Moving to Italy from South Carolina
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from South Carolina to Italy — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from South Carolina to Italy, you would find that Italy is 5.0% cheaper than South Carolina. A $75,000 salary in South Carolina would need to be roughly €60,096 in Italy to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Catalan and Italian.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from South Carolina to Italy.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → €60,096
To maintain the same standard of living in Italy
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 6.2% less
Groceries
pay 14.0% less
Transportation
pay 49.3% more
Housing
pay 36.8% less
Childcare
pay 54.2% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 1.3% less
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 Italy, based on official data.
people moved from United States to Italy · OECD (latest data available)
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from South Carolina to Italy.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Italy performs significantly better than South Carolina across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
South Carolina performs better than Italy 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 Italy leads in gdp per capita.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Italy 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 | Rome |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 47°/28°F (8°/-2°C) | 56°/39°F (13°/4°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 76°/55°F (24°/13°C) | 72°/53°F (22°/11°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 86°/65°F (30°/18°C) | 85°/63°F (29°/17°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 55°/36°F (13°/2°C) | 62°/45°F (17°/7°C) |
View all months
| Month | Columbia | Rome |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 40°/22°F (4.3°/-5.3°C) | 53°/38°F (11.9°/3.1°C) |
| Feb | 45°/26°F (7.2°/-3.3°C) | 55°/38°F (13.0°/3.5°C) |
| Mar | 56°/35°F (13.3°/1.7°C) | 59°/41°F (15.2°/5.2°C) |
| Apr | 67°/46°F (19.3°/7.6°C) | 64°/46°F (17.7°/7.5°C) |
| May | 75°/55°F (24.0°/12.9°C) | 73°/53°F (22.8°/11.6°C) |
| Jun | 85°/65°F (29.2°/18.1°C) | 80°/60°F (26.9°/15.3°C) |
| Jul | 90°/69°F (32.0°/20.4°C) | 87°/64°F (30.3°/18.0°C) |
| Aug | 88°/67°F (31.3°/19.6°C) | 87°/65°F (30.6°/18.3°C) |
| Sep | 80°/58°F (26.6°/14.5°C) | 80°/59°F (26.5°/15.2°C) |
| Oct | 68°/47°F (20.0°/8.1°C) | 71°/52°F (21.4°/11.3°C) |
| Nov | 55°/37°F (12.7°/2.6°C) | 61°/44°F (15.9°/6.9°C) |
| Dec | 42°/25°F (5.6°/-3.8°C) | 55°/40°F (12.6°/4.2°C) |
Data:
National Weather Service,
Italian Air Force- Department of Meteorology
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States and Italy. To live, work, or study long-term in Italy, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Italy's immigration authority.
United States passport holder visiting Italy
Visa Free
Italy 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 Italy than South Carolina?
Yes — Italy is on average about 8% cheaper than South Carolina. City-level variation can be significant.
How much money do I need to move to Italy?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly €15,024 in Italy on a $75,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from Italy?
Usually fine from major cities in Italy. 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 Italy compared to South Carolina?
Italy performs significantly better than South Carolina across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Italy compared to South Carolina?
The average high temperature in Rome is 69°F, compared to 66°F in Columbia. Rome receives around 31.7 in of rainfall per year, while Columbia gets 46.3 in.
What language do they speak in Italy?
The official languages in Italy are Catalan and Italian. In South Carolina, the official language is English.
