Moving to India from South Carolina

moving to

What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from South Carolina to India — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from South Carolina to India, you would find that India is 71.1% cheaper than South Carolina. A $75,000 salary in South Carolina would need to be roughly ₹1,858,669 in India to maintain the same lifestyle. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Delhi averages 88°F vs 66°F in Columbia, making it significantly warmer.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

What to expect for your wallet after moving from South Carolina to India.

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 ₹1,858,669

To maintain the same standard of living in India

Calculate with your salary →

Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day

Restaurants

pay 83.0% less

Groceries

pay 72.9% less

Transportation

pay 42.2% less

Housing

pay 88.8% less

Childcare

pay 93.8% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 63.4% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 USD = 96.64 INR (July 2026)

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?

How many people actually move from South Carolina to India, based on official data.

Living there in 2020
32,867 ↓ 6% vs 2015

people born in United States live in India · UN DESA

Who's moving to India?

Top countries of origin for India's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from South Carolina to India.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), 2022

share of adults with obesity

SC
35.4%
IN
3.9%

India performs significantly better than South Carolina across all health & wellbeing metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

share of households with internet

SC
87.0%
IN
46.0%

South Carolina performs better than India across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

SC
4.9%
IN
4.2%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

SC
$49,914
IN
$9,200

South Carolina generally does better on employment & economy, though India leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2022

average years of life at birth

SC
74.8 yrs
IN
67.2 yrs

South Carolina performs better than India 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.

Columbia Rain: 46.3 in/yr (1175 mm)
66° / 46°F

Avg. annual high / low

Delhi Rain: 28.2 in/yr (716 mm)
88° / 66°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Columbia Delhi
Jan–Mar 47°/28°F (8°/-2°C) 76°/52°F (25°/11°C)
Apr–Jun 76°/55°F (24°/13°C) 101°/78°F (38°/25°C)
Jul–Sep 86°/65°F (30°/18°C) 93°/79°F (34°/26°C)
Oct–Dec 55°/36°F (13°/2°C) 82°/56°F (28°/14°C)
View all months
Month Columbia Delhi
Jan 40°/22°F (4.3°/-5.3°C) 69°/46°F (20.8°/7.8°C)
Feb 45°/26°F (7.2°/-3.3°C) 75°/51°F (23.7°/10.3°C)
Mar 56°/35°F (13.3°/1.7°C) 85°/60°F (29.6°/15.4°C)
Apr 67°/46°F (19.3°/7.6°C) 97°/71°F (36.0°/21.5°C)
May 75°/55°F (24.0°/12.9°C) 104°/79°F (39.8°/26.2°C)
Jun 85°/65°F (29.2°/18.1°C) 103°/83°F (39.4°/28.3°C)
Jul 90°/69°F (32.0°/20.4°C) 95°/81°F (35.2°/27.0°C)
Aug 88°/67°F (31.3°/19.6°C) 92°/79°F (33.6°/26.2°C)
Sep 80°/58°F (26.6°/14.5°C) 93°/76°F (34.0°/24.7°C)
Oct 68°/47°F (20.0°/8.1°C) 91°/67°F (32.9°/19.4°C)
Nov 55°/37°F (12.7°/2.6°C) 82°/55°F (28.0°/12.8°C)
Dec 42°/25°F (5.6°/-3.8°C) 73°/47°F (22.7°/8.4°C)

Data: National Weather Service National Weather Service, India Meteorological Department India Meteorological Department

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States and India. To live, work, or study long-term in India, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check India's immigration authority.

United States passport

United States passport holder visiting India

Visa Online (e-Visa)
United States passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to India.
India passport

India passport holder visiting United States

Visa Required
India passport holders need a visa to enter United States.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in India than South Carolina?

Yes — India is on average about 74% cheaper than South Carolina. City-level variation can be significant.

How much money do I need to move to India?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly ₹464,667 in India on a $75,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from India?

Usually fine from major cities in India. The harder questions are legal — digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

How is healthcare in India compared to South Carolina?

India performs significantly better than South Carolina across all health & wellbeing metrics.

What's the weather like in India compared to South Carolina?

The average high temperature in Delhi is 88°F, compared to 66°F in Columbia. Delhi receives around 28.2 in of rainfall per year, while Columbia gets 46.3 in.

What language do they speak in India?

The official languages in India are English, Hindi and Tamil. In South Carolina, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

IN
Population 4,625,364 1,389,637,446
Currency United States Dollar ($) Indian Rupee (₹)
Languages English English, Hindi, Tamil
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +1 +91
Time zones 11 1
Emergency number 911 112