Moving from Wilmington, NC to Charleston, SC is quite the move! This move will involve a lot of planning and consideration. We’re here to help you decide if the move to Charleston is right for you. Here are a few important pros and cons of moving from Wilmington, NC to Charleston, SC.
Table of Contents
- Distance Between Wilmington and Charleston
- Is Wilmington or Charleston More Affordable?
- Schools in Wilmington Versus in Charleston
- Transportation in Wilmington Versus in Charleston
- Things to Know When Moving to Charleston
- Moving Companies in the Area
- The Cost of Moving from Wilmington to Charleston
- Conclusion
- FAQ
Distance Between Wilmington and Charleston
Wilmington, NC, and Charleston, SC, are about 175 miles apart. Wilmington is in southeastern North Carolina, while Charleston is centrally located along South Carolina’s east coast. The drive between them takes approximately 3 hours and 15 minutes.
Is Wilmington or Charleston More Affordable?
One important factor to consider when moving to a new town is the cost of living. Knowing the average cost of living will help determine whether you can afford to live there. It can also help you properly budget for your expenses.
Cost of Living in Wilmington
Wilmington’s average cost of living is 4% less than the national average. This is mostly because housing expenses are so low in the city. The average monthly rent is $1,057 and the median property price is $347,654. Compared to the national average, this is 24% lower.
While the average cost of living and housing is lower, some expenses exceed the national average. Utility expenses are 4% higher, and transportation costs are 10% higher compared to the national average.
Cost of Living in Charleston
The average cost of living in Charleston is 2% lower than the national average but 2% higher than in Wilmington, meaning you might need a slightly larger budget for certain expenses.
While housing and transportation costs are slightly lower, utility costs are 17% higher than the national average. This should be considered when budgeting for your move from Wilmington to Charleston.
Schools in Wilmington Versus in Charleston
Are you moving with kids or have a desire to further your education? If so, it’s good to look into the different schools in your city. Let’s compare the school options if you’re moving from Wilmington to Charleston.
Schools in Wilmington
Wilmington is served by the New Hanover County School District, the primary public school district with 42 schools. Additionally, the city has numerous private schools that welcome students from various religions and backgrounds.
Wilmington is home to three colleges: the University of North Carolina Wilmington, a four-year public university; Cape Fear Community College, another public institution; and Miller-Motte College, a private college.
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Schools in Charleston
Unlike Wilmington, Charleston has multiple public school districts, offering a choice between four different districts based on your location. Like Wilmington, Charleston also has a wide variety of private schools.
Charleston offers ample opportunities for further education, with 11 colleges in the city. These include four four-year universities and seven two-year colleges, providing many options for pursuing a degree.
Transportation in Wilmington Versus in Charleston
Not everyone considers city transportation when looking at a town, but you should! The walkability, bike-ability, and busing systems in a town are super important. Knowing alternative ways to get around besides your car can benefit you when living in a new area.
Transportation in Wilmington
Wilmington has a wide variety of transit choices. Although it’s not possible to walk everywhere in the city, many of the beach and downtown neighborhoods are frequently visited. The city also operates Wave Transit, a public transportation provider. They run the downtown area’s free trolley service as well as public busing systems.
Transportation in Charleston
While Charleston is another walkable community, it also offers additional public transportation options. They have multi-day journey passes and one-way fees available for their public bus system, CARTA. Additionally, CARTA operates the DASH downtown shuttle service. Three shuttle buses operated by CARTA are involved in this program and cover routes in the Charleston downtown area.
Things to Know When Moving to Charleston
Finally thinking Charleston, SC is the perfect city for you? Let’s get to know your new city even better! Here are some of the top neighborhoods and attractions in your new town.
Best Neighborhoods in Charleston
It might be challenging to determine which neighborhood in a new town is best for you to live in. Here’s a list of the top neighborhoods you should consider in Charleston.
- Mount Pleasant
- South of Broad
- Harleston Village
- James Island
- West Ashley
Top Things to Do in Charleston
Moving to a new city can be overwhelming. With so many new places to visit, it can be hard to decide where to start. Here are some of the top places you should visit in Charleston.
