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Moving from New York to South Carolina

The typical home in South Carolina costs $359,945, against $742,000 in the New York metro. That's a mortgage of $1,978 a month instead of $4,078: $2,100 less every month, $25,195 a year. To keep the lifestyle $150,000 buys in New York, you would need about $124,929 in South Carolina.

By Sol Lakein. Updated November 4, 2026.

  • $2,100Less each month on the typical home1,2On the mortgage
  • $659 lessDifference in 2-bedroom rent3Utilities included
  • $124,929Matches $150,000 in New York4Same lifestyle, local prices
  • 5.21%South Carolina income tax5Top rate, 2026

New York vs South Carolina: the numbers

Side by side, from the mortgage to the tax on your paycheck.1,4,5
MeasureNew YorkSouth Carolina
Typical home for sale$742,000$359,945
Monthly mortgage on it$4,078$1,978
2-bedroom rent$1,997$1,338
Everyday prices13% above avg6% below avg
Housing costs49% above avg20% below avg
Income tax on wages, 2026Up to 10.9%, plus New York City up to 3.876%Up to 5.21%

South Carolina cities, priced against New York

The 5 South Carolina metros we cover, cheapest first, with what you keep each month on the mortgage.1,2,3
CityTypical homeMonthly mortgageLess than New York2-bedroom rent
Columbia$299,763$1,647$2,430/mo$1,314
Spartanburg$304,950$1,676$2,402/mo$1,148
Myrtle Beach$315,000$1,731$2,347/mo$1,383
Greenville$382,450$2,102$1,976/mo$1,279
Charleston$479,450$2,635$1,443/mo$1,817

What else changes when you move to South Carolina

South Carolina gained 66,622 more residents from other states than it lost between July 2024 and July 2025 (US Census Bureau estimates).

The New York metro lost 168,105 more residents to the rest of the country than it gained over the same year (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2025).

Taxes: South Carolina taxes wages at up to 5.21%; New York tops out at 10.9%, plus New York City up to 3.876% (2026, married filing jointly). Property and sales taxes differ too; each state page has them where we track them.

After you move: South Carolina deadlines

New residents get a set number of days to switch their license and register their car.
  • Driver's license: within 45 days of becoming a residentsource.
  • Vehicle registration: within 45 dayssource.

The full order of tasks is in our moving out of state checklist, and what the move itself costs is in how much it costs to move out of state (HireAHelper, 2026).

Planning the move? Get the free moving guide

12 pages: what a move costs, hiring movers safely, an 8-week checklist and the deadlines after you land.

Get the guide

Questions people ask

Is it cheaper to live in South Carolina than New York?

Yes. Everyday prices, rent included, run 17% lower in South Carolina than in the New York metro by BEA's regional price parities (93.7 against 112.6, US = 100, 2024).

What salary in South Carolina matches $150,000 in New York?

About $124,929, using BEA regional price parities for South Carolina (93.7) and the New York metro (112.6), 2024. Taxes are not included; see the tax comparison on this page.

How much would I save on housing moving from New York to South Carolina?

On the median listed home, principal and interest drop from $4,078 to $1,978 a month ($2,100 less), with 20% down at 7.32% (Realtor.com via FRED, September 2026; Freddie Mac). Median rent for a 2-bedroom is $1,338 against $1,997 (Census ACS 2025).

Does South Carolina have a state income tax?

Yes, graduated up to 5.21% on wages in 2026 (South Carolina Department of Revenue, SC Information Letter #26-20, Individual Income Tax Reform; SCDOR news, Information about H. 4216; H. 4216 fiscal impact statement (signed 2026-03-30)). In New York the top state rate is 10.9%, plus New York City up to 3.876%.

How much does it cost to move from New York to South Carolina?

Nobody publishes an average for this route. HireAHelper's 2026 long-distance estimates for a 2 to 3 bedroom home run from $533 to $728 for a rental truck you load yourself to $2,910 to $4,569 for full-service movers, before distance pushes the price up. Get three written estimates for the same inventory; federal rules cap what an interstate mover can demand at delivery at 110% of a non-binding estimate (FMCSA).

More moves from New York

Notes on the numbers
  1. 1Home prices: the typical home is the median listing price, Realtor.com via FRED, September 2026. New York values are for the whole metro area; South Carolina values are statewide.
  2. 2Monthly mortgage: Principal and interest on the median listed home with 20% down, 30-year fixed at 7.32% (Freddie Mac 30-year fixed average, week of October 22, 2026). Excludes taxes, insurance and HOA. Rate source
  3. 3Rent: Census ACS 2025 1-year, median gross rent for 2-bedroom units (rent plus utilities). Census table
  4. 4Everyday prices, housing costs and the matching salary: BEA regional price parities, 2024, compared with the US average.
  5. 5Income tax: state revenue departments, 2026 rates for married couples filing jointly. Details on our state income tax comparison.
Sources for this page