($1,333) Movers From Birmingham, AL to Charlotte, NC

What to know before moving from Birmingham to Charlotte

Moving from Birmingham to Charlotte comes with exciting new opportunities — but also higher living costs. Since Charlotte is generally more expensive than Birmingham, it’s important to plan ahead and budget carefully for the change.

Check out how the two cities compare so you know what to expect before you relocate:

• Rent prices in Charlotte are 43% higher than in Birmingham, which means you’ll have less money in your pocket each month.
• In terms of homeownership, you’ll be able to get more for your money in Birmingham.
  Home prices in Charlotte are 210.9% higher than in Birmingham.
• Income in Charlotte is 64.5% higher than in Birmingham, so you could earn more for doing the same job. The top employers in Charlotte include Atrium Health, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, and Bank of America.
• Be sure to budget for higher bills in Charlotte, since the cost of living for a single person in Charlotte is 17.1% higher than in Birmingham. This includes routine expenses like utilities, groceries, clothing, and transportation.
• If you’re moving your family to Charlotte, keep in mind that your living expenses could increase. The cost of living for a family in Charlotte is 23.8% higher than in Birmingham.
• The unemployment rate in Charlotte is 41.07% lower than in Birmingham.
• You’ll spend less on retail and restaurants in Charlotte, since the city’s sales taxes in Charlotte are 27.50% lower than in Birmingham.
• One perk of moving to Charlotte is paying less in state income taxes, which are 10.00% lower than in Birmingham.

To put this in perspective, you would need around $3,512.79 in Charlotte to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with $3,000.00 in Birmingham.

How life is different in Birmingham vs. Charlotte

• Charlotte's population is about 345% greater than Birmingham.
• Charlotte's public transportation has a score of 5 out of 10 versus Birmingham's lower score of 0.
• Charlotte is less walkable than Birmingham with a score of 26 out of 100 vs Birmingham's 33 out of 100.
• Both Charlotte and Birmingham have the same bike-friendliness score of 31 out of 100, meaning Charlotte is about as safe for cyclists as Birmingham. Typically, cities that have scores of 20 or higher are seen as reasonably safe, though the higher the score, the more safely accessible a city is for bicycling.
• Charlotte's crime rate is lower than Birmingham with a score of 46.52 compared to Birmingham's 61.64. This means that Charlotte neighborhoods are safer than 46.52% of all U.S. neighborhoods, and Birmingham neighborhoods are safer than 61.64%.
• Charlotte is considered to be safer than Birmingham with a safety index of 53.48 vs Birmingham's 38.36.
• Air quality in Charlotte is moderate, and in Birmingham it's good.

Other things to consider for your Birmingham vs. Charlotte move

• Weather: Charlotte has a moderate climate. Your move is unlikely to be affected by the weather although, the rare snow day in the wintertime could make the road conditions difficult to drive on.
• 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: For-profit household goods carriers in the state fall under the jurisdiction of the North Carolina Utilities Commission, Transportation Division. All legitimate movers should have a “C Number” issued by the commission, signifying that they’ve met minimum insurance requirements and adhere to the provisions outlined in the state’s Maximum Rate Tariff (MRT). Make sure the moving company you use has a license before hiring.
• State regulator: You can verify a North Carolina moving license and its status through the state's public utilities commission.
• Moving permits: North Carolina 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 Charlotte. Get started here.
• Moving company insurance: Every state requires moving companies to carry different levels of insurance.Choose Released Value Protection for no-cost, minimal coverage from movers, with responsibility limited to 60 cents per pound per article. For comprehensive coverage, explore alternatives with your chosen moving company or consider a third-party insurance provider.
• Moving checklist: Our moving checklist will help you have the peace of mind that you've got everything covered.

Where to live in Charlotte

Now that you've decided to make the move to "Queen City", these are the best neighborhoods to move to in Charlotte.

Helpful moving resources