Compare taxes and see how much you save moving from New York to South Carolina
The Northern flight to Southern charm. South Carolina's 6.4% rate (moving to flat by 2027) dramatically undercuts NYC's combined 12.7% (10.9% state + 3.876% NYC). At $100,000: NYC $9,500 vs South Carolina $4,000—save $5,500/year. Charleston repeatedly voted #1 US city offers historic charm, beaches, and foodie scene at fraction of NYC cost. SC provides $10,000 retirement income deduction and exempts Social Security. Trade-off: lower salaries (SC median $62K vs NY $85K) and hurricane risk.
High Tax State
Progressive + NYC tax
Moderate Tax
Moving to flat 6.4% by 2027
At $100,000 income:
That is $458/month back in your pocket!
| Income | NY Tax | SC Tax | Savings | 10-Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $2,850 (NY state only) | $1,800 | SC saves $1,050 | $10,500 |
| $75,000 | $4,600 (NY state only) | $2,900 | SC saves $1,700 | $17,000 |
| $100,000 (NYC) | $9,500 (state + city) | $4,000 | SC saves $5,500 | $55,000 |
| $150,000 (NYC) | $14,300 (state + city) | $7,200 | SC saves $7,100 | $71,000 |
| $250,000 (NYC) | $26,500 (state + city) | $13,600 | SC saves $12,900 | $129,000 |
| $500,000 (NYC) | $57,000 (state + city) | $29,600 | SC saves $27,400 | $274,000 |
CountryTaxCalc.com is reader-supported. When you use our partner links, we may earn a commission at no cost to you. This helps us provide free tax calculators and comparison tools. Learn more about our affiliate partnerships
Moving from New York to South Carolina? Multi-state returns are tricky—partial-year residency, different deadlines, avoiding double taxation. Get matched with a CPA who specializes in state moves. Virtual meetings, fixed pricing.
Get Matched With a CPA →At $100,000 NYC income: save $5,500/year (NYC $9,500 → SC $4,000). Over 10 years: $55,000. At $250K: save $12,900/year. Housing: Charleston $550K median vs NYC $750K+ condo—save $200K+. Greenville (inland, tech growing) $350K median—save $400K+. Combined with lower cost of living (15-20% cheaper overall), total savings exceed $350K over 10 years at $150K salary.
Charleston for coastal lifestyle/culture: Historic charm, beaches, voted #1 US city, foodie scene. Median home $550K. Boeing manufacturing, tourism jobs. Hurricane risk. Greenville for affordability/jobs: Inland (no hurricanes), growing tech scene (BMW, Michelin HQ, tech startups), $350K median home. Better value, less touristy. Columbia (capital): Most affordable ($275K median), state jobs, but less appealing. Choose Charleston for lifestyle, Greenville for value/tech jobs.
Excellent. South Carolina offers: (1) $10,000 retirement income deduction, (2) Social Security 100% exempt, (3) Military retirement exempt. A NYC retiree with $80K income ($40K pension + $40K Social Security) pays ~$0 SC tax on Social Security and ~$1,920 on pension (after $10K deduction). In New York: ~$4,500. Save $2,580/year + escape NYC winters. Charleston repeatedly voted top retirement destination. Warning: coastal hurricane insurance $2,000-5,000/year.
Yes, but verify employer policy. Establish SC residency (SC driver's license, spend majority of time in SC), and you pay SC taxes (6.4%), not NYC (12.7%). At $150K: save $7,100/year. New York doesn't have "convenience of employer" rule for SC residents (unlike some states). Combine SC 6.4% tax + NYC salary ($100-200K) + SC housing ($350-550K) = save $400K+ over 5 years vs staying in NYC. Many finance/tech workers do this.
Real risk in coastal areas. Charleston floods regularly; major hurricanes hit every 10-15 years. Home insurance $2,000-5,000/year coastal (vs $1,500 NYC). Flood insurance $1,000-3,000/year extra. Evacuation challenging (Charleston peninsula has limited exits). If buying coastal, factor $3,000-8,000 annual insurance. Inland areas (Greenville, Columbia) have minimal hurricane risk—tropical storm remnants only. For NYC refugees trading earthquake/none risk for hurricane risk, inland SC is safer.