($1,670) Movers From Oakland, CA to Raleigh, NC

What to know before moving from Oakland to Raleigh

Moving from Oakland to Raleigh comes with exciting new opportunities — but also higher living costs. Since Raleigh is generally more expensive than Oakland, 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 Raleigh are 24% lower than in Oakland, 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 Raleigh.
  Home prices in Raleigh are 41.3% lower than in Oakland.
• Income in Raleigh is 97.3% lower than in Oakland, so you could earn less for doing the same job. The top employers in Raleigh include State of North Carolina, WakeMed, and North Carolina State University.
• Be sure to budget for higher bills in Raleigh, since the cost of living for a single person in Raleigh is 93.2% higher than in Oakland. This includes routine expenses like utilities, groceries, clothing, and transportation.
• The cost of living for a family in Raleigh is 29.2% lower than in Oakland.
• The unemployment rate in Raleigh is 4.44% lower than in Oakland.
• You’ll spend less on retail and restaurants in Raleigh, since the city’s sales taxes in Raleigh are 29.27% lower than in Oakland.
• One perk of moving to Raleigh is paying less in state income taxes, which are 66.17% lower than in Oakland.

To put this in perspective, you would need around $5,794.98 in Raleigh to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with $3,000.00 in Oakland.

How life is different in Oakland vs. Raleigh

• The population of Raleigh is about 6% greater than Oakland, 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.
• Getting around Raleigh without a car might be more difficult than in Oakland. Raleigh has a public transportation score of 4 out of 10, whereas Oakland is ranked 8. Ratings are based on a city’s transit connectivity, service frequency, and accessibility to key destinations like jobs and grocery stores.
• Raleigh neighborhoods and districts might not be as easy to navigate on foot as Oakland. Based on its score of 31 out of 100, Raleigh isn’t as walkable as Oakland, which has a score of 75 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 Raleigh, which is ranked as less bike-friendly than Oakland. While Oakland has a bike-friendliness score of 65 out of 100, Raleigh earned a 39. 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.
• Raleigh has a lower crime rate than Oakland based on scores of 38.87 and Oakland's 68.62, 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 Raleigh than in Oakland, based on Raleigh’s safety index of 60.13 versus 31.38 for Oakland. 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 Raleigh isn’t as good as it is in Oakland, so you may want to take precautions if you suffer from conditions like allergies or asthma. Raleigh has an air quality rating of Moderate, and Oakland 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 Oakland vs. Raleigh move

• Weather: The climate in Raleigh is unlikely to affect your move. However, some days in the winter, the roads may become icy which causes traffic issues.
• 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 Raleigh. 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 Raleigh

Now that you've decided to make the move to "City of Oaks", these are the best neighborhoods to move to in Raleigh.

Helpful moving resources