The Best Moving Companies in Columbia

Columbia is considered a great place to live, especially for students. Home to the University of South Carolina’s massive campus, it’s hard to tell where the school ends and the metro city begins—according to the University of South Carolina. As such, the local residents and student community exhibit an abundance of mutual pride and camaraderie, especially for the school’s Gamecock football team.

Aside from the collegiate climate, Columbia is considered a traditionally southern town. Amongst its plentiful oak, pecan, and magnolia trees, there’s a moderately large population that maintains a small-town feel (without actually being a small town). Additionally, outdoor recreation is popular in Columbia: There are hiking trails, canoeing, and kayaking opportunities on or near the Saluda River.

And it’s worth mentioning that the cost of housing is cheaper than the national average, not only in Columbia, but in the entire state of South Carolina. While the national average cost of a home is around $365,616, it’s only about $275,350 in Columbia.

A good (or comfortable salary) depends entirely on the specific needs of your family, but on average, a single person needs to make at least $16.56 per hour (or around $34,445 annually, post tax) to be comfortable in Columbia, according to MIT’s living wage calculator. Meanwhile, a family of four (with two working parents and two children) need to make roughly $21.62 per hour ($55,370 annually), per person to live well in Columbia. And while housing in Columbia costs less than other areas of the country, Payscale argues that you likely pay a bit more for utilities and groceries.

Columbia, also known as ‘the Soda City’, is known for being the first city in the U.S. to be named after Christopher Columbus, according to South Carolina’s state website. And although it was founded in 1786, more than two-thirds of the city burned down during the Civil War in 1865.

The city is also known for its synchronous fireflies (or fireflies that light up all at the same time) that come out during the early summer months, which is a phenomenon that only exists in a few places in the entire world. As a result, the city’s minor league baseball team is called the Columbia Fireflies.

Interesting facts aside, the city is well known for several other awesome perks per the city’s tourism site including:

• An incredible food scene
• An abundance of outdoor recreational facilities (and activities)
• A college town-esque nightlife (including 20s nights at the Empire Supper Club)
• Southern charm and friendly people
• Cultural and fine arts (like professional theater and ballet companies)
• Access to both the ocean beaches to the east and mountains to the west (think: Hilton Head and Smoky Mountain)
• State-of-the-art museums

There aren’t many, but Upgraded Home reminds us that there are some drawbacks to consider if you’re thinking about moving to Columbia:

• Hurricane weather. If you live in Columbia, you should consider the potential dangers of living in the path of seasonal hurricanes.
• Hot weather. Predictably, summer months bring an abundance of warm, humid weather—which some may consider uncomfortably muggy.
• High living expenses. We mentioned the cost of housing is more affordable in Columbia, but costs for lifestyle-related expenses like groceries, utilities, and entertainment are higher.
• Crime rates. Citystistics advises that the overall crime rate in Columbia is about 60 in 1,000 residents, and is higher than the national average. However, rates for violent and property crimes are still lower than the national average. And safety varies from neighborhood to neighborhood, as is the case in most cities.