Quick answer: Expect to pay $538–$5,497 for a move from Columbia to Philadelphia, with most moves taking one to six days. Your cost depends on load size, timing, and whether you move yourself or hire help for the 618 miles.
Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Moving from Philadelphia to Columbia guide.
Our track record
Best movers by type
There are 5 interstate moving companies in Columbia, so figuring out which one is best for your move from Columbia, SC, to Philadelphia, PA, can feel overwhelming. You’ll also need to decide whether to hire professional full-service movers or take a more DIY approach.
Not to worry — we’ve made the process easier for you. We compared each mover by key factors like service options and cost, and analyzed customer feedback in online reviews. Using our research, we have narrowed the list of Columbia companies to only the best long-distance movers in Columbia, no matter what type of move you’re planning.
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Labor only
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Best professional movers from Columbia to Philadelphia
When you’d rather skip the packing tape, heavy lifting, and scheduling hassles for your interstate move from Columbia to Philadelphia, full-service movers are the answer. They manage every step so you can keep your attention on the big decisions and the excitement of the move.
Here are our picks for the most reliable full-service movers ready to take you from Columbia to Philadelphia without the headaches.
Safeway Moving
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American Van Lines
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Allied Van Lines
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Mayzlin Relocation
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North American Van Lines
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What moving services are available in Columbia?
How we chose the best moving companies for your SC to PA move
The top local movers servicing Columbia to Philadelphia moves
It's not always easy to find a reliable local moving company in Columbia that also handles long-distance moves to Philadelphia. With so many options, figuring out which ones you can trust takes time.
Luckily, we've done the research for you. We evaluated the top local movers in Columbia who offer long-distance services, looking at cost, service quality, and customer reviews.
These are the best local movers for your long-distance move from Columbia to Philadelphia.
- Gentlemen Movers Inc.: 4.76 out of 5 stars
- TWO MEN AND A TRUCK: 4.72 out of 5 stars
- JEGA Movers LLC: 4.48 out of 5 stars
- Ballantyne & Beyond Moving: 4.72 out of 5 stars
- Smooth Move: 4.62 out of 5 stars
Company Info
State license #: 9756
Years in Business: 21
DOT #: 1442337
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Hot Tubs
- Pool Tables
- Grandfather clocks
- Storage
- Safes
- Pay by credit card
Company Info
State license #: 9494-C
Years in Business: 31
DOT #: 2527384
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Pianos
- Storage
- Safes
- Pay by credit card
Company Info
State license #: 2021239
Years in Business: 5
DOT #: 3583359
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Crating
- Storage
- Pay by credit card
Company Info
State license #: 9784-A
Years in Business: 16
DOT #: 2557751
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- International moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Crating
- Storage
- Fragile-only packing
- Pay by money order
- Pay by cash
- Pay by credit card
Company Info
State license #: 9823
Years in Business: 12
DOT #: 2823802
Alternate Names: Go Smooth Move, LLC, Carolina Movers, LLC
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Hot Tubs
- Art
- Antiques
- Crating
- Storage
- Fragile-only packing
- Pay by credit card
How much does it cost to move from Columbia to Philadelphia?
Columbia movers charge $256 per hour on average. Here are average prices for a full-service moving company, moving container, or truck:
Move size | Moving company | Moving container | Rental truck |
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Studio / 1 bedroom | $1,285 - $3,646 | $797 - $1,886 | $551 - $1,019 |
2 - 3 bedrooms | $2,303 - $5,497 | $1,438 - $2,826 | $538 - $1,174 |
4+ bedrooms | $4,173 - $8,065 | $1,901 - $3,725 | $735 - $1,362 |
Cost to hire movers from South Carolina to Pennsylvania
Hiring movers for a studio apartment or one-bedroom home from South Carolina to Pennsylvania will cost between $1,285 and $3,646. The cost to move a two- to three-bedroom home from SC to PA will range from $2,303 to $5,497, and a large move from South Carolina to Pennsylvania will cost from $4,173 to $8,065.
Cost of moving containers from South Carolina to Pennsylvania
When you're heading from South Carolina to Pennsylvania, and you're only moving a few items, you can expect to spend between $797 and $1,886. For a two- or three-bedroom place, prices usually fall between $1,438 and $2,826. If you're packing up a large home with four or more bedrooms, the cost can range from $1,901 to $3,725. Want more details? Check out our complete PODS cost guide.
Explore the top budget-friendly moving container companies to make your move from South Carolina easier and more affordable.
