South Carolina to Kentucky Moving Guide
Updated June 16, 2025

Planning a 426 mile interstate move from South Carolina to Kentucky? This moving guide will help you compare living in South Carolina vs Kentucky across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high humidity vs mild summers), food & health (like Shrimp and Grits vs Fried Chicken), real estate & housing (colonial, charleston style vs colonial, 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 Chicken & Hot Brown Turkey Sandwich
- Kentucky housing costs are 31% less expensive than they are in South Carolina
- Rent in Kentucky is 20.78% more affordable than in South Carolina
- Moving from South Carolina to Kentucky will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,000
- Our top recommended South Carolina to Kentucky movers is Luxury Movers Moving Company, LLC
South Carolina to Kentucky Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from South Carolina to Kentucky
- High humidity
- Hurricane risk
- Heavy tourism
- Limited landscapes
- Mild summers
- No hurricanes
- Quiet communities
- Diverse natural scenery
- No ocean access
- Lacks coastal history
- Fewer restaurant options
- Different culture pace
- Coastal beaches
- Historical attractions
- Culinary scene
- Rich culture
Pros of moving from South Carolina to Kentucky
- Say goodbye to high humidity and hello to mild summers
- Look forward to moving away from hurricane risk and moving to Kentucky with no hurricanes
- Swap the heavy tourism of South Carolina for quiet communities in Kentucky
- Get ready for diverse natural scenery in Kentucky
Cons of moving from South Carolina to Kentucky
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from coastal beaches in South Carolina to live with no ocean access in Kentucky
- You'll lose out on the pro of historical attractions and have to settle for the con of lacking coastal history
- Time to bid farewell to the culinary scene and get used to fewer restaurant options in Kentucky
- Swap rich culture for a different cultural pace
South Carolina vs. Kentucky: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | South Carolina | Kentucky |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Shrimp and Grits | Fried Chicken |
Most popular meat dish | Pulled Pork BBQ | Hot Brown Turkey Sandwich |
Most popular street food item | Boiled Peanuts | Bourbon Balls |
Most popular vegan food | Collard Greens | Beer Cheese |
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 Kentucky, you will be trading the iconic Shrimp and Grits of South Carolina for the equally delicious Fried Chicken of Kentucky. And while the locals in South Carolina rave about their flavorful Pulled Pork BBQ and sumptuous Boiled Peanuts, Kentucky residents know they have tasty Hot Brown Turkey Sandwich and Bourbon Balls 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 Beer Cheese of Kentucky. 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 Kentucky, don't wait too long before making your way to Kentucky's acclaimed eateries like The Monarch, Ramsey's Diner, and The Brown Hotel.
When comparing lifestyles, Kentucky shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than South Carolina. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Kentucky, compared to what you are used to in South Carolina. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Kentucky.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between South Carolina and Kentucky
Comparison | South Carolina | Kentucky |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Charleston style | Colonial, Craftsman |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Porches, waterfront | Large yards, horse farms |
- The Colonial and Charleston style architecture that South Carolina is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Craftsman architecture typical of Kentucky.
- Compared to South Carolina's real estate listings that commonly reference porches and waterfront, Kentucky real estate listings often highlight features like large yards and horse farms.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Kentucky is less walkable than South Carolina.
- Kentucky is similarly bike-friendly to South Carolina.
- Kentucky has less of an urban feel than South Carolina.
- Kentucky housing costs are 31% less expensive than they are in South Carolina, with a median home price of $201,332 compared to South Carolinaβs $293,893.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Kentucky have increased by 47% compared to a 58% increase in South Carolina.
- Rent in Kentucky is 20.78% more affordable than in South Carolina.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between South Carolina and Kentucky
Comparison | South Carolina | Kentucky |
---|---|---|
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, Flooding | Tornadoes, Ice Storms |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 90Β°F / 71Β°F | 87Β°F / 66Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 60Β°F / 38Β°F | 44Β°F / 27Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 49.8 | 50 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 1 | 22 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from South Carolina to Kentucky. Kentucky gets 10% fewer sunshine days than South Carolina.
