($1,463) Movers From Birmingham, AL to St. Louis, MO

What to know before moving from Birmingham to St. Louis

Moving from Birmingham to St. Louis means adjusting to a different pace of life — and a different price tag. On average, it costs significantly more to live in Birmingham than in St. Louis, making the move an opportunity for many to enjoy a lower cost of living.

Check out how Birmingham compares to St. Louis so you know what to expect before you relocate:

• Rent prices are the same in St. Louis and Birmingham.
• In terms of homeownership, you’ll be able to get more for your money in Birmingham.
  Home prices in St. Louis are 36.1% higher than in Birmingham.
• Income in St. Louis is 67.7% higher than in Birmingham, so you could earn more for doing the same job. The top employers in St. Louis include BJC HealthCare, Walmart, and Washington University.
• The cost of living for a single person in St. Louis is 4.0% lower than in Birmingham. This includes routine expenses like utilities, groceries, clothing, and transportation.
• The cost of living for a family in St. Louis is 2.3% lower than in Birmingham.
• The unemployment rate in St. Louis is 12.50% higher than in Birmingham.
• You’ll spend less on retail and restaurants in St. Louis, since the city’s sales taxes in St. Louis are 3.20% lower than in Birmingham.
• One perk of moving to St. Louis is paying less in state income taxes, which are 4.00% lower than in Birmingham.

To put this in perspective, you would need around $2,879.87 in St. Louis to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with $3,000.00 in Birmingham.

How life is different in Birmingham vs. St. Louis

• The population of St. Louis is about 49% greater than Birmingham, so you may find more to see and do in your new surroundings. Of course, with more people can also come increased competition for jobs and housing.
• St. Louis offers better access to buses and trains than Birmingham, based on public transportation ratings. St. Louis has a transit score of 8 out of 10 compared to 0 in Birmingham. The higher the score, the more public transportation pickup and dropoff locations a city provides.
• Living in St. Louis means you’ll likely be within closer walking distance to restaurants, shops, parks, and entertainment than you are in Birmingham. St. Louis is considered more walkable than Birmingham, with a score of 66 out of 100 versus 33 out of 100 in Birmingham. A city’s walkability score indicates how pedestrian-friendly it is in terms of proximity of neighborhoods to amenities.
• If cycling is your thing, St. Louis is considered more bike-friendly than Birmingham in terms of designated lanes and connectivity and how many residents opt to commute on two wheels rather than by car. St. Louis has a bike-friendliness score of 58 out of 100, while Birmingham is rated as 31 out of 100.
• The crime rate in St. Louis is higher than in Birmingham, so you may want to exercise a little extra caution as you're acclimating to your new location. While the crime index is 69.65 in St. Louis, it is 61.64 in Birmingham. With this index, the lower the score, the better, since it indicates a city’s crime levels.
• You may want to exercise more caution as you’re getting used to your new surroundings in St. Louis. With a crime index of 30.35, St. Louis ranks lower in overall safety than Birmingham, whose index is Birmingham's 38.36. The safety index measures how safe people in a city feel about walking alone, both during the day and at night, as well as data on muggings, theft, vandalism, and other instances of petty crime.
• The air quality in St. Louis isn’t as good as it is in Birmingham, so you may want to take precautions if you suffer from conditions like allergies or asthma. St. Louis has an air quality rating of Moderate, and Birmingham is considered to be good. Cities with good to moderate air quality may have varying levels of minor potential for health risks for certain people. Beyond the moderate rating, those health risks increase in severity and the amount of residents affected.

Other things to consider for your Birmingham vs. St. Louis move

• Weather: St. Louis experiences hot summers, cold winters, many thunderstorms, and tornados. There's a chance that the climate will affect your move so be sure to check the forecast ahead of time.
• HOA rules: Check ahead with any neighborhood or community rules on moving to ensure a smooth move.
• Elevator reservation: If your building has an elevator you'll want to check on how to reserve it for move day.
• Truck parking permits: Some cities require parking permits for large vehicles and moving trucks. Find out if you need any parking permits ahead of time.
• State licensing: Movers that provide local and intrastate relocation services in Missouri fall under the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT). Every household goods mover operating in the state is required to have a MoDOT Number. Make sure the moving company you use has a license before hiring.
• State regulator: You can verify a Missouri moving license and its status through the state's public utilities commission.
• Moving permits: Missouri does not require any moving permits, but it is helpful to check local parking restrictions before moving into the state.
• Change of address: We recommend submitting your change of address form with USPS at least a week prior to your move. You can set an official move date on the form and this way all of your mail will get properly forwarded to St. Louis. Get started here.
• Moving company insurance: Every state requires moving companies to carry different levels of insurance.Opt for Released Value Protection, the budget-friendly choice with no extra cost from movers. This minimal coverage ensures that movers are liable for a maximum of 60 cents per pound per item. For a comprehensive coverage of your valuables, explore alternative options with your chosen moving company or consider a third-party insurance provider. Ensure the full value of your items is covered by consulting with the moving company for suitable alternatives.
• Moving checklist: Our moving checklist will help you have the peace of mind that you've got everything covered.

Where to live in St. Louis

Now that you've decided to make the move to "Chess Capital of the World ", these are the best neighborhoods to move to in St. Louis.

Helpful moving resources