South Carolina to Tennessee Moving Guide
Updated June 13, 2025

Planning a 430 mile interstate move from South Carolina to Tennessee? This moving guide will help you compare living in South Carolina vs Tennessee across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high humidity vs milder weather), food & health (like Shrimp and Grits vs Hot Chicken), real estate & housing (colonial and charleston single vs victorian and modern farmhouse), 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 Hot Chicken & Memphis BBQ
- Tennessee housing costs are 8% more expensive than they are in South Carolina
- Rent in Tennessee is 1.72% more expensive than in South Carolina
- Moving from South Carolina to Tennessee will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,000
- Our top recommended South Carolina to Tennessee movers is Alpha Moving & Storage LLC
South Carolina to Tennessee Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from South Carolina to Tennessee
- High humidity
- Coastal storm risk
- Higher flood insurance
- Tourist crowds
- Milder weather
- Fewer natural disasters
- Lower cost of living
- Peaceful landscapes
- No coastal access
- Less historical focus
- Less cultural diversity
- Limited fresh seafood
- Beautiful beaches
- Rich history
- Charming southern culture
- Seafood delicacies
Pros of moving from South Carolina to Tennessee
- Say goodbye to high humidity and hello to milder weather
- Look forward to moving away from coastal storm risk and moving to Tennessee with fewer natural disasters
- Swap the higher flood insurance of South Carolina for the lower cost of living in Tennessee
- Get ready for peaceful landscapes in Tennessee
Cons of moving from South Carolina to Tennessee
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from beautiful beaches in South Carolina to live with no coastal access in Tennessee
- You'll lose out on the pro of rich history and have to settle for the con of less historical focus
- Time to bid farewell to charming southern culture and get used to less cultural diversity in Tennessee
- Swap seafood delicacies for limited fresh seafood
South Carolina vs. Tennessee: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | South Carolina | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Shrimp and Grits | Hot Chicken |
Most popular meat dish | Pulled Pork BBQ | Memphis BBQ |
Most popular street food item | Boiled Peanuts | BBQ Nachos |
Most popular vegan food | Collard Greens | BBQ Tofu |
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 Tennessee, you will be trading the iconic Shrimp and Grits of South Carolina for the equally delicious Hot Chicken of Tennessee. And while the locals in South Carolina rave about their flavorful Pulled Pork BBQ and sumptuous Boiled Peanuts, Tennessee residents know they have tasty Memphis BBQ and BBQ Nachos 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 BBQ Tofu of Tennessee. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic South Carolina eateries like Husk, Hominy Grill, and Hall's Chophouse. After the boxes are unpacked in Tennessee, don't wait too long before making your way to Tennessee's acclaimed eateries like Hattie B's Hot Chicken, Central BBQ, and The Southern Steak & Oyster.
When comparing lifestyles, Tennessee shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than South Carolina. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Tennessee compared to what you are used to in South Carolina. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Tennessee.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between South Carolina and Tennessee
Comparison | South Carolina | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial and Charleston Single | Victorian and Modern Farmhouse |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Historic charm, waterfront | Mountain views, spacious lots |
- The Colonial and Charleston Single architecture that South Carolina is known for will be replaced with the Victorian and Modern Farmhouse architecture typical of Tennessee.
- Compared to South Carolina's real estate listings that commonly reference historic charm and waterfront views, Tennessee real estate listings often highlight features like mountain views and spacious lots.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes; Tennessee is more walkable than South Carolina.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; Tennessee is more bike-friendly than South Carolina.
- Tennessee has more of an urban feel than South Carolina.
- Tennessee housing costs are 8% more expensive than they are in South Carolina, with a median home price of $317,482 compared to South Carolinaβs $293,893.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Tennessee have increased by 63% compared to a 58% increase in South Carolina.
- Rent in Tennessee is 1.72% more expensive than in South Carolina.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between South Carolina and Tennessee
Comparison | South Carolina | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
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, Severe Storms |
Air Quality | Good | Varies by region, mostly Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 90Β°F / 71Β°F | 89Β°F / 68Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 58Β°F / 38Β°F | 49Β°F / 30Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 49.8 | 53.68 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 1 | 6 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from South Carolina to Tennessee. Tennessee gets 4% fewer sunshine days than South Carolina.