Cost of moving truck rentals from South Carolina to Pennsylvania
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 $551 to $1,019. A two to three-bedroom move will cost $538 to $1,174, and moving a home with four or more bedrooms or from South Carolina to Pennsylvania costs around $735 to $1,362.
These quotes include the estimated fuel cost.
Key factors that impact the cost of your Columbia to Philadelphia move
What to know before moving from Columbia to Philadelphia
Expect a bump in monthly expenses after the move — Philadelphia runs about 30% higher for singles and 45% higher for families than Columbia.
Singles spend around $2,541 in Philadelphia versus $1,956 in Columbia; families pay $6,190 compared with $4,274.
Dig into the side-by-side details here:
- You may want to budget more for rent in Philadelphia, since prices are typically 17% higher than in Columbia.
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In terms of homeownership, you'll be able to get more for your money in Philadelphia.
Home prices in Philadelphia are 1.7% lower than in Columbia. - You're likely to make a higher income living in Philadelphia, where incomes are, on average, 9.4% higher than in Columbia. Major employers in Philadelphia include Amtak, Comcast, and COFCO.
- Be sure to budget for higher bills in Philadelphia, since the cost of living for a single person in Philadelphia is 29.9% higher than in Columbia. This includes routine expenses like utilities, groceries, clothing, and transportation.
- If you're moving your family to Philadelphia, keep in mind that your living expenses could increase. The cost of living for a family in Philadelphia is 44.8% higher than in Columbia.
- The unemployment rate in Philadelphia is 103.85% higher than in Columbia.
- Sales taxes are the same in Philadelphia and Columbia.
- One perk of moving to Philadelphia is paying less in state income taxes, which are 56.14% lower than in Columbia.
The breakdown below shows how typical living costs and monthly expenses line up when comparing Columbia with Philadelphia.
Columbia | Philadelphia | |
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Basic utilities | $148.09 | $269.29 |
Cell phone plan | $54.77 | $61.4 |
Dozen eggs | $3.46 | $4.3 |
Loaf of bread | $2.65 | $4.15 |
Fast-food/casual eatery (one meal) | $16 | $20 |
Dinner for 2 (mid-range restaurant) | $60 | $90 |
Gym membership | $40 | $48.67 |
- Basic utilities cost less in Columbia than in Philadelphia, helping trim your monthly bills.
- Cell phone plans are cheaper in Columbia than in Philadelphia.
- Eggs are less expensive in Columbia than in Philadelphia.
- Bread costs less in Columbia than in Philadelphia.
- A quick meal is cheaper in Columbia than in Philadelphia.
- A mid-range dinner for two costs less in Columbia than in Philadelphia.
- Gym memberships are more affordable in Columbia than in Philadelphia.
How life is different in Columbia vs. Philadelphia
Philadelphia | Columbia | |
---|---|---|
Population | 1,603,797 | 136,632 |
Transportation Score | 9 | 5 |
Walkability score | 75 | 35 |
Bike friendliness score | 67 | 35 |
Crime Index | 66.09 | 3.0 |
Safety Index | 33.91 | 48.39 |
Air Quality | Good | Good |
- The population of Philadelphia is about 1,074% greater than Columbia, so you may find more to see and do in your new surroundings. Of course, with more people can also come increased competition for jobs and housing.
- Philadelphia offers better access to buses and trains than Columbia, based on public transportation ratings. Philadelphia has a transit score of 9 out of 10 compared to 5 in Columbia. The higher the score, the more public transportation pickup and dropoff locations a city provides.
- Living in Philadelphia means you'll likely be within closer walking distance to restaurants, shops, parks, and entertainment than you are in Columbia. Philadelphia is considered more walkable than Columbia, with a score of 75 out of 100 versus 35 out of 100 in Columbia. A city's walkability score indicates how pedestrian-friendly it is in terms of proximity of neighborhoods to amenities.
- If cycling is your thing, Philadelphia is considered more bike-friendly than Columbia in terms of designated lanes and connectivity and how many residents opt to commute on two wheels rather than by car. Philadelphia has a bike-friendliness score of 67 out of 100, while Columbia is rated as 35 out of 100.
- The crime rate in Philadelphia is higher than in Columbia, so you may want to exercise a little extra caution as you're acclimating to your new location. While the crime index is 66.09 in Philadelphia, it is 3.0 in Columbia. With this index, the lower the score, the better, since it indicates a city's crime levels.
- You may want to exercise more caution as you're getting used to your new surroundings in Philadelphia. With a crime index of 33.91, Philadelphia ranks lower in overall safety than Columbia, whose index is 48.39. The safety index measures how safe people in a city feel about walking alone, both during the day and at night, as well as data on muggings, theft, vandalism, and other instances of petty crime.
