Tennessee to South Carolina Moving Guide
Updated June 15, 2025

Planning a 429 mile interstate move from Tennessee to South Carolina? This moving guide will help you compare living in Tennessee vs South Carolina across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like hot, humid summers vs coastal beaches), food & health (like Nashville Hot Chicken vs Shrimp and Grits), real estate & housing (craftsman vs colonial revival), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in South Carolina), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Nashville Hot Chicken and Memphis BBQ, but get your taste buds ready for Shrimp and Grits & Lowcountry Boil
- South Carolina housing costs are 7% less expensive than they are in Tennessee
- Rent in South Carolina is 1.69% more affordable than in Tennessee
- Moving from Tennessee to South Carolina will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,000
- Our top recommended Tennessee to South Carolina movers is Alpha Moving & Storage LLC
Tennessee to South Carolina Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Tennessee to South Carolina
- Hot, humid summers
- Limited coastal access
- Higher sales tax
- Landlocked state
- Limited beaches
- Coastal beaches
- Seafood options
- Lower property tax
- Rich historical sites
- Mild winters
- Fewer music venues
- Higher housing costs
- Hurricane risk
- Competitive job market
- More tourists
- Vibrant music scene
- Lower cost of living
- Scenic mountains
- Stable job market
- Southern hospitality
Pros of moving from Tennessee to South Carolina
- Say goodbye to hot, humid summers and hello to coastal beaches
- Look forward to moving away from limited coastal access and moving to South Carolina with seafood options
- Swap the higher sales tax of Tennessee for lower property tax in South Carolina
- Get ready for rich historical sites in South Carolina
Cons of moving from Tennessee to South Carolina
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the vibrant music scene in Tennessee to live with fewer music venues in South Carolina
- You'll lose out on the pro of a lower cost of living and have to settle with the con of higher housing costs
- Time to bid farewell to scenic mountains and get used to the hurricane risk in South Carolina
- Swap a stable job market for a competitive job market
Tennessee vs. South Carolina: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Tennessee | South Carolina |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Nashville Hot Chicken | Shrimp and Grits |
Most popular meat dish | Memphis BBQ | Lowcountry Boil |
Most popular street food item | Gourmet Hot Dogs | Fried Green Tomatoes |
Most popular vegan food | BBQ Jackfruit | Collard Greens |
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 (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 | 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 Tennessee to South Carolina, you will be trading the iconic Nashville Hot Chicken of Tennessee for the equally delicious Shrimp and Grits of South Carolina. And while the locals in Tennessee rave about their flavorful Memphis BBQ and sumptuous Gourmet Hot Dogs, South Carolina residents know they have tasty Lowcountry Boil and Fried Green Tomatoes to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the BBQ Jackfruit they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Collard Greens of South Carolina. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Tennessee eateries like Prince's Hot Chicken Shack, Central BBQ, and Rolf and Daughters. After the boxes are unpacked in South Carolina, don't wait too long before making your way to South Carolina's acclaimed eateries like Husk, FIG, and Bowens Island Restaurant.
When comparing lifestyles, South Carolina shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Tennessee. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in South Carolina, compared to what you are used to in Tennessee. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in South Carolina.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Tennessee and South Carolina
Comparison | Tennessee | South Carolina |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Craftsman | Colonial Revival |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious backyards | Coastal access |
- The Craftsman architecture that Tennessee is known for will be replaced with the Colonial Revival architecture typical of South Carolina.
- Compared to Tennessee's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious backyards, South Carolina real estate listings often highlight features like coastal access.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes; South Carolina is more walkable than Tennessee.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; South Carolina is more bike-friendly than Tennessee.
- South Carolina has more of an urban feel than Tennessee.
- South Carolina housing costs are 7% less expensive than they are in Tennessee, with a median home price of $293,893 compared to Tennesseeβs $317,482.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in South Carolina have increased 58% compared to a 63% increase in Tennessee.
- Rent in South Carolina is 1.69% more affordable than in Tennessee.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Tennessee and South Carolina
Comparison | Tennessee | South Carolina |
---|---|---|
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 | Tornadoes, Floods | Hurricanes, Floods |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85/66 | 90/71 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 49/30 | 59/38 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 53 | 49 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 5 | 1 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Tennessee to South Carolina. South Carolina gets 4% more sunshine days than Tennessee.
