South Carolina to Pennsylvania Moving Guide
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Updated August 20, 2025
Planning a 678 mile interstate move from South Carolina to Pennsylvania? This moving guide will help you compare living in South Carolina vs Pennsylvania across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like hot, humid summers vs cooler climate), food & health (like Shrimp and Grits vs Philly Cheesesteak), real estate & housing (colonial and charleston single house vs colonial and victorian), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Pennsylvania), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Shrimp and Grits and Pulled Pork BBQ, but get your taste buds ready for Philly Cheesesteak & Pork and Sauerkraut
- Pennsylvania housing costs are 11% less expensive than they are in South Carolina
- Rent in Pennsylvania is 10.21% more affordable than in South Carolina
- Moving from South Carolina to Pennsylvania will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,000
- Our top recommended South Carolina to Pennsylvania movers is Pittsburgh Moving

Top South Carolina to Pennsylvania Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best South Carolina to Pennsylvania movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Pittsburgh Moving
Best moving company overall for South Carolina to Pennsylvania

Keystone Moving & Junk Removal, LLC

Luxury Movers Moving Company, LLC
South Carolina to Pennsylvania Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from South Carolina to Pennsylvania
- Hot, humid summers
- Hurricane risk
- Limited public transit
- Higher flooding risks
- Fewer historical landmarks
- Cooler climate
- Less severe weather
- Better transit systems
- Higher elevations
- Rich historical sites
- Colder winters
- Less laid-back vibe
- Higher property taxes
- Different food scene
- Denser urban areas
- Warm beaches
- Southern hospitality
- Lower cost of living
- Vibrant seafood cuisine
- Spacious living areas
Pros of moving from South Carolina to Pennsylvania
- Say goodbye to hot, humid summers and hello to a cooler climate
- Look forward to moving away from hurricane risk and moving to Pennsylvania with less severe weather
- Swap the limited public transit of South Carolina for better transit systems in Pennsylvania
- Get ready for higher elevations in Pennsylvania
Cons of moving from South Carolina to Pennsylvania
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from warm beaches in South Carolina to live with colder winters in Pennsylvania
- You'll lose out on the pro of Southern hospitality and have to settle with the con of a less laid-back vibe
- Time to bid farewell to a lower cost of living and get used to higher property taxes in Pennsylvania
- Swap vibrant seafood cuisine for a different food scene
South Carolina vs. Pennsylvania: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | South Carolina | Pennsylvania |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Shrimp and Grits | Philly Cheesesteak |
Most popular meat dish | Pulled Pork BBQ | Pork and Sauerkraut |
Most popular street food item | Boiled Peanuts | Soft Pretzels |
Most popular vegan food | Okra Soup | Mushroom Cheesesteak |
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 Pennsylvania, you will be trading the iconic Shrimp and Grits of South Carolina for the equally delicious Philly Cheesesteak of Pennsylvania. And while the locals in South Carolina rave about their flavorful Pulled Pork BBQ and sumptuous Boiled Peanuts, Pennsylvania residents know they have tasty Pork and Sauerkraut and Soft Pretzels to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Okra Soup they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Mushroom Cheesesteak of Pennsylvania. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic South Carolina eateries like Husk, Hominy Grill, and Leon's Oyster Shop. After the boxes are unpacked in Pennsylvania, don't wait too long before making your way to Pennsylvania's acclaimed eateries like Reading Terminal Market, Zahav, and Primanti Bros.
When comparing lifestyles, Pennsylvania shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than South Carolina. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Pennsylvania, compared to what you are used to in South Carolina. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Pennsylvania.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between South Carolina and Pennsylvania
Comparison | South Carolina | Pennsylvania |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial and Charleston Single House | Colonial and Victorian |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Large yards, porches, waterfront | Historic details, hardwood floors, proximity to parks |
- The Colonial and Charleston Single House architecture that South Carolina is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Victorian architecture typical of Pennsylvania.
- Compared to South Carolina's real estate listings that commonly reference large yards, porches, and waterfront, Pennsylvania real estate listings often highlight features like historic details, hardwood floors, and proximity to parks.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Pennsylvania is more walkable than South Carolina.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Pennsylvania is more bike-friendly than South Carolina.
- Pennsylvania has more of an urban feel than South Carolina.
- Pennsylvania housing costs are 11% less expensive than they are in South Carolina, with a median home price of $261,312 compared to South Carolinaβs $293,893.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Pennsylvania have increased by 43% compared to a 58% increase in South Carolina.
- Rent in Pennsylvania is 10.21% more affordable than in South Carolina.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between South Carolina and Pennsylvania
Comparison | South Carolina | Pennsylvania |
---|---|---|
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 | Snowstorms, Floods |
