Moving to South Carolina from Philippines
What to Expect
Considering a move from Philippines to South Carolina? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Philippines to South Carolina, you would find that South Carolina is 3.5 times more expensive than Philippines overall. A ₱4,607,663 salary in Philippines would need to be roughly $155,569 in South Carolina to maintain the same lifestyle. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Columbia averages 66°F vs 88°F in Manila, making it significantly cooler.
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 Philippines and South Carolina.
What does your salary buy?
₱4,607,663 → $155,569
To maintain the same standard of living in South Carolina
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 4.5 times more
Groceries
pay 92.6% more
Transportation
pay 2.9 times more
Housing
pay 4.7 times more
Childcare
pay 6.9 times more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 2.6 times more
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 Philippines to South Carolina.
people moved from Philippines 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
-
4.2,061,178
Philippines
- 1,829,251
- 1,410,659
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in South Carolina compared to Philippines.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Philippines performs better than South Carolina across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
South Carolina performs significantly better than Philippines across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
share of people below the poverty line
South Carolina generally does better on employment & economy, though Philippines leads in unemployment rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
South Carolina performs significantly better than Philippines 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 | Manila | Columbia |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 87°/75°F (31°/24°C) | 47°/28°F (8°/-2°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 91°/79°F (33°/26°C) | 76°/55°F (24°/13°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 88°/78°F (31°/26°C) | 86°/65°F (30°/18°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 87°/77°F (30°/25°C) | 55°/36°F (13°/2°C) |
View all months
| Month | Manila | Columbia |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 85°/74°F (29.5°/23.5°C) | 40°/22°F (4.3°/-5.3°C) |
| Feb | 87°/75°F (30.5°/23.8°C) | 45°/26°F (7.2°/-3.3°C) |
| Mar | 90°/77°F (32.1°/24.9°C) | 56°/35°F (13.3°/1.7°C) |
| Apr | 92°/79°F (33.5°/26.2°C) | 67°/46°F (19.3°/7.6°C) |
| May | 92°/80°F (33.2°/26.7°C) | 75°/55°F (24.0°/12.9°C) |
| Jun | 90°/79°F (32.2°/26.2°C) | 85°/65°F (29.2°/18.1°C) |
| Jul | 88°/78°F (31.1°/25.8°C) | 90°/69°F (32.0°/20.4°C) |
| Aug | 87°/78°F (30.6°/25.5°C) | 88°/67°F (31.3°/19.6°C) |
| Sep | 88°/78°F (30.9°/25.5°C) | 80°/58°F (26.6°/14.5°C) |
| Oct | 88°/78°F (30.9°/25.5°C) | 68°/47°F (20.0°/8.1°C) |
| Nov | 87°/77°F (30.7°/24.9°C) | 55°/37°F (12.7°/2.6°C) |
| Dec | 85°/75°F (29.7°/23.9°C) | 42°/25°F (5.6°/-3.8°C) |
Data:
Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration,
National Weather Service
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Philippines 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.
Philippines passport holder visiting United States
Visa Required
United States passport holder visiting Philippines
Visa FreeData: 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 Philippines?
On average South Carolina is around 107% pricier than Philippines, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to South Carolina?
Budget about $38,892 for 3 months in South Carolina (based on a ₱4,607,663 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 Philippines and South Carolina are what actually decide it long-term.
How is healthcare in South Carolina compared to Philippines?
Philippines performs better than South Carolina across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in South Carolina compared to Philippines?
The average high temperature in Columbia is 66°F, compared to 88°F in Manila. Columbia receives around 46.3 in of rainfall per year, while Manila gets 86.7 in.
What language do they speak in South Carolina?
The official language in South Carolina is English. In Philippines, the official languages are English and Filipino.
