South Carolina to Washington Moving Guide
Updated June 18, 2025

Planning a 2,768 mile interstate move from South Carolina to Washington? This moving guide will help you compare living in South Carolina vs Washington across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high humidity vs mild summers), food & health (like Shrimp and Grits vs Salmon), real estate & housing (colonial, charleston style vs craftsman, modern), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Washington), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Shrimp and Grits and Pulled Pork BBQ, but get your taste buds ready for Salmon & Pho with Beef
- Washington housing costs are 101% more expensive than they are in South Carolina
- Rent in Washington is 19.30% more expensive than in South Carolina
- Moving from South Carolina to Washington will cost on average between $3,000 - $10,000
- Our top recommended South Carolina to Washington movers is Seattle Moves & More
South Carolina to Washington Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from South Carolina to Washington
- High humidity
- Limited tech jobs
- Hurricane risk
- Traffic congestion
- Limited outdoor activities
- Mild summers
- Thriving tech industry
- Low hurricane risk
- Efficient public transport
- Diverse recreational opportunities
- High living costs
- Rainy climate
- Frequent earthquakes
- Cultural adjustment
- Limited beach access
- Southern hospitality
- Warm winters
- Rich history
- Familiar culture
- Beach access
Pros of moving from South Carolina to Washington
- Say goodbye to high humidity and hello to mild summers
- Look forward to moving away from limited tech jobs and moving to Washington with a thriving tech industry
- Swap the hurricane risk of South Carolina for low hurricane risk in Washington
- Get ready for efficient public transport in Washington
Cons of moving from South Carolina to Washington
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from Southern hospitality in South Carolina to live with high living costs in Washington
- You'll lose out on the pro of warm winters and have to settle for the con of a rainy climate
- Time to bid farewell to rich history and get used to frequent earthquakes in Washington
- Swap familiar culture for cultural adjustment
South Carolina vs. Washington: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | South Carolina | Washington |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Shrimp and Grits | Salmon |
Most popular meat dish | Pulled Pork BBQ | Pho with Beef |
Most popular street food item | Fried Green Tomatoes | Tacos |
Most popular vegan food | Collard Greens | Ramen |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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Fitness/Health Conscientiousness (out of 10) | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ |
Abundance of Food Trucks (out of 10) | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Foodie Scene (out of 10) | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ |
Vegan Friendly (out of 10) | 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 Washington, you will be trading the iconic Shrimp and Grits of South Carolina for the equally delicious Salmon of Washington. And while the locals in South Carolina rave about their flavorful Pulled Pork BBQ and sumptuous Fried Green Tomatoes, Washington residents know they have tasty Pho with Beef 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 Ramen of Washington. 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 Washington, don't wait too long before making your way to Washington's acclaimed eateries like Canlis, The Herb Farm, and Salumi.
When comparing lifestyles, Washington shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than South Carolina. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Washington compared to what you are used to in South Carolina. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Washington.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between South Carolina and Washington
Comparison | South Carolina | Washington |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Charleston style | Craftsman, Modern |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Lakeside views, large yards | Eco-friendly features, proximity to tech hubs |
- The Colonial and Charleston style architecture that South Carolina is known for will be replaced with the Craftsman and Modern architecture typical of Washington.
- Compared to South Carolina's real estate listings that commonly reference lakeside views and large yards, Washington real estate listings often highlight features like eco-friendly designs and proximity to tech hubs.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Washington is more walkable than South Carolina.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Washington is more bike-friendly than South Carolina.
- Washington has more of an urban feel than South Carolina.
- Washington housing costs are 101% more expensive than they are in South Carolina, with a median home price of $591,148 compared to South Carolinaβs $293,893.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Washington have increased 49% compared to a 58% increase in South Carolina.
- Rent in Washington is 19.30% more expensive than in South Carolina.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between South Carolina and Washington
Comparison | South Carolina | Washington |
---|---|---|
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 | Volcanoes, Earthquakes |
Air Quality | Good to Moderate | Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 90Β°F / 71Β°F | 75Β°F / 55Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 60Β°F / 38Β°F | 47Β°F / 36Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 49.8" | 38.4" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 1" | 20" |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from South Carolina to Washington. Washington gets 30% fewer sunshine days than South Carolina.
