Moving to South Carolina from New Zealand
What to Expect
Considering a move from New Zealand to South Carolina? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from New Zealand to South Carolina, you would find that South Carolina is 23.6% more expensive than New Zealand overall. A NZ$128,326 salary in New Zealand would need to be roughly $84,868 in South Carolina to maintain the same lifestyle. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between New Zealand and South Carolina.
What does your salary buy?
NZ$128,326 → $84,868
To maintain the same standard of living in South Carolina
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 21.6% more
Groceries
pay 44.5% more
Transportation
pay 16.2% less
Housing
pay 52.9% more
Childcare
pay 77.2% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 3.9% less
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from New Zealand to South Carolina.
people moved from New Zealand to United States · OECD (latest data available)
Who's moving to United States?
Top countries of origin for United States's foreign-born residents.
- 10,853,105
- 2,723,764
- 2,184,110
- 2,061,178
- 1,829,251
- 1,410,659
- · · ·
-
93.49,640
New Zealand
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in South Carolina compared to New Zealand.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
New Zealand performs better than South Carolina across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
New Zealand performs better than South Carolina across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
New Zealand generally does better on employment & economy, though South Carolina leads in gdp per capita.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
New Zealand performs better than South Carolina across all family life metrics.
Data: The World Factbook
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Wellington | Columbia |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 69°/58°F (21°/14°C) | 47°/28°F (8°/-2°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 59°/49°F (15°/10°C) | 76°/55°F (24°/13°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 56°/46°F (13°/8°C) | 86°/65°F (30°/18°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 64°/53°F (18°/12°C) | 55°/36°F (13°/2°C) |
View all months
| Month | Wellington | Columbia |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 70°/58°F (21.2°/14.7°C) | 40°/22°F (4.3°/-5.3°C) |
| Feb | 70°/59°F (21.3°/14.8°C) | 45°/26°F (7.2°/-3.3°C) |
| Mar | 68°/56°F (19.8°/13.5°C) | 56°/35°F (13.3°/1.7°C) |
| Apr | 63°/53°F (17.4°/11.5°C) | 67°/46°F (19.3°/7.6°C) |
| May | 59°/49°F (15.2°/9.7°C) | 75°/55°F (24.0°/12.9°C) |
| Jun | 56°/46°F (13.1°/7.9°C) | 85°/65°F (29.2°/18.1°C) |
| Jul | 54°/44°F (12.3°/6.9°C) | 90°/69°F (32.0°/20.4°C) |
| Aug | 55°/45°F (12.9°/7.4°C) | 88°/67°F (31.3°/19.6°C) |
| Sep | 58°/48°F (14.5°/8.8°C) | 80°/58°F (26.6°/14.5°C) |
| Oct | 60°/50°F (15.8°/10.0°C) | 68°/47°F (20.0°/8.1°C) |
| Nov | 64°/53°F (17.5°/11.4°C) | 55°/37°F (12.7°/2.6°C) |
| Dec | 67°/56°F (19.6°/13.5°C) | 42°/25°F (5.6°/-3.8°C) |
Data:
New Zealand National Meteorological Service,
National Weather Service
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between New Zealand and United States. To live, work, or study long-term in United States, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check United States's immigration authority.
New Zealand passport holder visiting United States
Electronic Travel Authorisation
United States passport holder visiting New Zealand
Electronic Travel AuthorisationData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in South Carolina than New Zealand?
On average South Carolina is around 13% pricier than New Zealand, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to South Carolina?
Budget about $21,217 for 3 months in South Carolina (based on a NZ$128,326 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from South Carolina?
From major South Carolina cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in New Zealand and South Carolina are what actually decide it long-term.
How is healthcare in South Carolina compared to New Zealand?
New Zealand performs better than South Carolina across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in South Carolina compared to New Zealand?
The average high temperature in Columbia is 66°F, compared to 62°F in Wellington. Columbia receives around 46.3 in of rainfall per year, while Wellington gets 37.7 in.
What language do they speak in South Carolina?
The official language in South Carolina is English. In New Zealand, the official languages are English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language.
