Moving to Israel from South Carolina

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from South Carolina to Israel? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from South Carolina to Israel, you would find that Israel is 18.5% more expensive than South Carolina. A $75,000 salary in South Carolina would need to be roughly ₪272,964 in Israel to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Arabic and Hebrew.

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 South Carolina and Israel.

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 ₪272,964

To maintain the same standard of living in Israel

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 20.4% more

Groceries

pay 7.5% less

Transportation

pay 60.9% more

Housing

pay 18.1% less

Childcare

pay 29.9% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 43.4% more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 USD = 3.05 ILS (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.

Get free moving quotes to Israel

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 Israel.

Moved in 2023
2,413 ↓ 18% vs 2022

people moved from United States to Israel · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to Israel?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Israel compared to South Carolina.

How's the healthcare?

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

share of adults with obesity

SC
35.4%
IL
26.1%

Israel 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%
IL
90.0%

Israel performs significantly better than South Carolina 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%
IL
3.4%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

SC
$49,914
IL
$48,300

South Carolina generally does better on employment & economy, though Israel 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
IL
83.3 yrs

Israel 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.

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

Avg. annual high / low

Jerusalem Rain: 21.1 in/yr (537 mm)
72° / 57°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Columbia Jerusalem
Jan–Mar 47°/28°F (8°/-2°C) 58°/46°F (15°/8°C)
Apr–Jun 76°/55°F (24°/13°C) 78°/60°F (25°/15°C)
Jul–Sep 86°/65°F (30°/18°C) 85°/67°F (29°/20°C)
Oct–Dec 55°/36°F (13°/2°C) 68°/55°F (20°/13°C)
View all months
Month Columbia Jerusalem
Jan 40°/22°F (4.3°/-5.3°C) 55°/44°F (12.8°/6.9°C)
Feb 45°/26°F (7.2°/-3.3°C) 57°/45°F (13.8°/7.1°C)
Mar 56°/35°F (13.3°/1.7°C) 63°/49°F (17.0°/9.2°C)
Apr 67°/46°F (19.3°/7.6°C) 71°/54°F (21.5°/12.1°C)
May 75°/55°F (24.0°/12.9°C) 79°/61°F (25.9°/16.0°C)
Jun 85°/65°F (29.2°/18.1°C) 83°/65°F (28.4°/18.2°C)
Jul 90°/69°F (32.0°/20.4°C) 86°/68°F (30.0°/20.2°C)
Aug 88°/67°F (31.3°/19.6°C) 86°/68°F (29.9°/20.0°C)
Sep 80°/58°F (26.6°/14.5°C) 83°/66°F (28.4°/18.7°C)
Oct 68°/47°F (20.0°/8.1°C) 78°/62°F (25.3°/16.8°C)
Nov 55°/37°F (12.7°/2.6°C) 68°/55°F (19.9°/12.8°C)
Dec 42°/25°F (5.6°/-3.8°C) 59°/48°F (15.2°/9.0°C)

Data: National Weather Service National Weather Service, Israel Meteorological Service Israel Meteorological Service

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

United States passport

United States passport holder visiting Israel

Electronic Travel Authorisation
United States passport holders need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to enter Israel.
Israel passport

Israel passport holder visiting United States

Electronic Travel Authorisation
Israel passport holders need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) 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 Israel than South Carolina?

On average Israel is around 19% pricier than South Carolina, with notable variation by city.

How much money do I need to move to Israel?

Budget about ₪68,241 for 3 months in Israel (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 Israel?

From major Israel cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in South Carolina and Israel are what actually decide it long-term.

How is healthcare in Israel compared to South Carolina?

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

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

The average high temperature in Jerusalem is 72°F, compared to 66°F in Columbia. Jerusalem receives around 21.1 in of rainfall per year, while Columbia gets 46.3 in.

What language do they speak in Israel?

The official languages in Israel are Arabic and Hebrew. In South Carolina, the official language is English.

Share this

At a Glance

IL
Population 4,625,364 8,914,885
Currency United States Dollar ($) Israeli New Sheqel (₪)
Languages English Arabic, Hebrew
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +1 +972
Time zones 11 1
Emergency number 911 100