($1,605) Movers From San Jose, CA to Raleigh, NC

What to know before moving from San Jose to Raleigh

Moving from San Jose to Raleigh comes with exciting new opportunities — but also higher living costs. Since Raleigh is generally more expensive than San Jose, 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 46% lower than in San Jose, 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 70.3% lower than in San Jose.
• Income in Raleigh is 96.9% lower than in San Jose, 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 65.4% higher than in San Jose. This includes routine expenses like utilities, groceries, clothing, and transportation.
• The cost of living for a family in Raleigh is 27.3% lower than in San Jose.
• The unemployment rate in Raleigh is 34.85% lower than in San Jose.
• You’ll spend less on retail and restaurants in Raleigh, since the city’s sales taxes in Raleigh are 22.71% lower than in San Jose.
• One perk of moving to Raleigh is paying less in state income taxes, which are 66.17% lower than in San Jose.

To put this in perspective, you would need around $4,962.17 in Raleigh to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with $3,000.00 in San Jose.

How life is different in San Jose vs. Raleigh

• Raleigh might offer you a slower pace of life, since the population is about 52% less than San Jose.
• Getting around Raleigh without a car might be more difficult than in San Jose. Raleigh has a public transportation score of 4 out of 10, whereas San Jose is ranked 7. 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 San Jose. Based on its score of 31 out of 100, Raleigh isn’t as walkable as San Jose, which has a score of 51 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 San Jose. While San Jose has a bike-friendliness score of 62 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 San Jose based on scores of 38.87 and San Jose's 47.73, 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 San Jose, based on Raleigh’s safety index of 60.13 versus 52.27 for San Jose. 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 and San Jose is generally the same (Moderate). 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 San Jose 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