- Kentucky has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to South Carolina.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and flooding in South Carolina, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and ice storms in Kentucky.
- The average summer high temperature in Kentucky is 3 degrees colder than in South Carolina.
- The average winter lows in Kentucky are 11 degrees colder than those in South Carolina.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Kentucky, as it receives 0.2 more inches of rain compared to South Carolina.
Financial & Community Snapshot: South Carolina and Kentucky
Comparison | South Carolina | Kentucky |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $64,115 | $59,341 |
Cost of Living Index | 96.85 | 87.8 |
State Income Tax | 7.0% | 5.0% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.57% | 0.83% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 7.46% | 6.0% |
Top 3 Industries | Manufacturing, Tourism, Agriculture | Manufacturing, Healthcare, Agriculture |
Affluence | Moderate | Modest |
Poverty | Moderate | Above average |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Kentucky tend to earn about 7% less than in South Carolina
- The COLI in Kentucky will be 9% lower than what you are used to living in South Carolina
- The state income tax in KY is 5.0% compared to 7.0% in SC
- The affluence in Kentucky is modest compared to moderate in South Carolina
- The poverty level is above average in Kentucky compared to moderate in South Carolina
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in South Carolina and moderate in Kentucky
Political and Religious Climate in South Carolina vs. Kentucky
Comparison | South Carolina | Kentucky |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Conservative leaning | Moderately conservative |
Local Politics | Strong Republican presence | Political balance with a slight Republic lean |
Religion | Evangelical Protestant | Baptist predominant |
- South Carolina tends to lean conservative in its political climate
- Kentucky, on the other hand, is often described as moderately conservative
- Kentucky's religious environment can be described as Baptist predominant
- South Carolina's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as evangelical Protestant
Education Guide When Moving from South Carolina to Kentucky
Comparison | South Carolina | Kentucky |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of South Carolina Clemson University College of Charleston | University of Kentucky University of Louisville Western Kentucky University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Buist Academy (Charleston) Mount Pleasant Academy (Mount Pleasant) Oakview Elementary (Simpsonville) | Audubon Traditional (Louisville) Rosa Parks Elementary (Lexington) Veteran's Park Elementary (Lexington) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Moultrie Middle (Mount Pleasant) Hand Middle (Columbia) Gold Hill Middle (Fort Mill) | Barret Traditional Middle (Louisville) Beaumont Middle (Lexington) Winburn Middle (Lexington) |
Top 3 High School Schools | Academic Magnet High School (North Charleston) Charleston School of the Arts (North Charleston) Dutch Fork High (Irmo) | DuPont Manual High (Louisville) Highlands High (Fort Thomas) Beechwood High (Fort Mitchell) |
Top 3 private high schools | Porter-Gaud School (Charleston) Heathwood Hall Episcopal School (Columbia) Hammond School (Columbia) | Louisville Collegiate School (Louisville) Sayre School (Lexington) The Lexington School (Lexington) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Hilton Head Preparatory School (Hilton Head Island) Spartanburg Day School (Spartanburg) Ashley Hall (Charleston) | The Lexington Christian Academy (Lexington) St. Xavier High School (Louisville) Trinity High School (Louisville) |
Top 3 School Districts | Lexington 1 Greenville County Schools Fort Mill Schools | Fayette County Public Schools Jefferson County Public Schools Bowling Green Independent Schools |
How Much Do South Carolina to Kentucky Movers Cost?
Moving 426 miles from South Carolina to Kentucky 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: 2-3 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Smooth Move Relocation Services
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,444 | 300 ft3 | $4.81 |
1 Bedroom | $2,143 | 450 ft3 | $4.76 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,535 | 750 ft3 | $4.71 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,130 | 1100 ft3 | $4.66 |
4 Bedrooms | $7,381 | 1600 ft3 | $4.61 |
5+ Bedrooms | $8,214 | 1800 ft3 | $4.56 |
Top South Carolina to Kentucky Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best South Carolina to Kentucky movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

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