Essentials
- City
- Columbia, South Carolina, United States
- Population
- 139,600 (City), 850,000 (Metro area)
- Internet Speed
- Gigabit fiber widely available via AT&T and Spectrum; Average 150-300 Mbps
- Currency & Banking
- US Dollar (USD). Major banks: Bank of America, Wells Fargo, SouthState Bank
- Tap Water
- Safe and drinkable; treated by City of Columbia Water Works
- Power
- 120V, 60Hz, 🔌 Type A/B sockets
- SIM Card
- Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile. Prepaid plans from $40/month
- Banking for Expats
- Revolut, Wise, or local accounts with SSN/ITIN
- Accommodation
- Airbnb, Zillow Rentals, Furnished Finder
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, credit cards and Apple Pay accepted almost everywhere
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, VRBO, Landing (membership-based furnished apartments)
- Budget Accommodation
- Gallus Stadium Luxury Apartments (Short-term options ~$110/night), Graduate Columbia
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- The Vista (Gervais Street) for nightlife and dining
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Five Points or Main Street District for walkability and coffee shops
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- SOCO (808 Lady St) - $25/day pass, $200/month for community membership
- Best Cafe for Work
- Immaculate Consumption (Main St) or Drip Coffee (Five Points)
- Networking Events
- 1 Million Cups Columbia (Weekly pitching at Richland Library Main)
- Social Events for Expats
- Columbia World Affairs Council events; Meetup.com 'Columbia Newcomers'
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber and Lyft (widely available 24/7)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Blue Bike SC (Station-based bike share) - $2 per 45 mins
- Best Beach Nearby
- Isle of Palms, Charleston (approx. 1 hour 45 mins drive)
- Top Regional Airline
- American Eagle / Delta Connection via Columbia Metropolitan (CAE)
- Top International Airline
- United, Delta (Connecting through Atlanta or Charlotte)
- Highway Access
- Intersection of I-20, I-26, and I-77
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Columbia Amtrak Station (850 Pulaski St); COMET Central Bus Hub
- Public Transport Passes
- The COMET: $4 Day Pass, $40 Monthly Pass
- Regional Travel
- Greyhound/Southeastern Stages to Charlotte (1.5h) or Atlanta (3.5h)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Prisma Health Baptist Hospital (Taylor St) or MUSC Health Columbia
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Fit Columbia (Five Points), Amsa Yoga (Handel St)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- MUV Fitness (Forest Drive), Brickhouse Gym (Vista)
- Laundry Services
- The Laundry Room (Rosewood Dr) - Wash/Dry/Fold from $1.50/lb
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- DoorDash, UberEats, Grubhub
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Pimento Cheese Burgers or Shrimp and Grits
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Good Life Cafe (Main St), A Peace of Soul Vegan Kitchen
- Best Dessert Spots
- Kaminsky's Dessert Cafe (Vista), Sweet Cream Company (Main St)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Soda City Market (Every Saturday on Main St) for fresh produce
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon (Same-day delivery available), Walmart.com
- Grocery Delivery
- Instacart, Whole Foods via Amazon Prime, Shipt
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Five Points (College scene) or The Vista (Cocktails/Upscale)
- Local Brewery
- Hunter-Gatherer Brewery (The Hangar), River Rat Brewery
- Wine Bars
- Lula Drake Wine Parlour (Main St), Gourmet Shop (Five Points)
- Street Food Stalls
- City Roots Farmers Market food trucks, Soda City Market vendors
- Popular International Cuisine
- Baan Sawan Thai Bistro, Inakaya Watanabe (Japanese)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- South Carolina State House, Williams-Brice Stadium
- Museums & Art Venues
- Columbia Museum of Art (CMA), EdVenture Children's Museum
- Historical Sites
- Robert Mills House and Gardens, Mann-Simons Site
- Religious Sites
- Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, Beth Shalom Synagogue
- Annual Events
- South Carolina State Fair (October), St. Pat's in Five Points (March)
- Cultural Districts
- Main Street District, Congaree Vista
- Theater Venues
- Trustus Theatre, Koger Center for the Arts
- Local Markets
- Soda City Market (Main St), SC State Farmers Market
- Music Scene
- The Senate (Vista), New Brookland Tavern (West Columbia)
- Street Art
- Tunnel Vision Mural (Taylor St), Main St Murals
- Cooking Classes
- Let's Cook Culinary Studio (Assembly St)
- Art Galleries
- Stormwater Studios, Tapp's Arts Center
- Historic Buildings
- Hampton-Preston Mansion, Lace House
- Local Heritage
- Reconstruction Era National Heritage Area sites
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Congaree National Park (20-min drive), Saluda Riverwalk
- National Parks Nearby
- Congaree National Park (Old-growth bottomland hardwood forest)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Three Rivers Greenway, Harbison State Forest trails
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Gervais Street Bridge at sunset, Lake Murray Dam Walkway
- Birdwatching Locations
- Congaree National Park, Sesquicentennial State Park
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Dreher Island State Park (Designated fire rings)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- UPS Store (Devine St), FedEx Office (Gervais St)
- Tech Repair Services
- uBreakiFix (Harbison), Apple Store (Columbiana Centre)
- Table Tennis Spots
- Columbia Table Tennis Club (Seven Oaks Park)
- Language Classes
- University of South Carolina - English Programs for Internationals
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Richland Library Main (Assembly St) - incredible makerspace and quiet zones
- Community Centers
- Drew Wellness Center, Earlewood Park Center
- Gaming Lounges
- Firefly Toys & Games (St. Andrews Rd), Transmission Arcade
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- No legal casinos in SC; nearby North Carolina (Cherokee) is 3 hours away
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $2,400 per m² (e.g., 45 m² = $108,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $1,600 per m² (e.g., 45 m² = $72,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $2,250 per m² (e.g., 65 m² = $146,250)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $1,450 per m² (e.g., 65 m² = $94,250)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $2,100 per m² (e.g., 90 m² = $189,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $1,300 per m² (e.g., 90 m² = $117,000)
- Corporate Tax
- 5% South Carolina Corporate Income Tax + 21% US Federal
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- Standard US rate 30% (subject to treaty reductions)
- Tax System
- US Citizenship-based/Worldwide income for residents
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 6.3% (South Carolina State), 37% (Federal)
- VAT
- No VAT; Sales Tax is 8% (City/County combined)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, US GILTI and Subpart F rules apply
- Property Tax
- Yes, roughly 0.5% - 0.7% of market value annually for owner-occupied
- Property Transaction Tax
- Deed recording fee approx. $3.70 per $1,000 of value
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No (standard US high tax compliance), but low cost of living compared to US average