- Fort Sumter
- Charleston City Market
- Charleston Waterfront Park
- Magnolia Plantation and Gardens
When you first move you may not feel up to doing a lot of cooking. Here are a handful of Charleston’s must-eat restaurants.
- Jackrabbit Fillys
- Bertha’s Kitchen
- Lewis Barbecue
- Pink Bellies
Moving Companies in the Area
Looking to make your move a little easier and less stressful? Hiring a moving company can help make your move a breeze. Since you’re moving to a new state, let’s look at moving companies in both Wilmington, NC, and Charleston, SC.
Moving Companies in Wilmington
Wilmington has multiple labor-only and traditional moving services for you to choose from. Help support a local small business by hiring one of these local companies.
- UniMovers: Labor-Only Moving Company
- Coastal Carrier Moving and Storage: Traditional Moving Company
- Little Guys Movers: Labor-Only and Full Service Moving Options
Moving Companies in Charleston
Here are some local moving companies in Charleston, SC that you can consider when hiring movers.
- UniMovers: Labor-Only Moving Company
- All My Sons Moving and Storage: Traditional Moving Company
- Holy City Moving: Labor-Only Moving Company
The Cost of Moving from Wilmington to Charleston
Now that we’ve covered different moving company options, let’s look at the cost of moving. Moving costs will vary from company to company. We’ll use UniMovers average rates since they’re in both Wilmington and Charleston. This will give you a base idea of how much labor-only movers cost.
Cost of Labor
UniMovers rates are calculated by the hour with a two-hour and two-mover minimum. Below are the average rates for a move where they load and unload your items.
| Apartment/House Type | Size (square ft) | Number of Movers | Hours | Cost |
| Studio/Small Apartment | 400-600 ft2 | 2 Movers | 3-4 Hours | $360-$480 |
| 1-3 Bedroom Apartment | 700-1200 ft2 | 2 Movers | 4-5 Hours | $480-$600 |
| 2-3 Bedroom Home | 1100-1600 ft2 | 3 Movers | 5-7 Hours | $900-$1260 |
| 3-4 Bedroom Home | 1500-2200 ft2 | 3 Movers | 7-8 Hours | $1260-$1440 |
| 4+ Bedroom Home | 2000-3000 ft2 | 4 Movers | 7-10 Hours | $1680-$2400 |
| Large House | 3000+ ft2 | 4-6 Movers | 10+ Hours | $2400+ |
Additional Moving Expenses
Besides the cost of labor, moving has a few additional expenses you’ll need to plan for. The main two expenses are packing materials and renting a moving vehicle.
Key packing supplies include boxes, tape, wrapping material, and more. The cost of these supplies can add up very quickly. It’s worth trying to find packing materials for free to reduce your moving costs.
Renting a moving vehicle can be a significant expense. Ensure you rent the right size truck to avoid wasted space. Note that you only need to rent a truck if you use a labor-only moving company or are moving on your own.
Conclusion
The move from Wilmington, NC, to Charleston, SC, has its pros and cons, which should be considered carefully.
While the cost of living is slightly higher in Charleston, both cities offer a variety of public and private schools, multiple colleges, and public transportation options, making it easy to access local attractions and restaurants.
Using a moving company can ease the transition, even if it slightly increases your expenses. Moving to Charleston will provide you with countless new opportunities and experiences.
FAQ
If you’re coming from Wilmington, NC then living in Charleston, SC shouldn’t cost too much more. The average cost of living is only a 2% difference. However, you should set a little more money aside for utility costs since they’re 17% higher than the national average.
Charleston, SC is full of so many new experiences and activities to keep you entertained! Make sure you explore your new town and visit the beaches and local attractions. There is also a large variety of cuisines for you to experience at the city’s local restaurants.
Both cities have low costs of living, reliable public transportation, and top-notch schooling options. The move to Charleston won’t be too much different than Wilmington but will provide you with new opportunities and places to visit.
Jessica is a students at the University of Northern Iowa. She is majoring in English Education with a creative writing minor. In her free time she loves to read books of every genre, write short stories, and spend time with friends. In the future she hopes to share her love for reading and writing with her future students.
