South Carolina
R+13 · Moderate tax burden · COL index 93
6.2%
Income Tax
540
Violent Crime / 100K
75.5
Life Expectancy
$310K
Median Home
$950
Childcare / Mo
State Profile
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Taxes
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Income Tax
Top rate reducing to 6% by 2024
Property Tax
~$1,333/yr on median home
Sales Tax
Social Security
Pension / IRA
Estate Tax
Inheritance Tax
Capital Gains
44% deduction on long-term capital gains
Housing & Cost of Living
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Cost of Living Index
National avg = 100
Median Home Price
Median Rent (2BR)
Home Insurance
Near national avg (~$1,900/yr)
Flood Insurance
Homestead Exemption
Home equity protected from creditors
Asset Protection
Crime & Safety
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Violent Crime Rate
Near national avg
Property Crime Rate
Near national avg
Traffic Fatality Rate
Among the most dangerous
Healthcare
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State Healthcare Rank
Life Expectancy
Medicaid Expansion
Uninsured Rate
Above national avg (~9%)
Education
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K-12 Quality Rank
Bottom 10 nationally
School Choice / Vouchers
Childcare
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Avg Infant Care (Full-Time)
Utilities & Daily Costs
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Avg Monthly Energy Bill
Avg Monthly Groceries
2-person household, moderate spending
Road Quality Rank
Airports & Travel
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Nonstop Destinations
From state's primary airport
Major Hub Airport
Regional airport — connections via hub
Culture & Lifestyle
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Urban Population
Mix of urban and rural
Restaurant Density
Religious Congregations
Pro Sports Teams
NFL + NBA + MLB + NHL + MLS
Major Venues
Stadiums, arenas, amphitheaters (10K+ capacity)
Craft Breweries
2.2/100K residents — Growing
Craft Distilleries
Live Music
Charleston food and live music; Cooper River Bridge Run concerts; Holy City Brewing
Transportation
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Car Insurance (Avg Annual)
Traffic Fatality Rate
Broadband Access
Social & Legal
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Abortion Access
6-week ban with exceptions
LGBTQ+ Protections
Marijuana
Minimum Wage
Right to Work
Sports Betting
Casino Gambling
Online Gambling
State Lottery
One of the most restrictive gambling states. No casinos. Offshore gambling boats historically operated from Myrtle Beach.
Age of Consent
Sex Education
Sex ed required by state
Nude Beaches & Naturist Clubs
Benchmark Resort · Sea Mountain Inn (Cherry Grove) · Carolina Sunbathing
Environment & Climate
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Air Quality (Annual AQI)
Near national avg
Natural Disaster Risk
Primary Hazards
Politics & Gun Laws
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2024 Presidential Vote
Gun Laws
Carry Permit
Purchase Permit Required
Gambling
Jobs & Economy
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Job Market
+2% job growth · 3.2% unemployment
Top Industries
Tech Jobs
Healthcare Jobs
Remote Work
Median Household Income
Business Climate
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Corporate Income Tax
LLC Formation Fee
LLC Annual Fee
Business Climate Rank
Daily Life
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Gas Price (Regular)
Well below avg (-0.32 vs national avg)
Consumer Fireworks
Consumer fireworks broadly legal
Weather & Natural Risks
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Winter Severity
Avg January high: 57°F
Summer Heat
Hot summers
Annual Rainfall
Tornado Risk
Hurricane Risk
Wildfire Risk
Flood Risk
Natural Hazards
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Venomous Snakes
Spider Hazard
Hurricane Risk
Tornado Risk
Wildfire Risk
Earthquake Risk
Armadillo Leprosy Risk
Danger score is a composite index. Methodology ↗
Veteran Benefits
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Veteran-Friendly Score
8.9% of state population are veterans
Property Tax Exemption
100% disabled: full property tax exempt
Military Retirement Pay
Active Duty Pay
VA Facilities Access
Notable Benefits
Explore South Carolina counties
Income, housing, poverty, healthcare — ranked by county
See your full cost of living in South Carolina
Housing, taxes, childcare, insurance — all estimated.
