($1,540) Cost of Moving From California to South Carolina
Quick answer: The average cost to move from California to South Carolina ranges from $1,903 to $9,693 and takes seven–21 days. The top cost factors are how much you’re moving, your move date, and whether you hire a company or do the move yourself.
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Moving the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our moving from South Carolina to California guide.
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The best California to South Carolina full-service movers
Moving from California to South Carolina? With thousands of moving companies in the U.S., hiring the right interstate moving company can be a challenge.
To simplify your search, we've selected the most reliable movers based on our detailed analysis of customer reviews, pricing, and service offerings.
Start with these top long-distance moving companies serving California for your South Carolina relocation:
- Safeway Moving: Best overall value
- Mayzlin Relocation: Best for personalized service
- American Van Lines: Most experienced mover
- Allied Van Lines: Best for contents coverage
- North American Van Lines: Best customized plans
- GPS tracking en route
- Veteran-owned
- Dedicated move coordinator
- Flat-rate pricing
- Donates a portion of moves to charity
- Family-owned, with locations covering the East Coast
- Full refund if you cancel within 7 days of your move
- Hands-on customer service
- 24/7 support
- Price-matching policy
- Experienced & fully trained moving crews
- Specializes in moving art & antiques
- Competitive pricing
- Can handle last-minute moves
- Climate-controlled storage
- Fragile packing
- Storage options
- 24/7 shipment tracking
- Quick & efficient
- Accurate quotes
- Custom crates for electronics & art
- Satellite shipment tracking
- 1,500 local agents covering all 50 states
- Self-packing option
- No deposit required
The best California to South Carolina moving container companies
Moving containers allow you to save money without having to go the full DIY route. While you’ll have to handle loading and unloading, the container company has you covered on transportation — they’ll pick up your pod in California and drop it off at your new home in South Carolina.
Check out these highly rated moving container companies:
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The best California to South Carolina moving truck rentals
Moving truck rentals are the most cost-effective way to move from California to South Carolina, although they’re also the most labor-intensive. You’ll save big by doing all the heavy lifting and driving.
We like these rental moving trucks:
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The best California to South Carolina labor-only movers
If you need help moving some or all of your items into a container or rental truck, you can hire labor-only movers. They’ll send over a professional crew the right size for your move and you’ll pay only for the amount of time they work.
Consider one of these top-notch moving labor companies for your move from California to South Carolina:
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How we chose the best moving companies for your CA to SC move
moveBuddha’s expert team analyzed moving rates from 281 California movers and listed the top movers based on customer satisfaction, reviews, and cost.
Customer satisfaction (40%): The company consistently delivers services in a timely matter with good communication and within the estimated cost.
Dispute resolution (20%): Mistakes cannot be avoided in the moving industry. We look for companies that own their mistakes and make genuine efforts to fix any issues that arise during a move.
Industry reputation (15%): The company is well-regarded within the moving industry and participates in industry conferences and organizations.
Online reputation (15%): The company maintains a professional website with accurate information. The company promptly and professionally responds to online customer inquiries.
Service options (10%): We look for companies with a deep breadth of services including full packing, storage, specialty item handling, and expedited delivery.
Here is our full moving company rating methodology.
How much does it cost to move from California to South Carolina?
The table below lays out average cost ranges to move from California to South Carolina for different moving services depending on the size of your home.
| Move size | Moving company | Moving container | Rental truck |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1 Bedroom | $1,540 - $6,620 | $1,589 - $3,832 | $1,622 - $3,238 |
| 2 - 3 bedrooms | $4,474 - $9,693 | $2,680 - $5,631 | $1,903 - $3,894 |
| 4+ bedrooms | $8,073 - $14,288 | $3,767 - $8,373 | $2,403 - $4,585 |
*These price ranges are a rough estimate based on 2,504 miles and historical averages. The actual size of your move, additional services required, truck parking access, market conditions, and availability can greatly affect your final costs.
Cost to hire movers from California to South Carolina
Hiring movers for a studio apartment or one-bedroom home from California to South Carolina will cost between $1,540 and $6,620. The cost to move a two- to three-bedroom home from CA to SC will range from $4,474 to $9,693, and a large move from California to South Carolina will cost from $8,073 to $14,288.
