Moving to Pakistan from South Carolina
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from South Carolina to Pakistan — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from South Carolina to Pakistan, you would find that Pakistan is 70.1% cheaper than South Carolina. A $75,000 salary in South Carolina would need to be roughly PKR6,044,402 in Pakistan to maintain the same lifestyle. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Islamabad averages 84°F vs 66°F in Columbia, making it significantly warmer.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from South Carolina to Pakistan.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → PKR6,044,402
To maintain the same standard of living in Pakistan
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 81.4% less
Groceries
pay 73.5% less
Transportation
pay 43.8% less
Housing
pay 80.0% less
Childcare
pay 95.3% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 66.8% 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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Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from South Carolina to Pakistan.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Pakistan 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 Pakistan 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 performs better than Pakistan across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
South Carolina performs better than Pakistan 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 | Islamabad |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 47°/28°F (8°/-2°C) | 69°/44°F (21°/7°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 76°/55°F (24°/13°C) | 95°/68°F (35°/20°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 86°/65°F (30°/18°C) | 94°/74°F (34°/23°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 55°/36°F (13°/2°C) | 78°/48°F (26°/9°C) |
View all months
| Month | Columbia | Islamabad |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 40°/22°F (4.3°/-5.3°C) | 64°/38°F (17.9°/3.2°C) |
| Feb | 45°/26°F (7.2°/-3.3°C) | 68°/43°F (19.8°/6.0°C) |
| Mar | 56°/35°F (13.3°/1.7°C) | 76°/51°F (24.5°/10.7°C) |
| Apr | 67°/46°F (19.3°/7.6°C) | 87°/60°F (30.5°/15.8°C) |
| May | 75°/55°F (24.0°/12.9°C) | 97°/69°F (36.0°/20.7°C) |
| Jun | 85°/65°F (29.2°/18.1°C) | 101°/75°F (38.4°/23.8°C) |
| Jul | 90°/69°F (32.0°/20.4°C) | 96°/76°F (35.3°/24.4°C) |
| Aug | 88°/67°F (31.3°/19.6°C) | 93°/75°F (33.7°/23.8°C) |
| Sep | 80°/58°F (26.6°/14.5°C) | 93°/70°F (33.7°/21.1°C) |
| Oct | 68°/47°F (20.0°/8.1°C) | 88°/58°F (30.9°/14.5°C) |
| Nov | 55°/37°F (12.7°/2.6°C) | 79°/47°F (25.9°/8.3°C) |
| Dec | 42°/25°F (5.6°/-3.8°C) | 68°/40°F (20.2°/4.3°C) |
Data:
National Weather Service
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States and Pakistan. To live, work, or study long-term in Pakistan, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Pakistan's immigration authority.
United States passport holder visiting Pakistan
Visa Online (e-Visa)
Pakistan passport holder visiting United States
Visa RequiredData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Pakistan than South Carolina?
Yes — Pakistan is on average about 71% cheaper than South Carolina. City-level variation can be significant.
How much money do I need to move to Pakistan?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly PKR1,511,100 in Pakistan on a $75,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from Pakistan?
Usually fine from major cities in Pakistan. 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 Pakistan compared to South Carolina?
Pakistan performs significantly better than South Carolina across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Pakistan compared to South Carolina?
The average high temperature in Islamabad is 84°F, compared to 66°F in Columbia. Islamabad receives around 49.1 in of rainfall per year, while Columbia gets 46.3 in.
What language do they speak in Pakistan?
The official languages in Pakistan are English and Urdu. In South Carolina, the official language is English.