Compare Similar States
SC vs WI
South Carolina vs Wisconsin
COL 93 vs 93 · 6.2% vs 7.65% income tax
Full comparison →
SC vs NC
South Carolina vs North Carolina
COL 93 vs 94 · 6.2% vs 4.5% income tax
Full comparison →
SC vs TN
South Carolina vs Tennessee
COL 93 vs 92 · 6.2% vs No income tax
Full comparison →
SC vs GA
South Carolina vs Georgia
COL 93 vs 91 · 6.2% vs 5.49% income tax
Full comparison →
Trending in South Carolina
Teacher raises, road funding remain on hold amid South Carolina budget dispute - WLTX
WLTX · Jul 6
South Carolina lawmakers fail to pass budget before deadline - WYFF
WYFF · Jun 30
Wilson wins GOP nomination for South Carolina governor after Trump hedges his bet on race - PBS
PBS · Jun 23
In major stumble, SC Legislature ends 2026 fiscal year without a state budget - Post and Courier
Post and Courier · Jun 30
South Carolina Ends Legislation through Regulation - Goldwater Institute
Goldwater Institute · Jul 2
What Residents Say
Unexpected costs of living in SC : r/southcarolina
SC is about 5-10% below the national average for cost of living but closer to 15% below the national average for income....
reddit.com ↗
You need to spend this much money in SC to live ...
it's the "average cost of living." North Carolina: $75,580 South Carolina: $74,112 West Virginia: $64,992 (lowest) total South Carolina ranked ......
reddit.com ↗
Thinking of moving south : r/Rochester
State income tax is a flat 7%, which is good if you make a lot of money, not so great if you don't. Groceries are also taxed which seems minor, ......
reddit.com ↗
Should I move to South Carolina or North ...
cost of living is significantly higher compared to columbia. SC prices, taxes, and just less regulation in general. Their property taxes might ......
reddit.com ↗
Living in SC and crossing the border for work.. taxes.
The personal income tax rate for this year I believe is 6.4%. South Carolina does have sort of a progressive tax rate but the tops out at ......
reddit.com ↗
Has anyone recently moved from Florida in the past few ...
Cost of living was shockingly higher in SC. Vehicle registration in SC includes a slew of taxes, so my car costs ~$230 for 1 year. We also have ......
reddit.com ↗
Transferring to the greater CLT area. Would you live in SC ...
We currently live in the upstate of SC and have been here a few years. I am a little put off by NC's higher taxes, but it seems their schools and infrastructure...
reddit.com ↗
Anyone move from TX to SC? How does income compare ...
Sc has high income tax and low property tax. TX has high property tax. The impact of this depends on how much you make and how expensive a house you buy....
reddit.com ↗
Moving from New Jersey to South Carolina
There is a tax on your cars in SC. The newer your car the higher the tax. It's a few hundred dollars per year. Groceries are more expensive....
reddit.com ↗
Can you afford your life in SC? : r/southcarolina
This is a dumb example but I think we’re in a cost of living crisis. My husband is addicted to Oreos. So yes I bought them for him even though at ......
reddit.com ↗
Stay Current
Get notified when South Carolina tax laws, gun laws, or social policy changes.
South Carolina Guides
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South Carolina vs. North Carolina: The Carolinas Compared
South Carolina and North Carolina share a border but diverge sharply on taxes, cost of living, and r…
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Moving to South Carolina: The Retirement Hotspot
South Carolina's income tax rate drops to 3.99% in 2026, and retirees 65 and older get a $15,000 ret…
Data is informational only. Verify with a tax professional, real estate agent, and local sources before making relocation decisions. Crime data: FBI UCR ~2022. Healthcare: Commonwealth Fund / US News ~2023. Education: Education Week ~2023. Housing: Zillow / Census ACS ~2024. Insurance: rate surveys ~2024. Sponsored links marked “Sponsored” may earn a commission. This does not affect our data or rankings.