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 83.5% cheaper than South Carolina. A $75,000 salary in South Carolina would need to be roughly ₹1,180,000 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 73°F in Charleston, making it significantly warmer.

Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓

Is India cheaper than South Carolina?

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

Restaurants

pay 83.8% less

Groceries

pay 80.1% less

Transportation

pay 58.4% less

Housing

pay 91.6% less

Childcare

pay 94.3% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 68.2% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 USD = 94.96 INR (October 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.

What salary do you need in India?

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 → ₹1,180,000

To maintain the same standard of living in India

Calculate with your salary →

Get free moving quotes to India

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.

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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), 2024

share of adults with obesity

SC
35.4%
IN
8.0%

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), 2025

share of households with internet

SC
87.0%
IN
70.0%

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, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

SC
$49,914
IN
$2,702

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2024

average years of life at birth

SC
74.8 yrs
IN
72.2 yrs

South Carolina performs better than India across all family life metrics.

Weather in India vs South Carolina

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Charleston Rain: 44.4 in/yr (1128 mm)
73° / 60°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Charleston Delhi
Jan–Mar 61°/47°F (16°/8°C) 76°/52°F (25°/11°C)
Apr–Jun 79°/67°F (26°/19°C) 101°/78°F (38°/25°C)
Jul–Sep 85°/75°F (30°/24°C) 93°/79°F (34°/26°C)
Oct–Dec 67°/54°F (20°/12°C) 82°/56°F (28°/14°C)
View all months
Month Charleston Delhi
Jan 57°/43°F (13.7°/6.0°C) 69°/46°F (20.8°/7.8°C)
Feb 60°/46°F (15.3°/7.5°C) 75°/51°F (23.7°/10.3°C)
Mar 65°/52°F (18.3°/10.9°C) 85°/60°F (29.6°/15.4°C)
Apr 72°/59°F (22.2°/14.9°C) 97°/71°F (36.0°/21.5°C)
May 79°/67°F (25.9°/19.5°C) 104°/79°F (39.8°/26.2°C)
Jun 85°/74°F (29.2°/23.3°C) 103°/83°F (39.4°/28.3°C)
Jul 88°/77°F (30.9°/24.9°C) 95°/81°F (35.2°/27.0°C)
Aug 86°/76°F (30.2°/24.5°C) 92°/79°F (33.6°/26.2°C)
Sep 82°/72°F (27.8°/22.1°C) 93°/76°F (34.0°/24.7°C)
Oct 75°/62°F (23.7°/16.9°C) 91°/67°F (32.9°/19.4°C)
Nov 67°/54°F (19.6°/12.0°C) 82°/55°F (28.0°/12.8°C)
Dec 60°/46°F (15.3°/7.6°C) 73°/47°F (22.7°/8.4°C)

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

Can you move from South Carolina to India?

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 83% 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 ₹295,000 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 73°F in Charleston. Delhi receives around 28.2 in of rainfall per year, while Charleston gets 44.4 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 5,570,274 1,463,865,525
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