- South Carolina has higher humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Tennessee.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and floods in Tennessee, but be on the lookout for potential hurricanes and floods in South Carolina.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in South Carolina is 5 degrees warmer than in Tennessee.
- The average winter lows are 8 degrees warmer than they are in Tennessee.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in South Carolina. South Carolina receives 4 fewer inches of rain compared to Tennessee.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Tennessee and South Carolina
Comparison | Tennessee | South Carolina |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $65,254 | $64,115 |
Cost of Living Index | 88.9 | 96.85 |
State Income Tax | 0% | 3-7% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.64% | 0.56% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 9.55% | 7.46% |
Top 3 Industries | Automotive, Agriculture, Healthcare | Aerospace, Automotive, Tourism |
Affluence | Moderate | Modest |
Poverty | Moderate | Moderate |
Homelessness | Moderate | Lower |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in South Carolina tend to earn about 2% less than in Tennessee
- The COLI in South Carolina will be 9% higher than what you are used to living in Tennessee
- Bummer... By moving from TN to SC, you'll now have a state income tax of 3-7%
- The affluence in South Carolina is modest compared to moderate affluence in Tennessee
- The poverty level is moderate in South Carolina compared to moderate in Tennessee
- In terms of homelessness, it is moderate in Tennessee and lower in South Carolina
Political and Religious Climate in Tennessee vs. South Carolina
Comparison | Tennessee | South Carolina |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Republican | Lean Republican |
Local Politics | Conservative in rural regions, more liberal in cities like Nashville | Conservatively inclined, with pockets of liberal influence in Charleston and Columbia |
Religion | Christianity predominantly, with a notable presence of Baptists | Strongly Christian, significant Baptist and Methodist communities |
- Tennessee tends to lean Republican in its political climate
- South Carolina, on the other hand, is often described as lean Republican
- South Carolina's religious environment can be described as strongly Christian with significant Baptist and Methodist communities
- Tennessee's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as predominantly Christianity with a notable presence of Baptists
Education Guide When Moving from Tennessee to South Carolina
Comparison | Tennessee | South Carolina |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Tennessee Vanderbilt University Tennessee State University | University of South Carolina Clemson University College of Charleston |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Linden Elementary (Oak Ridge) A. B. Hill Elementary (Memphis) Whitthorne Middle School (Columbia) | Buist Academy (Charleston) Mount Pleasant Academy (Mount Pleasant) Lake Forest Elementary (Greenville) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Meigs Middle Magnet (Nashville) Brentwood Middle (Brentwood) Baylor School (Chattanooga) | Charleston School of the Arts (North Charleston) Gold Hill Middle School (Fort Mill) Thomas C. Cario Middle School (Mount Pleasant) |
Top 3 High School Schools | Hume-Fogg Academic High School (Nashville) Central Magnet School (Murfreesboro) Merrol Hyde Magnet School (Hendersonville) | Academic Magnet High School (North Charleston) Governor's School for Science & Mathematics (Hartsville) Dutch Fork High School (Irmo) |
Top 3 private high schools | Baylor School (Chattanooga) Montgomery Bell Academy (Nashville) Harpeth Hall School (Nashville) | Porter-Gaud School (Charleston) Hammond School (Columbia) Hilton Head Preparatory School (Hilton Head Island) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Baylor School (Chattanooga) The McCallie School (Chattanooga) University School of Nashville (Nashville) | Porter-Gaud School (Charleston) Hammond School (Columbia) Trinity-Byrnes Collegiate School (Darlington) |
Top 3 School Districts | Williamson County Schools Maryville City Schools Oak Ridge City Schools | Fort Mill School District Lexington County School District One Greenville County School District |
How Much Do Tennessee to South Carolina Movers Cost?
Moving 429 miles from Tennessee to South Carolina 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 | $2,146 | 450 ft3 | $4.77 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,539 | 750 ft3 | $4.72 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,136 | 1100 ft3 | $4.67 |
4 Bedrooms | $7,390 | 1600 ft3 | $4.62 |
5+ Bedrooms | $8,224 | 1800 ft3 | $4.57 |
Top Tennessee to South Carolina Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Tennessee to South Carolina movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

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