Moving to Poland from South Carolina

moving to

What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from South Carolina to Poland — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from South Carolina to Poland, you would find that Poland is 42.0% cheaper than South Carolina. A $75,000 salary in South Carolina would need to be roughly PLN171,000 in Poland to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Polish. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Warsaw averages 55°F vs 73°F in Charleston, making it significantly cooler.

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Is Poland cheaper than South Carolina?

The biggest cost differences at a glance

Restaurants

pay 34.9% less

Groceries

pay 55.5% less

Transportation

pay 4.0% less

Housing

pay 51.5% less

Childcare

pay 66.6% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 32.1% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 USD = 3.93 PLN (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 Poland?

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 → PLN171,000

To maintain the same standard of living in Poland

Calculate with your salary →

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

Real numbers on people moving from South Carolina to Poland, and how the trend has changed.

Living there in 2020
18,035 ↑ 34% vs 2015

people born in United States live in Poland · UN DESA

Who's moving to Poland?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

How South Carolina and Poland stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), 2024

share of adults with obesity

SC
35.4%
PL
21.8%

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

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2024

share of households with internet

SC
87.0%
PL
88.6%

Poland 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%
PL
3.0%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

SC
$49,914
PL
$28,420

South Carolina generally does better on employment & economy, though Poland 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
PL
78.4 yrs

Poland performs significantly better than South Carolina across all family life metrics.

Weather in Poland 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

Warsaw Rain: 20.9 in/yr (532 mm)
55° / 40°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Charleston Warsaw
Jan–Mar 61°/47°F (16°/8°C) 38°/26°F (3°/-3°C)
Apr–Jun 79°/67°F (26°/19°C) 66°/46°F (19°/8°C)
Jul–Sep 85°/75°F (30°/24°C) 72°/53°F (22°/12°C)
Oct–Dec 67°/54°F (20°/12°C) 44°/33°F (7°/1°C)
View all months
Month Charleston Warsaw
Jan 57°/43°F (13.7°/6.0°C) 33°/24°F (0.7°/-4.4°C)
Feb 60°/46°F (15.3°/7.5°C) 36°/25°F (2.1°/-3.9°C)
Mar 65°/52°F (18.3°/10.9°C) 44°/30°F (6.9°/-0.9°C)
Apr 72°/59°F (22.2°/14.9°C) 57°/38°F (13.9°/3.6°C)
May 79°/67°F (25.9°/19.5°C) 68°/47°F (19.8°/8.6°C)
Jun 85°/74°F (29.2°/23.3°C) 72°/53°F (22.1°/11.6°C)
Jul 88°/77°F (30.9°/24.9°C) 76°/57°F (24.6°/13.7°C)
Aug 86°/76°F (30.2°/24.5°C) 75°/55°F (23.9°/13.0°C)
Sep 82°/72°F (27.8°/22.1°C) 65°/48°F (18.4°/9.0°C)
Oct 75°/62°F (23.7°/16.9°C) 55°/40°F (12.8°/4.7°C)
Nov 67°/54°F (19.6°/12.0°C) 43°/33°F (5.9°/0.5°C)
Dec 60°/46°F (15.3°/7.6°C) 35°/26°F (1.6°/-3.1°C)

Data: National Weather Service National Weather Service, Institute of Meteorology and Water Management Institute of Meteorology and Water Management

Can you move from South Carolina to Poland?

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

United States passport

United States passport holder visiting Poland

Visa Free
United States passport holders can enter Poland without a visa.
Poland passport

Poland passport holder visiting United States

Electronic Travel Authorisation
Poland 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 Poland than South Carolina?

Generally yes: Poland runs about 42% cheaper than South Carolina on average, though it depends heavily on the city.

How much money do I need to move to Poland?

A safe rule of thumb is 3 months of local expenses plus relocation costs. On a $75,000 comparable salary, that's around PLN42,750 in Poland for everyday spending, before flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Poland?

Working remotely from Poland's major cities is generally feasible. The legal layer matters more — visa category, employer policy on overseas employees, and tax residency in South Carolina and Poland.

How is healthcare in Poland compared to South Carolina?

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

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

The average high temperature in Warsaw is 55°F, compared to 73°F in Charleston. Warsaw receives around 20.9 in of rainfall per year, while Charleston gets 44.4 in.

What language do they speak in Poland?

The official language in Poland is Polish. In South Carolina, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

PL
Population 5,570,274 36,435,861
Currency United States Dollar ($) Polish Zloty (PLN)
Languages English Polish
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +1 +48
Time zones 11 1
Emergency number 911 112