- Tennessee 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 tornadoes and severe storms in Tennessee.
- The average summer high temperature in Tennessee is 1 degree colder than in South Carolina.
- The average winter lows are 8 degrees colder than they are in South Carolina.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Tennessee. Tennessee receives 3.9 more inches of rain compared to South Carolina.
Financial & Community Snapshot: South Carolina and Tennessee
Comparison | South Carolina | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $64,115 | $65,254 |
Cost of Living Index | 96.85 | 88.9 |
State Income Tax | 7% | 0% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.57% | 0.64% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 7% | 9.55% |
Top 3 Industries | Manufacturing, Agriculture, Tourism | Healthcare, Manufacturing, Tourism |
Affluence | Moderate | Moderate |
Poverty | Noticeable | Noticeable |
Homelessness | Visible | Visible |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Tennessee tend to earn about 2% more than in South Carolina
- The COLI in Tennessee will be 8% lower than what you are used to living in South Carolina
- Hooray, moving to TN means you'll no longer have state income taxes
- The affluence in Tennessee is moderate compared to moderate in South Carolina
- The poverty level is noticeable in Tennessee compared to noticeable in South Carolina
- In terms of homelessness, it is visible in South Carolina and visible in Tennessee
Political and Religious Climate in South Carolina vs. Tennessee
Comparison | South Carolina | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Traditionally Republican | Traditionally Republican |
Local Politics | Conservative lean, but with growing urban Democratic hubs | Conservatively inclined, with significant Democratic influence in cities like Nashville and Memphis |
Religion | Evangelical Protestantism is predominant | Evangelical Protestantism holds significant influence |
- South Carolina tends to lean traditionally Republican in its political climate
- Tennessee, on the other hand, is often described as traditionally Republican
- Tennessee's religious environment can be described as evangelical Protestantism holds significant influence
- South Carolina's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as evangelical Protestantism is predominant
Education Guide When Moving from South Carolina to Tennessee
Comparison | South Carolina | Tennessee |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of South Carolina Clemson University College of Charleston | University of Tennessee Vanderbilt University Tennessee State University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Buist Academy (Charleston) Mount Pleasant Academy (Mount Pleasant) Clemson Elementary (Clemson) | Lipscomb Elementary (Brentwood) Walton Ferry Elementary (Hendersonville) A. B. Hill Elementary (Memphis) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Langston Charter Middle School (Greenville) Ocean Bay Middle School (Myrtle Beach) Springfield Middle School (Fort Mill) | Brentwood Middle School (Brentwood) Meigs Magnet Middle School (Nashville) West End Middle School (Nashville) |
Top 3 High School Schools | Academic Magnet High School (North Charleston) School of the Arts (North Charleston) Dutch Fork High School (Irmo) | Hume-Fogg Academic Magnet (Nashville) Central Magnet School (Murfreesboro) Brentwood High School (Brentwood) |
Top 3 private high schools | Porter-Gaud School (Charleston) Hammond School (Columbia) Hilton Head Preparatory School (Hilton Head Island) | Baylor School (Chattanooga) McCallie School (Chattanooga) Montgomery Bell Academy (Nashville) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Heathwood Hall Episcopal School (Columbia) Ashley Hall (Charleston) Spartanburg Day School (Spartanburg) | Webb School of Knoxville (Knoxville) University School of Nashville (Nashville) Harding Academy (Nashville) |
Top 3 School Districts | Lexington School District One Greenville County Schools Fort Mill School District | Williamson County Schools Oak Ridge School District Maryville City Schools |
How Much Do South Carolina to Tennessee Movers Cost?
Moving 430 miles from South Carolina to Tennessee 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: Luxury Movers Moving Company, LLC
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,446 | 300 ft3 | $4.82 |
1 Bedroom | $2,147 | 450 ft3 | $4.77 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,541 | 750 ft3 | $4.72 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,138 | 1100 ft3 | $4.67 |
4 Bedrooms | $7,393 | 1600 ft3 | $4.62 |
5+ Bedrooms | $8,228 | 1800 ft3 | $4.57 |
Top South Carolina to Tennessee Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best South Carolina to Tennessee movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Alpha Moving & Storage LLC
Best moving company overall for South Carolina to Tennessee