Cost of moving containers from California to South Carolina
Moving containers from California to South Carolina will cost you $1,589 to $3,832 for a small move. For a two- to three-bedroom move, moving containers can cost $2,680 to $5,631. A four-bedroom move or bigger will cost $3,767 to $8,373. Learn more about PODS cost.
Here are the cheapest moving container companies when moving out of California.
Cost of moving truck rentals from California to South Carolina
A moving rental truck is generally the cheapest option, but it requires you to do all of the driving and labor.
Moving a studio or one-bedroom apartment in a rental truck will cost around
$1,622 to $3,238.
A two to three-bedroom move will cost
$1,903 to $3,894,
and moving a home with four or more bedrooms or from California to South Carolina costs from
$2,403 to $4,585.
These estimates include the estimated fuel cost.
Factors affecting the cost of moving from CA to SC
There are many factors that influence California moving costs. The cost to move from California to South Carolina will depend on these factors:
- Move size: Moving a large home costs more than moving a studio apartment.
- Time of year: The peak moving season in California is in the summer, so moving companies will likely charge more.
- DIY vs. professional mover: DIY moving services are cheaper but you do all the heavy lifting compared to letting the pros handle your move.
What to know before moving from CA to SC
If you’re moving to South Carolina from California, you’ll want to compare what life will be like.
Cost of living: California vs. South Carolina
| California | South Carolina | |
|---|---|---|
| Average rent cost | $1,856 | $1,065 |
| Average home cost | $771,057 | $295,769 |
| Average income (per capita) | $91,905 | $63,623 |
| Cost of Living Index | 134 | 96 |
| Unemployment rate | 5.4% | 4.7% |
| Average Sales Tax | 8.68% | 7.46% |
| State Income Tax | 13.3% | 7.0% |
- Rent is about 43% less expensive in South Carolina than in California.
- Home prices are about 62% lower in South Carolina than in California.
- The average income is about 31% lower in South Carolina than in California.
- Cost of living is 28% lower in South Carolina than in California.
- South Carolina has a lower unemployment rate than California by about 13%.
- Sales taxes are 14% lower in South Carolina than in California.
- Income taxes are 47% lower in South Carolina than in California.
How life is different in South Carolina vs. California
| South Carolina | California | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,373,555 | 39,029,342 |
| Political leaning | Republican 58-42 | Democratic 59-41 |
| Summer high | 91ºF | 87ºF |
| Winter low | 33ºF | 59ºF |
| Annual rain | 48" | 22" |
| Annual snow | 1" | 7" |
| Crime index | 28.0 | 28.43 |
- The population of South Carolina is approximately 86% lower than the population of California.
- In the last presidential election, South Carolina voted Republican and California voted Democratic.
- The average high in the summertime in South Carolina is 91ºF and in California, it’s 87ºF.
- During the coldest part of the year, South Carolina reaches the temperature of 33ºF and California gets down to 59ºF.
- You can expect about 48 inches of annual rainfall in South Carolina versus 22 inches of rainfall in California.
- In South Carolina, it snows about 1 inch annually versus 7 inches of snow in California.
- South Carolina has a lower crime rate than California with a crime index of 28.0 vs. 28.43.
Comparing the pros of California vs. South Carolina
Getting a fresh start in a new location is exciting. Here’s a side-by-side look at the perks of living in South Carolina compared to California.
| Pros of living in California | Pros of living in South Carolina |
|---|---|
| Ample economic opportunity | Warm southern hospitality |
| Pleasant weather | Plentiful outdoor activities |
| Abundant recreational options | Beautiful landscapes |
| High quality of life | Consistently gorgeous weather |
| Fresh and healthy foods | Rich historical significance |
Comparing the cons of living in California vs. South Carolina
Everything can’t be sunshine and rainbows all the time, no matter where you live. Here are some things to be aware of when leaving California for South Carolina.
| Cons of living in California | Cons of living in South Carolina |
|---|---|
| High cost of living | High cost of living |
| Heavy tax burdens | Hurricane frequency |
| Natural disasters | Low quality of healthcare |
| Terrible traffic | High taxes |
| Strange laws | Abundance of construction |
Other things to consider for your California to South Carolina move
- Weather: South Carolina had hot and humid summers and cool to mild winters and coastal areas of the state have very mild winters. While precipitation is abundant the entire year in almost the entire state, the coast tends to have a slightly wetter summer, while inland, the spring and autumn transitions tend to be the wettest periods and winter the driest season, with November being the driest month.
