Relocating from New York State to South Carolina
Are you thinking of moving from New York State to South Carolina? In recent years, many New Yorkers have relocated to South Carolina. In this video, I will tell you WHY they decided to move to the Palmetto State. I’ll also cover both states’ cost of living, climate, economy, education, and more! So let’s dive into it right now!
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Cost of Living
One of the first things people ask about when moving to a new State is the cost of living, and this is a big reason why many New Yorkers are moving south to the Carolinas. The cost of living in the state of New York is 31% higher than the national average, whereas the cost of living in South Carolina is 5% lower than the national average.* If you account for all the different costs of living, New York is 23.9% more expensive to live in than South Carolina.**
Chances are, if you’re thinking of moving from New York to South Carolina, you’ve probably looked at housing prices in South Carolina. So let’s break that down.
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Housing Costs
On average, Columbia housing costs are 69.9% less expensive than New York housing costs, according to bestplaces.net .^^ For example, the median home value in South Carolina is $269,201 while New York’s median home value is $397,093.*** That’s a difference of almost $128,000!
It’s more common for New Yorkers to rent their homes than buy them, but with housing costs being much lower in South Carolina and with more home ownership options available,*** buying a single-family residence in South Carolina is much more attainable.
And if you own a home, you’ll have to pay property tax. So what can you expect to pay in South Carolina?
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Property Taxes
With number 1 being the lowest in the nation, South Carolina ranks #5 in property taxes with a .56% real estate tax rate. In comparison, New York ranks #44 out of 51 states with a 1.73% property tax rate.#? This means that in South Carolina, you would pay $1,379 per year in property taxes on a $245,000 home, and in New York, you would pay $4,231 a year in taxes on a home of the same value.# That's a $2,852 difference per year that you could be saving!
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Gas & Transportation
Gas prices are always fluctuating, but gas prices in South Carolina have continued to be lower than gas prices in New York. On average, the cost per gallon for regular gasoline in South Carolina is $3.15 per gallon, while regular gasoline in New York costs an average of $3.68 per gallon.##
Keep in mind that many people commute by bus or metro in New York, while most people in South Carolina commute by driving their cars. This is because, even in South Carolina’s larger cities like Charleston and Columbia, public transportation isn’t as advanced or extensive.
However, the lower costs of living in South Carolina make it more affordable to own a car and pay for gas. But if you need to use public transportation in South Carolina, it costs $41.60 per month for a public transit pass while in New York a transit pass costs $85.89 per month.**
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Utilities
Another important factor to consider when moving is what you’ll be paying each month for utilities. In March of 2022, the average basic utilities package for a 915-square-foot place in New York cost $170. That includes heating, electricity, water, and garbage.### By comparison, utilities are slightly lower in South Carolina. The average monthly utility bill for a 915-square-foot apartment in Columbia, South Carolina is $162.37 according to 2022 reports.###
Now that we have money matters covered, let’s talk about the climate.
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Climate
Believe it or not, although New York is in the northern part of the country and South Carolina is in the southern part, both states receive close to the same number of sunny days per year, with New York getting an average of 224 sunny days and the Palmetto State getting an average of 217 days of sunshine.^
These states also have similar amounts of rainfall per year with New York getting 46-47 inches of rain on average, and South Carolina getting an average of 45-46 inches of rain–so that’s just a one-inch difference.^
How they differ is their summer and winter temperatures and how much snow they receive. South Carolina doesn’t see much snow with an average of less than one inch of snow per year while New York averages about 25 inches of snow each year.^ Now that’s a big difference!
Summer high temperatures in New York reach around 84 degrees while winter lows average 26 degrees.^ In South Carolina, average summer highs are around 94 degrees, and winter lows average 35 degrees.^ So overall, South Carolina is hotter with longer summers and shorter, milder winters. No big surprise there.
Now let’s talk about each state’s economy.
Economy
The state of New York has a strong economy, and if you rank state economies by Gross Domestic Product or GDP, New York ranks #3 in the nation with a GDP of $2,008,813. By comparison, South Carolina ranks #25 in the nation with a GDP of $287,065.+
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Still, South Carolina’s population and economy are growing. South Carolina’s economy depends on agriculture, tourism, and manufacturing, and these sectors are steady or thriving and creating new jobs. For instance, a Scout Motors manufacturing plant is coming to the Columbia area soon and will create 4,000 new jobs.^^^
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Education
If you have children, you are probably interested in the education South Carolina has to offer. According to Scholaroo.com , South Carolina ranks 45th in the nation for public schools, and New York ranks 6th in the nation.++
However, South Carolina’s lower national rankings based on test scores don’t mean you can’t find excellent schools here. The quality of education really depends on the school district, the specific schools, and the teachers. And I can say for a fact that there are many great schools in Columbia.
If higher education is in your future, South Carolina has some well-known and reputable colleges and universities such as the University of South Carolina, the Medical University of South Carolina, Clemson University, and the Citadel to name a few.
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So what about life outside of work and school?
Lifestyle & Entertainment
Both states offer a wide variety of entertainment and things to do for all ages. There are just too many to talk about in this article! Let’s just say that while New York is known more for its live theater shows, shopping, and concerts, the Palmetto state is known for its beautiful beaches and mountains. People in South Carolina love to be outdoors, and besides the mountains and beaches, there are plenty of things to do in nature such as many community and state parks, camping, boating, and much more.
If you’re not a fan of the outdoors, there are still many things to do in South Carolina like shopping, and eating international cuisine at a variety of restaurants, live theaters, movie theaters, arcades, art studios, museums, concert halls, clubs, and much more.
South Carolina is also a great place for families with lots of kid-friendly entertainment venues. If you want to know my top 10 Most Visit Family Destinations for Columbia, you need to check out my YouTube channel.?
Both of these states are wonderful for different reasons, but many New Yorkers are moving to South Carolina because of its lower cost of living, lower housing and utility costs, lower property taxes, and warmer climate.
South Carolina has friendly, hospitable people, so be ready to receive a warm welcome when you arrive.
Author: Vanessa Pham
Graphic Designer: Merryl Moore
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Sources:
### Smartasset.com
^^^ SC.gov
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2 个月Exciting move! What differences in lifestyle or work culture have stood out to you the most since making the switch?