Moving to Australia from South Carolina
What to Expect
Considering a move from South Carolina to Australia? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from South Carolina to Australia, you would find that Australia is 10.7% more expensive than South Carolina. A $75,000 salary in South Carolina would need to be roughly A$107,099 in Australia to maintain the same lifestyle. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between South Carolina and Australia.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → A$107,099
To maintain the same standard of living in Australia
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 6.0% less
Groceries
pay 11.3% less
Transportation
pay 33.7% more
Housing
pay 19.4% less
Childcare
pay 9.2% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 65.1% 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.
Get free moving quotes to Australia
We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.
- ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
- ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
- ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you
Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from South Carolina to Australia.
people moved from United States to Australia · OECD (latest data available)
Who's moving to Australia?
Top countries of origin for Australia's foreign-born residents.
- 1,285,149
- 653,232
- 611,266
- 579,264
- 286,303
- 269,812
- · · ·
-
14.116,620
United States
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Australia compared to South Carolina.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Australia performs significantly better than South Carolina across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Australia performs significantly 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
share of people below the poverty line
Australia generally does better on employment & economy, though South Carolina leads in poverty rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Australia performs significantly better than South Carolina across all family life metrics.
Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Columbia | Canberra |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 47°/28°F (8°/-2°C) | 80°/54°F (26°/12°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 76°/55°F (24°/13°C) | 61°/39°F (16°/4°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 86°/65°F (30°/18°C) | 56°/35°F (13°/1°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 55°/36°F (13°/2°C) | 73°/47°F (23°/9°C) |
View all months
| Month | Columbia | Canberra |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 40°/22°F (4.3°/-5.3°C) | 82°/55°F (27.7°/13.0°C) |
| Feb | 45°/26°F (7.2°/-3.3°C) | 81°/55°F (27.0°/12.9°C) |
| Mar | 56°/35°F (13.3°/1.7°C) | 76°/51°F (24.4°/10.7°C) |
| Apr | 67°/46°F (19.3°/7.6°C) | 68°/44°F (19.8°/6.6°C) |
| May | 75°/55°F (24.0°/12.9°C) | 60°/38°F (15.4°/3.1°C) |
| Jun | 85°/65°F (29.2°/18.1°C) | 54°/34°F (12.1°/0.9°C) |
| Jul | 90°/69°F (32.0°/20.4°C) | 52°/32°F (11.2°/-0.2°C) |
| Aug | 88°/67°F (31.3°/19.6°C) | 55°/34°F (12.9°/1.0°C) |
| Sep | 80°/58°F (26.6°/14.5°C) | 61°/38°F (16.0°/3.1°C) |
| Oct | 68°/47°F (20.0°/8.1°C) | 67°/43°F (19.2°/6.0°C) |
| Nov | 55°/37°F (12.7°/2.6°C) | 72°/47°F (22.4°/8.5°C) |
| Dec | 42°/25°F (5.6°/-3.8°C) | 79°/52°F (26.0°/11.2°C) |
National Weather Service
Bureau of MeteorologyVisitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States and Australia. To live, work, or study long-term in Australia, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Australia's immigration authority.
United States passport holder visiting Australia
Electronic Travel Authorisation
Australia passport holder visiting United States
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 Australia than South Carolina?
Australia and South Carolina are within a few percent on overall cost, though specific items in specific cities can swing either way.
How much money do I need to move to Australia?
Budget about A$26,775 for 3 months in Australia (based on a $75,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Australia?
From major Australia cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in South Carolina and Australia are what actually decide it long-term.
How is healthcare in Australia compared to South Carolina?
Australia performs significantly better than South Carolina across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Australia compared to South Carolina?
The average high temperature in Canberra is 67°F, compared to 66°F in Columbia. Canberra receives around 24.8 in of rainfall per year, while Columbia gets 46.3 in.
What language do they speak in Australia?
Both South Carolina and Australia share the same official language: English.
