Washington to South Carolina Moving Guide
Updated June 9, 2025

Planning a 2,767 mile interstate move from Washington to South Carolina? This moving guide will help you compare living in Washington vs South Carolina across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like rainy weather vs sunnier climate), food & health (like Salmon vs Shrimp and Grits), real estate & housing (modern, craftsman vs colonial, traditional), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Washington), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Salmon and Prime Rib, but get your taste buds ready for Shrimp and Grits & Pulled Pork BBQ
- South Carolina housing costs are 50% less expensive than they are in Washington
- Rent in South Carolina is 16.18% more affordable than in Washington
- Moving from Washington to South Carolina will cost on average between $3,000 - $10,000
- Our top recommended Washington to South Carolina movers is Seattle Moves & More
Washington to South Carolina Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Washington to South Carolina
- Rainy weather
- High cost of living
- Traffic congestion
- High taxes
- Sunnier climate
- Affordable housing
- Less traffic
- Lower taxes
- Fewer mountains
- Limited tech jobs
- Less diversity
- Limited public transit
- Scenic views
- Tech job opportunities
- Progressive culture
- Public transport
Pros of moving from Washington to South Carolina
- Say goodbye to rainy weather and hello to a sunnier climate
- Look forward to moving away from a high cost of living and moving to South Carolina with affordable housing
- Swap the traffic congestion of Washington for less traffic in South Carolina
- Get ready for lower taxes in South Carolina
Cons of moving from Washington to South Carolina
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from scenic views in Washington to live with fewer mountains in South Carolina
- You'll lose out on the pro of tech job opportunities and have to settle for the con of limited tech jobs
- Time to bid farewell to progressive culture and get used to less diversity in South Carolina
- Swap public transport for limited public transit
Washington vs. South Carolina: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Washington | South Carolina |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Salmon | Shrimp and Grits |
Most popular meat dish | Prime Rib | Pulled Pork BBQ |
Most popular street food item | Hot Dogs | Boiled Peanuts |
Most popular vegan food | Quinoa Salad | 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 | 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 Washington to South Carolina, you will be trading the iconic Salmon of Washington for the equally delicious Shrimp and Grits of South Carolina. And while the locals in Washington rave about their flavorful Prime Rib and sumptuous Hot Dogs, 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 Quinoa Salad 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 Washington eateries like Canlis, The Herbfarm, and Mamnoon. 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 FIG.
When comparing lifestyles, South Carolina shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Washington. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in South Carolina, compared to what you are used to in Washington. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in South Carolina.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Washington and South Carolina
Comparison | Washington | South Carolina |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Modern, Craftsman | Colonial, Traditional |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Eco-friendly features, Proximity to tech hubs | Historic properties, Coastal access |
- The Modern and Craftsman architecture that Washington is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Traditional architecture typical of South Carolina.
- Compared to Washington's real estate listings that commonly reference eco-friendly features and proximity to tech hubs, South Carolina real estate listings often highlight features like historic properties and coastal access.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; South Carolina is less walkable than Washington.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike; South Carolina is less bike-friendly than Washington.
- South Carolina has less of an urban feel than Washington.
- South Carolina housing costs are 50% less expensive than they are in Washington, with a median home price of $293,893 compared to Washingtonβs $591,148.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in South Carolina have increased by 58% compared to a 49% increase in Washington.
- Rent in South Carolina is 16.18% more affordable than in Washington.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Washington and South Carolina
Comparison | Washington | 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 | Volcanoes, Earthquakes | Hurricanes, Floods |
Air Quality | Good | Variable |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 75Β°F / 55Β°F | 91Β°F / 71Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 47Β°F / 37Β°F | 60Β°F / 38Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 38 | 49 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 4.6 | 1 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Washington to South Carolina. South Carolina gets 43% more sunshine days than Washington.
- South Carolina has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Washington.
