared to a 58% increase in South Carolina.
- Rent in Arizona is 15.80% more expensive than in South Carolina.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between South Carolina and Arizona
Comparison | South Carolina | Arizona |
---|---|---|
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 | Wildfires, Heatwaves |
Air Quality | Good | Varies; urban areas can experience poor quality |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 90Β°F / 71Β°F | 104Β°F / 81Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 59Β°F / 38Β°F | 68Β°F / 44Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 49.8 | 13.6 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 1 | 0 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from South Carolina to Arizona. Arizona gets 38% more sunshine days than South Carolina.
- Arizona has lower 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 wildfires and heatwaves in Arizona.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Arizona is 14 degrees warmer than in South Carolina.
- The average winter lows are 6 degrees warmer than they are in South Carolina.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Arizona. Arizona receives 36.2 fewer inches of rain compared to South Carolina.
Financial & Community Snapshot: South Carolina and Arizona
Comparison | South Carolina | Arizona |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $64,115 | $74,568 |
Cost of Living Index | 96.85 | 101.2 |
State Income Tax | 7% | 4.5% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.55% | 0.62% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 7.5% | 8.4% |
Top 3 Industries | Manufacturing, Agriculture, Tourism | Healthcare, Retail, Tourism |
Affluence | Moderate | Moderate |
Poverty | Higher than national average | About average |
Homelessness | Concerning | Manageable |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Arizona tend to earn about 16% more than those in South Carolina
- The COLI in Arizona is 4% higher than what you are used to living in South Carolina
- The state income tax in AZ is 4.5% compared to 7% in SC
- The affluence in Arizona is moderate compared to moderate affluence in South Carolina
- The poverty level is about average in Arizona compared to higher than the national average in South Carolina
- In terms of homelessness, it is concerning in South Carolina and manageable in Arizona
Political and Religious Climate in South Carolina vs. Arizona
Comparison | South Carolina | Arizona |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Conservative | Moderately Conservative/Swing State |
Local Politics | Strong Republican influence, especially in rural areas. | Diverse political landscape with significant urban-rural divide. |
Religion | Highly religious, predominantly Christian, strong Baptist presence. Local Churches | Mixed religious landscape, less religious overall compared to South Carolina. Community Centers |
- South Carolina tends to lean Conservative in its political climate
- Arizona, on the other hand, is often described as moderately Conservative and a Swing State
- Arizona's religious environment can be described as a mixed religious landscape that is less religious overall compared to South Carolina
- South Carolina's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as highly religious, predominantly Christian, with a strong Baptist presence
Education Guide When Moving from South Carolina to Arizona
Comparison | South Carolina | Arizona |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of South Carolina Clemson University College of Charleston | Arizona State University University of Arizona Northern Arizona University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Buist Academy (Charleston) Mount Pleasant Academy (Mount Pleasant) Charles Pinckney Elementary (Mount Pleasant) | Cherokee Elementary School (Scottsdale) Manzanita Elementary School (Phoenix) Sequoya Elementary School (Scottsdale) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Moultrie Middle School (Mount Pleasant) Thomas C. Cario Middle School (Mount Pleasant) Lang Middle School (Columbia) | Basis Scottsdale (Scottsdale) Basis Tucson North (Tucson) Esperero Canyon Middle School (Tucson) |
Top 3 High School Schools | Academic Magnet High School (North Charleston) Charleston School of the Arts (North Charleston) Governorβs School for Science & Mathematics (Hartsville) | Basis Scottsdale (Scottsdale) Basis Oro Valley (Oro Valley) Basis Peoria (Peoria) |
Top 3 private high schools | Porter-Gaud (Charleston) Hammond School (Columbia) Christ Church Episcopal School (Greenville) | Brophy College Preparatory (Phoenix) The Gregory School (Tucson) Phoenix Country Day School (Paradise Valley) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Hammond School (Columbia) Ashley Hall (Charleston) Christ Church Episcopal School (Greenville) | Tesseract School (Phoenix) The Gregory School (Tucson) Verde Valley School (Sedona) |
Top 3 School Districts | Charleston County School District Greenville County School District Lexington School District One | Scottsdale Unified School District Catalina Foothills Unified District Chandler Unified School District |
How Much Do South Carolina to Arizona Movers Cost?
Moving 1,925 miles from South Carolina to Arizona will typically cost between $3,500 and $8,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,500 - $8,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 3-9 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Luxury Movers Moving Company, LLC
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,294 | 300 ft3 | $7.65 |
1 Bedroom | $3,418 | 450 ft3 | $7.60 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,660 | 750 ft3 | $7.55 |
3 Bedrooms | $8,246 | 1100 ft3 | $7.50 |
4 Bedrooms | $11,914 | 1600 ft3 | $7.45 |
5+ Bedrooms | $13,313 | 1800 ft3 | $7.40 |
Top South Carolina to Arizona Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best South Carolina to Arizona movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Sterling Interstate LLC
Best moving company overall for South Carolina to Arizona