In the battle of the Carolinas, it's South Carolina that works out as being more expensive to live in, but it's by such a small amount that it's barely even relevant. Housing and food costs together roll in at approximately $17,000, which strikes us as a fair deal. South Carolina is a state best summed up by its optimistic Latin motto 'Dum spiro, spero,' which translates into English as 'while I dream, I hope.'
We know it best today by its nickname of 'The Palmetto State,' but it was very nearly called the much-less attractive 'Iodine State.' The state government was trying to advertise the quantity of iodine to be found there to potential business buyers, but thankfully the initiative never caught on. For all of its amenities, it lacks a little in sport - it's one of the few US states that have no major sporting franchises at all.