- The air quality in Philadelphia and Columbia is generally the same (Good). Cities with good to moderate ratings have clean or acceptable air quality, with the possibility of small pollutants affecting people with certain health conditions like asthma. Anything beyond the moderate rate means increased impact on residents.
Other things to consider for your Columbia vs. Philadelphia move
- Weather: Philadelphia has hot and muggy summers and the fall and spring are generally mild, and winter is moderately cold. If you are planning a summer move make sure to check the weather to avoid overall humid and hot days,
- HOA rules: To keep things running smoothly, make sure you're familiar with any HOA or community moving policies before the big day.
- Elevator reservation: Make sure to arrange elevator access in advance if your building requires reservations for moving.
- Truck parking permits: Make sure to look into local parking regulations—some areas require permits for large moving trucks.
- State licensing: For decades movers In Pennsylvania were regulated by the Public Utility Commission (PUC). Each company was issued a PUC Number and was required to abide by a universal publicly published tariff that established the rates movers could charge for various services. Now, some sources claim that the PUC no longer regulates in-state movers, and it appears as though the PUC’s website is no longer functioning. So if you’re moving within Pennsylvania, you’ll want to address these issues with your moving company representative and if possible, contact the state directly. Ensure the company you choose is licensed to handle your move.
- State regulator: You can verify a Pennsylvania moving company's license by visiting the state's public utilities commission.
- Moving Permits: You won't need a moving permit in Pennsylvania, though it's smart to double-check any local parking restrictions ahead of your move.
- Change of address: To avoid missing any mail, we recommend submitting your USPS change of address form at least a week before your move. You can choose your official move date to make sure everything gets forwarded properly to Philadelphia Start the process here.
- Moving company insurance: The amount and type of insurance movers must have depends on state regulations. In Pennsylvania, movers typically offer Released Value Protection at no extra cost, covering items at 60 cents per pound. For more comprehensive coverage, inquire about Full Value Protection with the moving company, or explore third-party insurance options for tailored plans. Consider coverage limits, additional costs, and reviews before making a decision.
- Moving checklist: Let our moving checklist guide you through the process and help ensure nothing slips through the cracks.
Where to live in Philadelphia
With your sights set on Philly, these are some of the most popular neighborhoods to consider in Philadelphia.
Best neighborhoods for singles
- Cedar Park
- Fishtown
- Manayunk
- Point Breeze
- Washington Square West
Best neighborhoods for families
- Bella Vista
- Bustleton
- Fitler Square/Rittenhouse Square (City Center West)
- Foxchase
- Roxborough
Things to do in Philadelphia
After getting comfortable in your new Pennsylvania home, it's time to see what Philadelphia is all about. Whether you're into food, art, nature, or nightlife — there's plenty to check out:
- Arts and culture: Cultural attractions in Philadelphia include museums and art centers like the Eastern State Penitentiary, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Barnes, Museum of the American Revolution, and The Franklin Institute.
- Outdoor recreation: The city's Wissahickon Valley Park, Spruce Street Harbor Park, Fairmount Park, and Love Park — and more, offering great opportunities to hike, bike, or relax in nature.
- Sports: Nothing beats the thrill of cheering on the home team at an Philadelphia 76ers (NBA), Philadelphia Eagles (NFL), Philadelphia Flyers (NHL), or Philadelphia Phillies (MLB) game.
FAQ
When is the best time to move from Columbia to Philadelphia?
Spring and fall are the ideal times to move from Columbia to Philadelphia. You'll benefit from more comfortable weather and avoid the higher prices that come with peak moving season in Columbia.
When is the cheapest time to move from Columbia to Philadelphia?
Because spring and fall moves from Columbia to Philadelphia are so common, winter can be a great time to move if you're looking for lower prices. Read our moving discounts guide to see how.
How long does a move from Columbia to Philadelphia take?
The 618-mile journey from Columbia, SC to Philadelphia, PA, typically takes one to six days. Some movers in Columbia offer expedited services if you're on a tight schedule, and if you need extra time, be sure to ask about storage options in Philadelphia.
How many movers in Columbia can handle specialty items for my move to Philadelphia?
Specialty moving services aren’t offered by every company. In Columbia, 5 movers can handle pianos. 2 offer antique moving services. Compared to the rest of SC, there are 32 piano movers and 17 antique movers, while nationwide the numbers are 2176 and 1401 respectively.
If you need these services, it’s best to book early — availability can be limited, especially during peak moving months.