Utah to South Carolina Moving Guide
Updated June 12, 2025

Planning a 2,035 mile interstate move from Utah to South Carolina? This moving guide will help you compare living in Utah vs South Carolina across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like dry desert climate vs mild coastal weather), food & health (like Jell-O vs Shrimp and Grits), real estate & housing (prairie, craftsman vs colonial, charleston single), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Utah), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Jell-O and Utah scones with honey butter, but get your taste buds ready for Shrimp and Grits & Pulled pork BBQ
- South Carolina housing costs are 43% less expensive than they are in Utah
- Rent in South Carolina is 1.86% more affordable than in Utah
- Moving from Utah to South Carolina will cost on average between $2,500 - $8,500
- Our top recommended Utah to South Carolina movers is 801 Moving Company
Utah to South Carolina Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Utah to South Carolina
- Dry desert climate
- High cost of living
- Limited beaches
- Isolation in vast areas
- Winter snowstorms
- Mild coastal weather
- Affordable housing
- Pristine coastlines
- Rich community feel
- Sunny and warm
- Fewer winter sports
- Fewer mountains
- High humidity
- Less craft beer variety
- Less tech-driven economy
- Ski resorts
- Beautiful national parks
- Low humidity
- Local breweries
- Tech industry growth
Pros of moving from Utah to South Carolina
- Say goodbye to dry desert climate and hello to mild coastal weather
- Look forward to moving away from high cost of living and moving to South Carolina with affordable housing
- Swap the limited beaches of Utah for pristine coastlines in South Carolina
- Get ready for a rich community feel in South Carolina
Cons of moving from Utah to South Carolina
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from ski resorts in Utah to live with fewer winter sports in South Carolina
- You'll lose out on the pro of beautiful national parks and have to settle for the con of fewer mountains
- Time to bid farewell to low humidity and get used to high humidity in South Carolina
- Swap local breweries for less craft beer variety
Utah vs. South Carolina: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Utah | South Carolina |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Jell-O | Shrimp and Grits |
Most popular meat dish | Utah scones with honey butter | Pulled pork BBQ |
Most popular street food item | Fry sauce with anything fried | Boiled peanuts |
Most popular vegan food | Avocado toast | Collard greens (vegan version) |
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 Utah to South Carolina, you will be trading the iconic Jell-O of Utah for the equally delicious Shrimp and Grits of South Carolina. And while the locals in Utah rave about their flavorful Utah scones with honey butter and sumptuous Fry sauce with anything fried, South Carolina residents know they have tasty Pulled Pork BBQ and Boiled Peanuts to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Avocado toast they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Collard greens (vegan version) of South Carolina. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Utah eateries like Hire's Big H, Ruth's Diner, and Siegfried's Delicatessen. 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, Hominy Grill, and Home Team BBQ.
When comparing lifestyles, South Carolina shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Utah. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in South Carolina compared to what you are used to in Utah. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in South Carolina.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Utah and South Carolina
Comparison | Utah | South Carolina |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Prairie, Craftsman | Colonial, Charleston Single |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Mountain views, Open floor plans | Historic charm, Proximity to beaches |
- The Prairie and Craftsman architecture that Utah is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Charleston Single architecture typical of South Carolina.
- Compared to Utah's real estate listings that commonly reference mountain views and open floor plans, South Carolina real estate listings often highlight features like historic charm and proximity to beaches.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; South Carolina is less walkable than Utah.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike; South Carolina is less bike-friendly than Utah.
- South Carolina has less of an urban feel than Utah.
- South Carolina housing costs are 43% less expensive than they are in Utah, with a median home price of $293,893 compared to Utahβs $519,182.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in South Carolina have increased by 58% compared to a 56% increase in Utah.
- Rent in South Carolina is 1.86% more affordable than in Utah.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Utah and South Carolina
Comparison | Utah | 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 | Earthquakes, wildfires | Hurricanes, floods |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85Β°F / 60Β°F | 91Β°F / 71Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 37Β°F / 15Β°F | 60Β°F / 38Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 20" | 49.8" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 56" | 1" |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Utah to South Carolina. South Carolina gets 9% fewer sunshine days than Utah.
