($1,211) Movers From Irvine, CA to Tempe, AZ

What to know before moving from Irvine to Tempe

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

Check out how Irvine compares to Tempe so you know what to expect before you relocate:

• Rent prices in Tempe are 54% lower than in Irvine, which means you’ll have more money in your pocket each month.
• In terms of homeownership, you’ll be able to get more for your money in Tempe.
  Home prices in Tempe are 69.8% lower than in Irvine.
• Income in Tempe is 43.8% lower than in Irvine, so you could earn less for doing the same job. The top employers in Tempe include Amkor Technology, Inc., Benchmark Electronics, and America West Holdings.
• The cost of living for a single person in Tempe is 40.7% lower than in Irvine. This includes routine expenses like utilities, groceries, clothing, and transportation.
• The cost of living for a family in Tempe is 62.2% lower than in Irvine.
• The unemployment rate in Tempe and Irvine.
• You’ll spend more on retail and restaurants in Tempe, since the city’s sales taxes in Tempe are 4.52% higher than in Irvine.
• One perk of moving to Tempe is paying less in state income taxes, which are 81.20% lower than in Irvine.

To put this in perspective, you would need around $1,778.01 in Tempe to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with $3,000.00 in Irvine.

How life is different in Irvine vs. Tempe

• Tempe might offer you a slower pace of life, since the population is about 41% less than Irvine.
• Tempe offers better access to buses and trains than Irvine, based on public transportation ratings. Tempe has a transit score of 8 out of 10 compared to 4 in Irvine. The higher the score, the more public transportation pickup and dropoff locations a city provides.
• Living in Tempe means you’ll likely be within closer walking distance to restaurants, shops, parks, and entertainment than you are in Irvine. Tempe is considered more walkable than Irvine, with a score of 54 out of 100 versus 43 out of 100 in Irvine. A city’s walkability score indicates how pedestrian-friendly it is in terms of proximity of neighborhoods to amenities.
• If cycling is your thing, Tempe is considered more bike-friendly than Irvine in terms of designated lanes and connectivity and how many residents opt to commute on two wheels rather than by car. Tempe has a bike-friendliness score of 75 out of 100, while Irvine is rated as 69 out of 100.
• The crime rate in Tempe is higher than in Irvine, so you may want to exercise a little extra caution as you're acclimating to your new location. While the crime index is 42.36 in Tempe, it is 31.01 in Irvine. 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 Tempe. With a crime index of 57.64, Tempe ranks lower in overall safety than Irvine, whose index is Irvine's 68.99. 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 Tempe and Irvine 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 Irvine vs. Tempe move

• Weather: Tempe has very hot summers and little rainfall.
• 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: Though Arizona is largely an “unregulated” state, local moving companies are subject to some Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS) and Department of Weights and Measures regulations intended to ensure that they operate safely and ethically. Make sure the moving company you use has a license before hiring.
• State regulator: You can verify a Arizona moving license and its status through the state's public utilities commission.
• Moving permits: Arizona 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 Tempe. Get started here.
• Moving company insurance: Every state requires moving companies to carry different levels of insurance.Choose Released Value Protection for its cost-effectiveness—offered by movers at no extra charge, although it provides minimal coverage. With a liability limit of 60 cents per pound per article, consider this option carefully. For instance, if a 50-inch TV weighing 25 pounds is lost or damaged, your reimbursement would only be $15 (60 cents x 25 pounds). For comprehensive coverage of your items' full value, consult with your moving company for alternative options or consider third-party insurance providers.
• Moving checklist: Our moving checklist will help you have the peace of mind that you've got everything covered.

Where to live in Tempe

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

Helpful moving resources