- HOA rules: Check ahead with any neighborhood or community rules on moving to ensure a smooth move.
- Elevator reservation: One common and important example of something that should be handled ahead of time is reserving the building's elevator and finding out their rules for using the elevator.
- Parking permits: Some cities require parking permits for large vehicles, find out ahead of time with your new local rules.
- State licensing: To promote safety, economic development, and ethical business practices, the South Carolina Office of Regulatory Staff (ORS) oversees movers in the state. They are responsible for inspecting, examining, and auditing public utility providers like movers. Make sure the moving company you use has a license before hiring.
- State regulator: You can verify a South Carolina moving license and its status on the state regulator's official website.
- Moving permits: South Carolina does not require any moving permits, but it is helpful to check local parking restrictions before moving into the state.
- Change of address: We recommend submitting your change of address form with USPS at least a week prior to your move. You can set an official move date on the form so that all your mail will get properly forwarded to South Carolina. Get started here.
- Mover's insurance: Interstate moving companies are required under federal law to provide basic insurance — also called “released value protection” — free of charge to all moving customers. When moving in South Carolina, explore movers' insurance options. Many offer Released Value Protection at no extra cost, covering items at 60 cents per pound. For enhanced protection, discuss Full Value Protection with the moving company or consider third-party insurance providers. Prioritize understanding coverage limits and potential extra costs. Read reviews to make an informed decision on the best insurance for your South Carolina move.
- Moving checklist: Peace of mind is priceless. Our moving checklist will help you know you’ve got everything covered.
Things to do in South Carolina
While you’re in South Carolina, you won’t be bored. These are some of the coolest places to visit in your new home state:
- Charleston's Historic District
- Myrtle Beach
- Hilton Head Island
- Brookgreen Gardens
- Middleton Place
- Riverbanks Zoo & Garden
- Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum
- Magnolia Plantation and Gardens
- Huntington Beach State Park
- Fort Sumter National Monument
- South Carolina State Museum
- Caesars Head State Park
- Congaree National Park
- DuPont Planetarium
- Alligator Adventure
- UFO Welcome Center
- The Battery
- Falls Park on the Reedy
- Charleston Tea Plantation
- The Peace Center
FAQs
What is the cheapest way to move from California to South Carolina?
Hiring a full-service California moving company will be on the more expensive side, while a rental truck or a moving container is usually the cheaper way to go, but requires more work. Here’s our guide for the cheapest way to move out of state.
Do movers transport your car from California to South Carolina?
Some full-service movers can coordinate auto transport for you as part of your relocation package for an additional fee. But you can also handle vehicle transport from California to South Carolina separately through one of the top car shipping companies.
What are the benefits of moving from California to South Carolina?
The main reasons people are moving from California to South Carolina are the amazing upsides of living in South Carolina such as warm southern hospitality and plentiful outdoor activities.
Is it cheaper to live in California or South Carolina?
It is generally cheaper to live in South Carolina than in California. Housing is much more affordable in South Carolina, with average rent about 43% less and home prices 61.6% lower than in California. Taxes are also lower in South Carolina, most notably income taxes, which are more than 40% less than those paid by California residents.
How much should you make a year to live comfortably in South Carolina?
You should make approximately $63,489 as a single adult with no children to live comfortably in South Carolina. The cost of living in South Carolina is approximately $3,628 per month for an individual and $6,082 for a family of four. The exact amount you’ll need to live comfortably may be more or less depending on where in South Carolina you live For example, larger cities like Charleston and Columbia will have higher housing costs than those in smaller towns.