- South Carolina has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Utah.
- Say goodbye to the possible earthquakes and wildfires in Utah, 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 6 degrees warmer than in Utah.
- The average winter lows in South Carolina are 23 degrees warmer than they are in Utah.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in South Carolina. South Carolina receives 29.8 more inches of rain compared to Utah.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Utah and South Carolina
Comparison | Utah | South Carolina |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $89,168 | $64,115 |
Cost of Living Index | 95.75 | 96.85 |
State Income Tax | 4.95% | 0% - 7% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.66% | 0.57% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.10% | 7.44% |
Top 3 Industries | Technology, Tourism, Healthcare | Aerospace, Automotive, Agriculture |
Affluence | Moderate | Variable |
Poverty | Below National Average | Above National Average |
Homelessness | Stable | Increasing |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in South Carolina tend to earn about 28% less than in Utah
- The COLI in South Carolina will be 1% higher than what you are used to living in Utah
- The state income tax in SC is 0% to 7% compared to 4.95% in UT
- The affluence in South Carolina is variable compared to moderate in Utah
- The poverty level is above the national average in South Carolina compared to below the national average in Utah
- In terms of homelessness, it is stable in Utah and increasing in South Carolina
Political and Religious Climate in Utah vs. South Carolina
Comparison | Utah | South Carolina |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Primarily Republican | Mixed, with a Republican lean |
Local Politics | Conservative, with high civic engagement | Conservative, local governance varies |
Religion | Largely LDS (Mormon) | Primarily Protestant |
- Utah tends to lean primarily Republican in its political climate
- South Carolina, on the other hand, is often described as mixed with a Republican lean
- South Carolina's religious environment can be described as primarily Protestant
- Utah's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as largely LDS (Mormon)
Education Guide When Moving from Utah to South Carolina
Comparison | Utah | South Carolina |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Utah Utah State University Brigham Young University | University of South Carolina Clemson University College of Charleston |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Canyon View Elementary (Cedar City) Oakridge Elementary (Farmington) Parkview Elementary (Salt Lake City) | Buist Academy (Charleston) Clemson Elementary (Clemson) Concord Elementary (Anderson) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Centennial Middle (Provo) South Jordan Middle (South Jordan) North Cache Middle (Richmond) | Charleston School of the Arts (North Charleston) Hand Middle (Columbia) Thomas C. Cario Middle (Mount Pleasant) |
Top 3 High Schools | Academy for Math Engineering & Science (Salt Lake City) Itineris Early College High (West Jordan) Northern Utah Academy for Math Engineering & Science (Layton) | Academic Magnet High School (North Charleston) Governor's School for Science & Mathematics (Hartsville) Charleston School of the Arts (North Charleston) |
Top 3 private high schools | The Waterford School (Sandy) Rowland Hall (Salt Lake City) Park City Day School (Park City) | Porter-Gaud School (Charleston) Hammond School (Columbia) Spartanburg Day School (Spartanburg) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Rowland Hall (Salt Lake City) The Madeleine Choir School (Salt Lake City) Layton Christian Academy (Layton) | Charleston Collegiate School (Johns Island) Heathwood Hall Episcopal School (Columbia) Hilton Head Preparatory School (Hilton Head Island) |
Top 3 School Districts | Davis School District Park City School District Canyons School District | Lexington School District One Greenville County School District Spartanburg School District Seven |
How Much Do Utah to South Carolina Movers Cost?
Moving 2,035 miles from Utah to South Carolina will typically cost between $3,500 and $8,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,500 - $8,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-4 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Luxury Movers Moving Company, LLC
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,356 | 300 ft3 | $7.85 |
1 Bedroom | $3,512 | 450 ft3 | $7.80 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,815 | 750 ft3 | $7.75 |
3 Bedrooms | $8,474 | 1100 ft3 | $7.70 |
4 Bedrooms | $12,246 | 1600 ft3 | $7.65 |
5+ Bedrooms | $13,687 | 1800 ft3 | $7.60 |
Top Utah to South Carolina Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Utah to South Carolina movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

801 Moving Company
Best moving company overall for Utah to South Carolina