South Carolina to Iowa Moving Guide
Updated June 16, 2025

Planning a 1,085 mile interstate move from South Carolina to Iowa? This moving guide will help you compare living in South Carolina vs Iowa across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like higher summer humidity vs milder summer weather), food & health (like Shrimp and Grits vs Corn on the Cob), real estate & housing (colonial and brick vs prairie and ranch), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Iowa), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Shrimp and Grits and Pulled Pork BBQ, but get your taste buds ready for Corn on the Cob & Pork Tenderloin Sandwich
- Iowa housing costs are 27% less expensive than they are in South Carolina
- Rent in Iowa is 34.62% more affordable than in South Carolina
- Moving from South Carolina to Iowa will cost on average between $2,000 - $6,500
- Our top recommended South Carolina to Iowa movers is Adamantine Spine Moving
South Carolina to Iowa Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from South Carolina to Iowa
- Higher summer humidity
- Occasional hurricanes
- More crowded beaches
- Milder summer weather
- Fewer natural disasters
- Open countryside
- Landlocked state
- Limited food variety
- Cold, snowy winters
- Coastal lifestyle
- Southern cuisine
- Warm winters
Pros of moving from South Carolina to Iowa
- Say goodbye to higher summer humidity and hello to milder summer weather
- Look forward to moving away from occasional hurricanes and moving to Iowa with fewer natural disasters
- Swap the more crowded beaches of South Carolina for open countryside in Iowa
Cons of moving from South Carolina to Iowa
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the coastal lifestyle in South Carolina to live in a landlocked state in Iowa
- You'll lose out on the pro of Southern cuisine and have to settle for the con of limited food variety
- Time to bid farewell to warm winters and get used to cold snowy winters in Iowa
South Carolina vs. Iowa: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | South Carolina | Iowa |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Shrimp and Grits | Corn on the Cob |
Most popular meat dish | Pulled Pork BBQ | Pork Tenderloin Sandwich |
Most popular street food item | Boiled Peanuts | Walking Tacos |
Most popular vegan food | Collard Greens | Sweet Corn Gazpacho |
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 Iowa, you will be trading the iconic Shrimp and Grits of South Carolina for the equally delicious Corn on the Cob of Iowa. And while the locals in South Carolina rave about their flavorful Pulled Pork BBQ and sumptuous Boiled Peanuts, Iowa residents know they have tasty Pork Tenderloin Sandwich and Walking 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 Sweet Corn Gazpacho of Iowa. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic South Carolina eateries like Husk, Hominy Grill, and Poogan's Porch. After the boxes are unpacked in Iowa, don't wait too long before making your way to Iowa's acclaimed eateries like The High Life Lounge, Zombie Burger, and Amana Colonies.
When comparing lifestyles, Iowa shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than South Carolina. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Iowa compared to what you are used to in South Carolina. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Iowa.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between South Carolina and Iowa
Comparison | South Carolina | Iowa |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial and Brick | Prairie and Ranch |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Oceanfront, Porches | Family-friendly, Quiet streets |
- The Colonial and Brick architecture that South Carolina is known for will be replaced with the Prairie and Ranch architecture typical of Iowa.
- Compared to South Carolina's real estate listings that commonly reference oceanfront properties and porches, Iowa real estate listings often highlight features like family-friendly environments and quiet streets.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Iowa is more walkable than South Carolina.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Iowa is more bike-friendly than South Carolina.
- Iowa has more of an urban feel than South Carolina.
- Iowa housing costs are 27% less expensive than they are in South Carolina, with a median home price of $214,151 compared to South Carolinaβs $293,893.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Iowa have increased by 36% compared to a 58% increase in South Carolina.
- Rent in Iowa is 34.62% more affordable than in South Carolina.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between South Carolina and Iowa
Comparison | South Carolina | Iowa |
---|---|---|
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, blizzards |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 90Β°F / 71Β°F | 85Β°F / 63Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 60Β°F / 38Β°F | 31Β°F / 14Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 49.8 | 36.0 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 1 | 36 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from South Carolina to Iowa. Iowa gets 6% fewer sunshine days than South Carolina.