- Say goodbye to the possible volcanoes and earthquakes in Washington, 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 16 degrees warmer than in Washington.
- The average winter lows in South Carolina are 1 degree warmer than they are in Washington.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in South Carolina. South Carolina receives 11 more inches of rain compared to Washington.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Washington and South Carolina
Comparison | Washington | South Carolina |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $91,306 | $64,115 |
Cost of Living Index | 104.1 | 96.85 |
State Income Tax | 0% | 0%-7% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.03% | 0.57% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 9.29% | 7.44% |
Top 3 Industries | Technology, Aerospace, Agriculture | Aerospace, Automotive, Tourism |
Affluence | Prosperous | Moderate |
Poverty | Low | Moderate |
Homelessness | Concerning | Minimal |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in South Carolina tend to earn about 30% less than those in Washington
- The COLI in South Carolina will be 7% lower than what you are used to living in Washington
- Bummer... By moving from WA to SC, you'll now have a state income tax of 0% to 7%
- The affluence in South Carolina is moderate compared to prosperous in Washington
- The poverty level is moderate in South Carolina compared to low in Washington
- In terms of homelessness, it is concerning in Washington and minimal in South Carolina
Political and Religious Climate in Washington vs. South Carolina
Comparison | Washington | South Carolina |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Largely Democratic | Primarily Republican |
Local Politics | Progressive urban centers | Conservative local governance |
Religion | Less religiously affiliated | Highly religious, predominantly Christian |
- Washington tends to lean largely Democratic in its political climate
- South Carolina, on the other hand, is often described as primarily Republican
- South Carolina's religious environment can be described as highly religious and predominantly Christian
- Washington's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as less religiously affiliated
Education Guide When Moving from Washington to South Carolina
Comparison | Washington | South Carolina |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Washington Washington State University Western Washington University | University of South Carolina Clemson University College of Charleston |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Cascade K-8 (Shoreline) Challenge Elementary (Everett) Discovery Primary School (Gig Harbor) | Buist Academy (Charleston) Mount Pleasant Academy (Mount Pleasant) Monarch Elementary (Greenville) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | International School (Bellevue) Explorer Middle School (Everett) Odyssey: The Essential School (Bainbridge Island) | Daniel Island School (Daniel Island) GOLD Academy (Greenville) Thomas C. Cario Middle School (Mount Pleasant) |
Top 3 High Schools | Newport High School (Bellevue) International School (Bellevue) Bellevue High School (Bellevue) | Academic Magnet High School (North Charleston) South Carolina Governor's School for Science & Mathematics (Hartsville) Charleston County School of the Arts (North Charleston) |
Top 3 private high schools | Lakeside School (Seattle) The Overlake School (Redmond) Seattle Preparatory School (Seattle) | Porter-Gaud (Charleston) Hammond School (Columbia) Christ Church Episcopal School (Greenville) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Bush School (Seattle) Seattle Academy (Seattle) The Bear Creek School (Redmond) | Charleston Collegiate School (Johns Island) Hilton Head Preparatory School (Hilton Head) Spartanburg Day School (Spartanburg) |
Top 3 School Districts | Lake Washington School District Bellevue School District Mercer Island School District | Lexington School District One Greenville County School District Spartanburg District 7 |
How Much Do Washington to South Carolina Movers Cost?
Moving 2,767 miles from Washington to South Carolina 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 | $2,771 | 300 ft3 | $9.24 |
1 Bedroom | $4,134 | 450 ft3 | $9.19 |
2 Bedrooms | $6,853 | 750 ft3 | $9.14 |
3 Bedrooms | $9,996 | 1100 ft3 | $9.09 |
4 Bedrooms | $14,460 | 1600 ft3 | $9.04 |
5+ Bedrooms | $16,177 | 1800 ft3 | $8.99 |
Top Washington to South Carolina Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Washington to South Carolina movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.
Seattle Moves & More
Best moving company overall for Washington to South Carolina