Air Quality | Good to Moderate | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 90Β°F / 71Β°F | 85Β°F / 62Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 60Β°F / 38Β°F | 40Β°F / 20Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 49.8" | 42" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 1" | 38" |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from South Carolina to Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania gets 17% fewer sunshine days than South Carolina.
- Pennsylvania has lower 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 snowstorms and floods in Pennsylvania.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Pennsylvania is 5 degrees colder than in South Carolina.
- The average winter lows are 18 degrees colder than they are in South Carolina.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania receives 7.8 fewer inches of rain compared to South Carolina.
Financial & Community Snapshot: South Carolina and Pennsylvania
Comparison | South Carolina | Pennsylvania |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $64,115 | $71,798 |
Cost of Living Index | 96.85 | 99.7 |
State Income Tax | 0% - 7% | 3.07% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.57% | 1.35% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6% | Pennsylvania: 6%; Philadelphia: 8% |
Top 3 Industries | Manufacturing, Aerospace, Agriculture | Manufacturing, Healthcare, Retail |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Noticeable | Evident |
Homelessness | Moderate | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Pennsylvania tend to earn about 12% more than in South Carolina
- The COLI in Pennsylvania will be 3% higher than what you are used to living in South Carolina
- The state income tax in PA is 3.07% compared to 0% to 7% in SC
- The affluence in Pennsylvania is high compared to moderate in South Carolina
- The poverty level is evident in Pennsylvania compared to noticeable in South Carolina
- In terms of homelessness, it is moderate in South Carolina and moderate in Pennsylvania
Political and Religious Climate in South Carolina vs. Pennsylvania
Comparison | South Carolina | Pennsylvania |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Generally conservative; Republicans dominate statewide offices and the legislature; presidential races reliably Republican. | Mixed/battleground; statewide offices often split; presidential and Senate outcomes vary by cycle. |
Local Politics | Most counties and smaller municipalities lean conservative; metro areas like Charleston, Columbia, and Greenville are more competitive or moderate. | Large cities (Philadelphia, Pittsburgh) strongly Democratic; suburbs are competitive; many rural counties lean Republican. |
Religion | High religious participation; Evangelical Protestantism is prominent, with smaller shares of mainline Protestant and Catholic; religiously unaffiliated share is relatively lower. | More religiously diverse; sizable Catholic and mainline Protestant populations and a larger unaffiliated share; Evangelical Protestant share is smaller than in South Carolina. |
- South Carolina tends to lean generally conservative in its political climate
- Pennsylvania, on the other hand, is often described as mixed or battleground; statewide offices often split and presidential and Senate outcomes vary by cycle
- Pennsylvania's religious environment can be described as more religiously diverse with sizable Catholic and mainline Protestant populations and a larger unaffiliated share; the Evangelical Protestant share is smaller than in South Carolina
- South Carolina's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as having high religious participation; Evangelical Protestantism is prominent with smaller shares of mainline Protestant and Catholic; the religiously unaffiliated share is relatively lower
Education Guide When Moving from South Carolina to Pennsylvania
Comparison | South Carolina | Pennsylvania |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | Clemson University - Clemson University of South Carolina - Columbia College of Charleston - Charleston | Penn State University - University Park University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Temple University - Philadelphia |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Charles Pinckney Elementary - Mount Pleasant Buist Academy - Charleston Forest Acres Elementary - Easley | Germantown Academy - Fort Washington Sewickley Academy - Sewickley The Baldwin School - Bryn Mawr |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Buist Academy - Charleston Langston Charter Middle School - Greenville Rollings Middle School of the Arts - Summerville | Rosemont Academy - Rosemont Shady Side Academy - Pittsburgh The Episcopal Academy - Newtown Square |
Top 3 High Schools | Academic Magnet High School - North Charleston Greenville Senior High Academy - Greenville Fort Mill High School - Fort Mill | Julia R. Masterman School - Philadelphia Downingtown STEM Academy - Downingtown Conestoga High School - Berwyn |
Top 3 private high schools | Porter-Gaud School - Charleston Hammond School - Columbia Heathwood Hall Episcopal School - Columbia | The Haverford School - Haverford Germantown Friends School - Philadelphia The Hill School - Pottstown |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Porter-Gaud School - Charleston Christ Church Episcopal School - Greenville Charleston Day School - Charleston | The Shipley School - Bryn Mawr The Haverford School - Haverford The Kiski School - Saltsburg |
Top 3 School Districts | Lexington-Richland School District Five - Irmo Fort Mill School District - Fort Mill Spartanburg School District 7 - Spartanburg | Tredyffrin-Easttown School District - Tredyffrin Township Radnor Township School District - Radnor Township Lower Merion School District - Ardmore |
How Much Do South Carolina to Pennsylvania Movers Cost?
Moving 678 miles from South Carolina to Pennsylvania 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: 1-3 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: U-Relax Moving
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,349 | 300 ft3 | $4.50 |
1 Bedroom | $2,004 | 450 ft3 | $4.45 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,308 | 750 ft3 | $4.41 |
3 Bedrooms | $4,805 | 1100 ft3 | $4.37 |
4 Bedrooms | $6,922 | 1600 ft3 | $4.33 |
5+ Bedrooms | $7,710 | 1800 ft3 | $4.28 |