Want to live and work in South Carolina?

A one-bedroom apartment in Charleston rents for between $1,500 and $2,200 (prices have risen considerably in recent years). In Greenville, $1,100 to $1,500. In Columbia, more accessible: $900 to $1,300. Myrtle Beach varies a lot by season, but generally $1,000 to $1,500.

Food is reasonable. Publix, Harris Teeter, Aldi, Food Lion, and Walmart compete for shoppers. A meal at a popular restaurant costs $12 to $18, more in tourist areas like Charleston. Gas is cheaper than the national average.

The state income tax goes up to 6.5% (top bracket), but there are generous deductions. The sales tax is 6%. In general, a family can live comfortably on a salary of $60,000 to $90,000. Buying a home is feasible, though Charleston has become more expensive. More affordable areas in the interior remain accessible.

South Carolina has become an advanced manufacturing hub. BMW's plant in Spartanburg is the brand's largest in the world (by volume), producing SUVs for global markets. Volvo Cars opened a factory near Charleston. Boeing produces the 787 Dreamliner in North Charleston. Mercedes-Benz Vans manufactures in Charleston. Michelin has several plants and its North American headquarters in Greenville.

The Port of Charleston is one of the largest and busiest on the U.S. East Coast. Logistics, container handling, and port services employ thousands. The military presence is strong: Joint Base Charleston (Air Force and Navy) and the Marine Corps Recruit Depot at Parris Island inject money into the economy.

Tourism in Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head, Charleston, and Greenville generates billions and many seasonal jobs. Healthcare (MUSC in Charleston, Prisma Health in Greenville and Columbia) is a major employer. Agriculture in the interior produces tobacco, soybeans, cotton, peaches, and tomatoes. Industrial engineering salaries range from $75,000 to $110,000 a year.

South Carolina has good hospitals in its large cities. MUSC (Medical University of South Carolina) Health in Charleston is the main academic medical center, with transplant, cardiology, oncology, and research programs. Prisma Health, formed by the merger of Greenville Health System and Palmetto Health, operates large networks in Columbia and Greenville. Roper St. Francis and Bon Secours are also well respected.

As everywhere in the U.S., there is no universal public healthcare system. Employer-based insurance is the standard. South Carolina has not fully expanded Medicaid under the ACA, so childless adults with low incomes have difficulty getting coverage. Children and pregnant women have more options.

Rural areas, especially in the interior and the Sea Islands, suffer from doctor shortages and hospital closures. Community health centers (FQHCs) serve patients regardless of immigration status, on a sliding income scale. Without insurance, an ER visit can exceed $1,500. An urgent care visit ($100-200) is an alternative for minor issues.

South Carolina is a car-dependent state. There is no metro system and bus service is limited. CARTA (Charleston), Greenlink (Greenville), and COMET (Columbia) operate bus lines, but most people drive. Biking and walking are viable in historic downtowns like Charleston and Greenville, which have bike lanes and pedestrian paths.

The main highways are I-26 (crossing the state from Charleston to Spartanburg), I-95 (north-south on the east side), I-77 (from Columbia north), and I-85 (in the west). Rush-hour traffic in Charleston is heavy, especially on the bridges connecting Mount Pleasant to the city. Greenville and Columbia have light traffic.

Charleston International Airport (CHS) is the main airport, with flights to many U.S. cities and some international destinations (Toronto, Bermuda). Greenville-Spartanburg International (GSP) also handles several domestic flights. Columbia (CAE) and Myrtle Beach (MYR) serve regional routes. The Port of Charleston (SCPA) is one of the largest on the East Coast for cargo.

Charleston is one of the most unique cultural centers in the U.S. The historic downtown, with the colorful houses of Rainbow Row, market halls (Charleston City Market), Lowcountry cuisine restaurants, and the Sea Island marshlands, draws tourists year-round. The city carries enormous historical weight as the place where the Civil War began (Fort Sumter, 1861).

The Gullah/Geechee culture, on the coast and islands, keeps alive a creole language, distinctive foods (shrimp and grits, gumbo, sweet potato bread), spiritual music, and religion rooted in Africa. It is considered one of the most distinct African American cultures in the U.S. Visiting Hilton Head, St. Helena Island, and the Penn Center is a unique experience.

College football is huge. The Clemson Tigers and South Carolina Gamecocks divide the state every fall Saturday. Beach music (a regional style from the 1960s), barbecue (mustard-based sauce is South Carolina's signature style, unlike other states), and festivals like Spoleto Festival (Charleston, performing arts) and the Festival of Houses (spring) mark the calendar.

South Carolina has around 250,000 residents born outside the country, close to 5% of the population, a lower share than neighboring states but with steady growth over the last two decades. Mexicans form the largest group, concentrated in Greenville, Spartanburg, Charleston, and Columbia, tied to construction, agriculture, and poultry processing. Guatemalans and Hondurans have a growing presence, especially in Columbia and small inland towns. Indians concentrate in Columbia (tied to the University of South Carolina) and Greenville, with a community linked to hospitals, engineering, and the BMW automotive hub. Chinese, Filipinos, and Ukrainian and Afghan refugees round out the picture.

The state has no career consulate, and residents turn to Atlanta (Mexico, India, South Korea) or Charlotte for consular services. The South Carolina Hispanic Leadership Council works on statewide advocacy. PASOs (Programa de Servicios de Salud), part of the University of South Carolina, connects Latinos to health services. Lutheran Services Carolinas handles refugee resettlement in Columbia and Greenville. Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Charleston covers the entire state with immigration services.