($1,537) Movers From Birmingham, AL to Tacoma, WA

What to know before moving from Birmingham to Tacoma

Moving from Birmingham to Tacoma comes with exciting new opportunities — but also higher living costs. Since Tacoma 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 Tacoma are 32% 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 Tacoma are 278.8% higher than in Birmingham.
• Income in Tacoma is 86.1% higher than in Birmingham, so you could earn more for doing the same job. The top employers in Tacoma include Joint Base Lewis-McChord, MultiCare Health System, and State of Washington.
• Be sure to budget for higher bills in Tacoma, since the cost of living for a single person in Tacoma is 53.2% higher than in Birmingham. This includes routine expenses like utilities, groceries, clothing, and transportation.
• If you’re moving your family to Tacoma, keep in mind that your living expenses could increase. The cost of living for a family in Tacoma is 7.9% higher than in Birmingham.
• The unemployment rate in Tacoma is 30.36% higher than in Birmingham.
• You’ll spend more on retail and restaurants in Tacoma, since the city’s sales taxes in Tacoma are 3.00% higher than in Birmingham.
• One perk of moving to Tacoma is paying less in state income taxes, which are 100.00% lower than in Birmingham.

To put this in perspective, you would need around $4,597.33 in Tacoma to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with $3,000.00 in Birmingham.

How life is different in Birmingham vs. Tacoma

• The population of Tacoma is about 14% 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.
• Tacoma offers better access to buses and trains than Birmingham, based on public transportation ratings. Tacoma has a transit score of 6 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 Tacoma means you’ll likely be within closer walking distance to restaurants, shops, parks, and entertainment than you are in Birmingham. Tacoma is considered more walkable than Birmingham, with a score of 54 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, Tacoma 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. Tacoma has a bike-friendliness score of 48 out of 100, while Birmingham is rated as 31 out of 100.
• Tacoma has a lower crime rate than Birmingham based on scores of 55.55 and Birmingham's 61.64, respectively. The crime index shows how safe a city is perceived to be. So, a lower score generally means less crime.
• You might find more confidence in your overall safety in Tacoma than in Birmingham, based on Tacoma’s safety index of 44.45 versus 38.36 for Birmingham. With this index, higher scores indicate more safety, particularly around how comfortable residents feel walking alone during the day and at night.
• The air quality in Tacoma and Birmingham is generally the same (Good). Cities with good to moderate ratings have clean or acceptable air quality, with the possibility of small pollutants affecting people with certain health conditions like asthma. Anything beyond the moderate rate means increased impact on residents.

Other things to consider for your Birmingham vs. Tacoma move

• Weather: Tacoma has one of the best weather in the state of Washington which is a desirable feature for residence. Humidity in Tacoma is generally tolerable. The most humid months are August, July and September which are the best months to schedule a move to avoid rainfall and snow.
• 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 operating within Washington DC city limits are subject to regulation by the Utilities and Transportation Commission, which issues operating permits to household goods moving companies. Make sure the moving company you use has a license before hiring.
• State regulator: You can verify a Washington moving license and its status through the state's public utilities commission.
• Moving permits: Washington 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 Tacoma. Get started here.
• Moving company insurance: Every state requires moving companies to carry different levels of insurance.When planning a move in Washington state, explore movers' insurance options for added peace of mind. Many moving companies offer Released Value Protection at no extra cost, covering items at 60 cents per pound. Enhance your protection by discussing Full Value Protection with the moving company or exploring personalized plans with third-party insurance providers. Understand coverage limits, potential extra costs, and read reviews to make an informed decision on your Washington state moving insurance.
• Moving checklist: Our moving checklist will help you have the peace of mind that you've got everything covered.

Where to live in Tacoma

Now that you've decided to make the move to "America’s #1 Wired City", these are the best neighborhoods to move to in Tacoma.

Helpful moving resources