- Washington 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 volcanoes and earthquakes in Washington.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Washington is 15 degrees colder than South Carolina.
- The average winter lows in Washington are 2 degrees colder than they are in South Carolina.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Washington. Washington receives 11.4 fewer inches of rain compared to South Carolina.
Financial & Community Snapshot: South Carolina and Washington
Comparison | South Carolina | Washington |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $64,115 | $91,306 |
Cost of Living Index | 96.85 | 104.1 |
State Income Tax | 7% | 0% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.57% | 0.93% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 7.44% | 9.50% |
Top 3 Industries | Manufacturing, Tourism, Agriculture | Technology, Aerospace, Agriculture |
Affluence | Modest | High |
Poverty | Moderate | Low |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Washington tend to earn about 42% more than those in South Carolina
- The COLI in Washington will be 7% higher than what you are used to living in South Carolina
- Hooray, moving to WA means you'll no longer have state income taxes
- The affluence in Washington is high compared to modest affluence in South Carolina
- The poverty level is low in Washington compared to moderate poverty in South Carolina
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in South Carolina and moderate in Washington
Political and Religious Climate in South Carolina vs. Washington
Comparison | South Carolina | Washington |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Traditionally Republican | Leans Democratic |
Local Politics | Conservative with a strong focus on local governance | Progressive, especially in urban areas like Seattle and Tacoma |
Religion | Highly religious, predominantly Christian | More secular, diverse religious communities |
- South Carolina tends to lean traditionally Republican in its political climate
- Washington, on the other hand, is often described as leaning Democratic
- Washington's religious environment can be described as more secular with diverse religious communities
- South Carolina's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as highly religious and predominantly Christian
Education Guide When Moving from South Carolina to Washington
Comparison | South Carolina | Washington |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of South Carolina Clemson University Coastal Carolina University | University of Washington Washington State University Western Washington University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Mount Pleasant Academy (Mount Pleasant) Buist Academy (Charleston) Clemson Elementary (Clemson) | Cascade K-8 (Shoreline) Bertschi School (Seattle) The Bush School (Seattle) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Thomas C. Cario Middle School (Mount Pleasant) Dutch Fork Middle School (Irmo) Ocean Bay Middle School (Myrtle Beach) | Lakeside Middle School (Seattle) Environmental & Adventure School (Kirkland) Washington Middle School (Seattle) |
Top 3 High Schools | Academic Magnet High School (North Charleston) Charleston County School of the Arts (North Charleston) Mayo High School for Math Science & Technology (Darlington) | International School (Bellevue) Newport High School (Bellevue) Tesla STEM High School (Redmond) |
Top 3 private high schools | Porter-Gaud (Charleston) Hammond School (Columbia) Christ Church Episcopal School (Greenville) | Lakeside School (Seattle) The Overlake School (Redmond) Seattle Academy (Seattle) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Trident Academy (Mount Pleasant) Greenville Classical Academy (Simpsonville) Cambridge Academy (Greenwood) | The Bush School (Seattle) The Bear Creek School (Redmond) Eastside Preparatory School (Kirkland) |
Top 3 School Districts | Lexington 1 Charleston County Greenville County | Lake Washington School District Bellevue School District Mercer Island School District |
How Much Do South Carolina to Washington Movers Cost?
Moving 2,768 miles from South Carolina to Washington will typically cost between $4,000 and $10,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $4,000 - $10,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-4 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: John Volken Academy Movers
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,772 | 300 ft3 | $9.24 |
1 Bedroom | $4,135 | 450 ft3 | $9.19 |
2 Bedrooms | $6,854 | 750 ft3 | $9.14 |
3 Bedrooms | $9,998 | 1100 ft3 | $9.09 |
4 Bedrooms | $14,463 | 1600 ft3 | $9.04 |
5+ Bedrooms | $16,180 | 1800 ft3 | $8.99 |
Top South Carolina to Washington Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best South Carolina to Washington movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.
Seattle Moves & More
Best moving company overall for South Carolina to Washington