- Iowa has higher humidity and a lower 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 blizzards in Iowa.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Iowa is 5 degrees colder than in South Carolina.
- The average winter lows in Iowa are 24 degrees colder than those in South Carolina.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Iowa. Iowa receives 13.8 fewer inches of rain compared to South Carolina.
Financial & Community Snapshot: South Carolina and Iowa
Comparison | South Carolina | Iowa |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $64,115 | $69,588 |
Cost of Living Index | 96.85 | 95.9 |
State Income Tax | 3-7% | 0.33-8.53% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.57% | 1.53% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 7.46% | 6.94% |
Top 3 Industries | Aerospace, Tourism, Automotive Manufacturing | Agriculture, Manufacturing, Finance |
Affluence | Average | Moderate |
Poverty | Moderate | Low |
Homelessness | Average | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Iowa tend to earn about 9% more than those in South Carolina
- The COLI in Iowa will be 1% lower than what you are used to living in South Carolina
- The state income tax in IA is 0.33-8.53% compared to 3-7% in SC
- The affluence in Iowa is moderate compared to average in South Carolina
- The poverty level is low in Iowa compared to moderate in South Carolina
- In terms of homelessness, it is average in South Carolina and low in Iowa
Political and Religious Climate in South Carolina vs. Iowa
Comparison | South Carolina | Iowa |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Conservatively Leaned | Moderately Varied |
Local Politics | Republican Dominance | Mixed, with swings |
Religion | Evangelical Protestant | Mainline Protestant |
- South Carolina tends to lean conservatively in its political climate
- Iowa, on the other hand, is often described as moderately varied
- Iowa's religious environment can be described as mainline Protestant
- South Carolina's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as evangelical Protestant
Education Guide When Moving from South Carolina to Iowa
Comparison | South Carolina | Iowa |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of South Carolina Clemson University Coastal Carolina University | University of Iowa Iowa State University University of Northern Iowa |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Mount Pleasant Academy (Mount Pleasant) Buist Academy (Charleston) Charleston Development Academy (Charleston) | Wickham Elementary (Coralville) Roosevelt Elementary (Ames) Grant Wood Elementary (Bettendorf) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Moultrie Middle School (Mount Pleasant) Hand Middle School (Columbia) Thomas C. Cario Middle School (Mount Pleasant) | North Central Junior High (North Liberty) Ames Middle School (Ames) Bettendorf Middle School (Bettendorf) |
Top 3 High School Schools | Academic Magnet High School (North Charleston) Charleston School of the Arts (North Charleston) Wando High School (Mount Pleasant) | West High School (Iowa City) Ames High School (Ames) Pleasant Valley High School (Bettendorf) |
Top 3 private high schools | Porter-Gaud School (Charleston) Hammond School (Columbia) Hilton Head Preparatory School (Hilton Head Island) | The Scattergood Friends School (West Branch) Maharishi School (Fairfield) Dowling Catholic High School (West Des Moines) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Trident Academy (Mount Pleasant) Ashley Hall (Charleston) Camden Military Academy (Camden) | Scattergood Friends School (West Branch) Maharishi School (Fairfield) Rivermont Collegiate (Bettendorf) |
Top 3 School Districts | Charleston County School District Greenville County School District Lexington School District One | West Des Moines Community School District Iowa City Community School District Ames Community School District |
How Much Do South Carolina to Iowa Movers Cost?
Moving 1,085 miles from South Carolina to Iowa will typically cost between $2,500 and $6,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,500 - $6,500
- 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 | $1,818 | 300 ft3 | $6.06 |
1 Bedroom | $2,704 | 450 ft3 | $6.01 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,469 | 750 ft3 | $5.96 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,500 | 1100 ft3 | $5.91 |
4 Bedrooms | $9,374 | 1600 ft3 | $5.86 |
5+ Bedrooms | $10,456 | 1800 ft3 | $5.81 |
Top South Carolina to Iowa Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best South Carolina to Iowa movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Adamantine Spine Moving
Best moving company overall for South Carolina to Iowa