($1,611) Movers From Irvine, CA to Winston-Salem, NC

What to know before moving from Irvine to Winston-Salem

Moving from Irvine to Winston-Salem 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 Winston-Salem, making the move an opportunity for many to enjoy a lower cost of living.

Check out how Irvine compares to Winston-Salem so you know what to expect before you relocate:

• Rent prices in Winston-Salem are 68% 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 Winston-Salem.
  Home prices in Winston-Salem are 84.1% lower than in Irvine.
• Income in Winston-Salem is 45.2% lower than in Irvine, so you could earn less for doing the same job. The top employers in Winston-Salem include Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Novant Health, and Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools.
• The cost of living for a single person in Winston-Salem is 73.6% lower than in Irvine. This includes routine expenses like utilities, groceries, clothing, and transportation.
• The cost of living for a family in Winston-Salem is 70.8% lower than in Irvine.
• The unemployment rate in Winston-Salem is 3.70% lower than in Irvine.
• You’ll spend less on retail and restaurants in Winston-Salem, since the city’s sales taxes in Winston-Salem are 9.68% lower than in Irvine.
• One perk of moving to Winston-Salem is paying less in state income taxes, which are 66.17% lower than in Irvine.

To put this in perspective, you would need around $791.97 in Winston-Salem to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with $3,000.00 in Irvine.

How life is different in Irvine vs. Winston-Salem

• Winston-Salem might offer you a slower pace of life, since the population is about 19% less than Irvine.
• Getting around Winston-Salem without a car might be more difficult than in Irvine. Winston-Salem has a public transportation score of 3 out of 10, whereas Irvine is ranked 4. Ratings are based on a city’s transit connectivity, service frequency, and accessibility to key destinations like jobs and grocery stores.
• Winston-Salem neighborhoods and districts might not be as easy to navigate on foot as Irvine. Based on its score of 22 out of 100, Winston-Salem isn’t as walkable as Irvine, which has a score of 43 out of 100. The higher the walkability score a city has, the easier it is to access amenities. The most walkable cities also tend to be more densely populated and have shorter block lengths.
• You probably won’t see as many cycling lanes or off-road trails in Winston-Salem, which is ranked as less bike-friendly than Irvine. While Irvine has a bike-friendliness score of 69 out of 100, Winston-Salem earned a 29. Scores are based on factors like whether a city accommodates cyclists on major roadways, how often people bike to work, and how many steep hills it has.
• You can anticipate the same crime rate in Winston-Salem as Irvine. With the crime index, lower scores are better because they indicate less crime. Cities with scores of 20 or below, for example, have much fewer instances of crime than those with scores of 80–100.
• Winston-Salem is generally as safe as Irvine, according to their similar safety index ratings. The ratings are based on how comfortable residents feel about walking alone during the daytime and nighttime and the number of small crimes like theft and muggings.
• The air quality in Winston-Salem 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. Winston-Salem move

• Weather: Climate in Winston-Salem is unlikely to affect your move but a freezing day in the winter could affect the conditions of the roads.
• 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 Winston-Salem. 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 Winston-Salem

Now that you've decided to make the move to "Camel City", these are the best neighborhoods to move to in Winston-Salem.

Helpful moving resources