Ultimate Guide to Living in South Carolina

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So, you’re curious about living in South Carolina? Well, you’ve come to the right place!

The expert movers, travelers, and worldwide locals that make up the team at Relocalate.com are here to help. 

We’ve compiled the ultimate guides to answer the most common questions people just like you have about living in the great state of South Carolina.

Dive deep into the topics you’re interested in to make sure your new home in South Carolina matches what you’re looking for. 

We’ll explore whether South Carolina is a good place for YOU to live, and we’ll highlight some of the best cities for you to visit, explore, and ultimately call home. 

Pros and Cons of Living in South Carolina

You’ve heard it before, and it’s true: no place is perfect. What matters is how good of a fit it is for you.

Relocalate.com is here to help you decide whether South Carolina is the best place for YOU to live. 

Here are some reasons to love living in South Carolina:

  • South Carolina has a wonderful balance of everything. You’ll be able to find the perfect spot for you, whether its a beach setting or something more rural.
  • There are tons of festivals and events happening all year long that will make your life easier!
  • And it can’t be beat when it comes to “Southern hospitality”. South Carolinians always go above and beyond to make sure everyone feels welcomed in their home state.

And, on the flip side, here are some of the downsides of living in South Carolina:

  • The weather is humid and hot most of the time, so as soon as you step foot into South Carolina (especially on summer days), you’ll feel like your skin just turned up a few degrees higher than what it should have been!
  • Bugs can get pretty big here too – watch out for those creepy crawlers.



Read More: Is South Carolina a Good Place to Live?

Best Place to Live in South Carolina

So, you’ve got your heart set on living in South Carolina? Well, the decision making doesn’t end there. You’ve still got to decide where to live in South Carolina!

In some other articles, we’ll dive deeper into some of the best places to live in South Carolina. 

Our experts have considered a whole bunch of different criteria to select the top locations, including:

  • The best places to live for families, retirees, singles, young adults, outdoor lovers, foodies, and more. 
  • The safest places to live. 
  • The cheapest places to live. 
  • The best schools. 
  • The best job markets. 
  • The best housing markets. 
  • And so much more. 

Just want a quick list? No worries, here are some of the best cities to live in South Carolina:

  • Charleston
  • Columbia
  • Forest Acres
  • Greenville
  • Tega Cay


Read More: Best Places to Live in South Carolina

Checklist for Moving to South Carolina

So now you’re preparing for your big move to South Carolina. Maybe you’ve even started packing!

As you probably already know, there are a lot of things to take care of when you’re moving. Both in your current state and once you get to South Carolina.

Here are some of the major things you’ll want to take care of when you move to South Carolina:

  1. Updating your address with USPS. 
  2. Getting your South Carolina driver’s license. 
  3. Transferring your vehicle titles and registrations to South Carolina
  4. Getting South Carolina car insurance.
  5. Signing up for health insurance in South Carolina and finding new doctors, dentists, and local hospitals. 
  6. Updating/changing other insurance policies you may need (homeowner’s insurance, renter’s insurance, pet insurance, motorcycle insurance, etc.)
  7. Registering to vote in your district in South Carolina.
  8. Updating your address with your banks, credit cards, subscription services, loans, investments, phone plans, and bill pay. 
  9. Enrolling your kids in their new school district. 
  10. Licensing your pets and finding a new vet. 
  11. Setting up your utilities for your new home. 
  12. Preparing to file state taxes for South Carolina and your previous home state. 

Visit your South Carolina Moving Checklist for a detailed guide on all of the above.  

Read More: Moving to South Carolina Checklist


While we’re at it, let’s cover some high-level questions and fun facts about South Carolina.

Things to Know About Living in South Carolina

As you’re preparing for your move or getting settled into your new home in South Carolina, here are some things to know about living there. 

Cost of Living in South Carolina

One thing to consider when moving to a new state is the relative cost of living. 

