South Carolina
Moderate tax burden · COL index 93
Wins 9 categories
California
Moderate tax burden · COL index 142
Wins 6 categories
California's top income tax rate is 13.3% vs South Carolina's 6.2%. Cost of living in California (index 142) runs 53% higher than South Carolina (index 93). The median home in California costs $790K vs $310K in South Carolina. Politically, South Carolina voted Republican in 2024 (R+13.0) while California went Democratic (D+20.0).
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Housing & Cost of Living
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Utilities & Daily Costs
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Category wins
9
South Carolina
6
California
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Score For My Profile →People Also Ask
Why are people moving out of SC?
What are the drawbacks of living in South Carolina?
Is it cheaper to live in South Carolina than California?
Is it really cheaper to live in South Carolina than California? For most families, substantially. Even with a modest income tax, South Carolina's top rate is less than half of California's and falling, its property and sales taxes are lower, and home prices run roughly half of California's.
Why are Californians moving to South Carolina?
Affordability. California has plenty of amenities to offer, but affordable living is not one of them. Many people leave California due to the high cost of living. Luckily, South Carolina offers an abundance of amenities at a price that is actually affordable.