$100k salary, packing up from Philadelphia
changea dispatch from
columbia
SC
34.00°N
81.03°W
Columbia is the South Carolina capital, USC Gamecock country, and home to one of the largest urban rivers (the Congaree) flowing right past downtown. The Saluda River outside town is a tubing destination locals swear by, and Congaree National Park's old-growth cypress is a 30-minute drive. The state museum is a sleeper good time. Slower-paced than Charleston, less touristy.
in our guides
the verdict
under Philadelphia, every month
The gap is real. Columbia costs noticeably less than Philadelphia, every month.
a quick ledger.
$1,551/mo
17% cheaper than Philadelphia(vs $1,869/mo)
6.5%
$27/mo less in state tax than Philadelphia
vs 6.82% in Philadelphia
$6,241/mo
$345 more than Philadelphia
gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.
$255k
35% cheaper than Philadelphia
vs $393k in Philadelphia
857k
vs 6.2M in Philadelphia
field notes, weather & such.
189
pleasant days a year, in columbia.
Philadelphia only manages 173 of those. Summer is real but not punishing: 27 days top 95° vs Philadelphia's 2.
Lighter on events: Philadelphia packs 9.7× more into a month.
55/100
20% lower than Philadelphia
vs 69/100 in Philadelphia
Closest outdoor draw: Congaree National Park, 29.1 mi.
85/100
15% lower than Philadelphia
vs 100/100 in Philadelphia
10
92% fewer than Philadelphia
vs 122 nonstops in Philadelphia
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