South Carolina ranks 18th on the Cost of Living Index with an overall rating of 94.2, meaning it’s a relatively less expensive place to live. 

Here is how South Carolina scores for the cost of living in each specific category:

  • Groceries: 101.8
  • Housing: 80.1
  • Utilities: 105
  • Transportation: 93.5
  • Health: 95.6
  • Miscellaneous: 99.4

The average cost of living in this index is scored at 100. The numbers above represent the percentage of the average. A number higher than 100 represents an above average cost of living, while a number lower than 100 represents a lower cost of living. A lower rank indicates a lower cost of living. 

This data comes from the Cost of Living Index prepared by the Council for Economic Research (C2ER), which compiles data from cities across the country to rank and compare the differences in costs of living. 

Sales Tax Rates in South Carolina

Sales tax is a way that state and local governments collect tax revenue from its residents and visitors. 

These taxes are applied when you purchase something. It’ll show up on your receipt or bill. If you’ve recently moved to South Carolina from somewhere else, the new sales tax rates may surprise you. 

On top of the state sales tax rates, local rates for certain counties and cities may apply and vary as well.

South Carolina’s state sales tax rate is higher than the national average at 6%, with an average local rate of 1.46% (the highest local sales tax rate is 3%). Across the state, the average sales tax rate is about 7.46%. 

Check with the South Carolina tax office for the most current tax rates.

Real-Estate Property Tax Rates in South Carolina

If you own or plan to own real estate in South Carolina, you’ll want to think about the property tax rates when you move there. 

South Carolina ranks 6th (from low to high) for its state property tax rate of .57%

There may be additional property taxes on top of the rate stated here depending on your county, city, and school districts. 

Check with the South Carolina tax office for the most current tax rates.

South Carolina’s Job Market & Economy

Another thing to think about when moving to South Carolina is the job market and economic indicators. 

Overall, South Carolina ranks 26th for Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the United States. 

The GDP measures the overall monetary value of all goods and services produced within a certain place over a period of time. 

Its top 10 industries (ranked from largest to smallest by economic contribution to the state) are:

  • Manufacturing
  • Real estate and rental and leasing
  • Professional and business services
  • Educational services, health care, and social assistance
  • Retail trade
  • Wholesale trade
  • Construction
  • Arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation, and food services
  • Finance and insurance
  • Information

The top employer in South Carolina is Walmart.

Notable Destinations and Landmarks in South Carolina

Our South Carolina moving guide wouldn’t be complete without a brief mention of some of the most iconic destinations in the state. 

When you get settled in, a road trip may just be in order. 

One of the most iconic landmarks in South Carolina is Fort Sumter.

National Parks that you can visit in South Carolina include:

  • Congaree National Park

These destinations are all great places to visit when you get a chance. 

Facts about South Carolina

South Carolina is the 8th state of the United States that lies in the southern region. To its north is North Carolina, to its south and east  is Georgia, and to its west is the Atlantic Ocean.

What is the capital of South Carolina?

The capital of South Carolina is Columbia.

Columbia is located in Richland County with a population of 133,451.

What is the population of South Carolina?

The population of South Carolina based on 2020 US Census data is 5,118,425.

What is the largest city in South Carolina?

The largest city in South Carolina is Charleston. 

Charleston has a population of 136,208, and it is located in Charleston County.

What is the size of South Carolina?

South Carolina is 32,020 square miles, making it the 40th  largest state in the U.S.

What is the state motto of South Carolina?

The state motto of South Carolina is: Dum spiro spero / animis opibusque parati

What is the state bird of South Carolina?

The state bird of South Carolina is the Carolina wren.

What is the state flower of South Carolina?

The state flower of South Carolina is the Yellow jessamine.

What is the state tree of South Carolina?

The state tree of South Carolina is the Sabal Palm.

What is the minimum wage in the state of South Carolina?

The minimum wage in South Carolina is $7.25 per hour.

What is the median income in South Carolina?

The median annual household salary in South Carolina is $52,306.