Things to know before moving from California to Salt Lake City, UT
Cost of living: California vs Salt Lake City, UT
California | Salt Lake City | |
---|---|---|
Average rent cost | $1,856 | $1,495 |
Average home value | $771,057 | $549,528 |
Average income (per capita) | $91,905 | $63,975 |
Unemployment rate | 5% | 3% |
State income tax | 13% | 5% |
Salt Lake City sources: Zumper, Zillow, Numbeo
- Rent is about 19% less expensive in Salt Lake City than in California.
- Home prices are about 29% lower in Salt Lake City than in California.
- The average income is about 30% lower in Salt Lake City than in California.
- Salt Lake City has a lower unemployment rate than California by about 44%.
- Income taxes are 63% lower in Salt Lake City than in California.
How life is different in Salt Lake City from California
Salt Lake City | California | |
---|---|---|
Population | 200,133 | 39,029,342 |
Political leaning | Republican 59-41 | Democratic 59-41 |
Summer high | 91ºF | 87ºF |
Winter low | 23ºF | 59ºF |
Annual rain | 20" | 22" |
Annual snow | 54" | 7" |
Crime index | 34.64 | 28.43 |
Salt Lake City sources: Wikipedia, AllTransit, Walk Score, NeighborhoodScout, AirNow
- The population of Salt Lake City is approximately 99% lower than the population of California.
- In the last presidential election, Salt Lake City voted Republican and California voted Democratic.
- The average high in the summertime in Salt Lake City is 91ºF and in California, it’s 87ºF.
- During the coldest part of the year, Salt Lake City reaches the temperature of 23ºF and California gets down to 59ºF.
- You can expect about 20 inches of annual rainfall in Salt Lake City vs 22 inches of rainfall in California.
- In Salt Lake City, it snows about 54 inches annually vs 7 inches of snow in California.
- Salt Lake City has a higher crime rate than California with a crime index of 34.64 vs 28.43.
Things to do in Salt Lake City
Whether you’re looking for parks, museums, sports, or even universities, you’ll be happy to find a plethora of these in Salt Lake City.
Museums in Salt Lake City
Parks in Salt Lake City
Sports Teams in Salt Lake City
Universities in Salt Lake City
Other considerations when moving to Salt Lake City, UT
- Weather: June, September and May are the most pleasant months in Salt Lake City, while January and December are the least comfortable months.
- HOA rules: Check ahead with any neighborhood or community rules on moving to ensure a smooth move.
- Elevator reservation: One common and important example of something that should be handled ahead of time is reserving the building's elevator and finding out their rules for using the elevator.
- Parking permits: Some cities require parking permits for large vehicles, find out ahead of time with your new local rules.
- State licensing: Although a local license is not required in Utah, make sure the moving company you’ll be hiring is registered with U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT). To verify if you’re dealing with a legal and licensed mover, you may ask them their USDOT registration number. Make sure the moving company you use has a license before hiring.
- State regulator: You can verify a Utah moving license and its status on the state regulator's official website.
- Moving permits: Utah 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 Utah. Get started here.
- Mover's insurance: Every state has their own requirements when it comes to insurance. In Utah, movers commonly offer Released Value Protection at no extra cost, providing coverage at 60 cents per pound. To increase protection, consider discussing Full Value Protection options with the moving company.
- Moving checklist: Peace of mind is priceless. Our moving checklist will help you know you’ve got everything covered.
FAQ
How long does a move from California to Salt Lake City take?
The time frame for a move from California to Salt Lake City, UT, varies based on your moving method and starting location. The actual loading up of your items should not take more than a day, even with DIY moves.
Obviously, the further upstate you are in California, the longer the drive time to Salt Lake City will be. If you’re driving a rental truck, the move could be completed in one or two days, on average, depending on your route and how often you stop.
With professional movers or moving containers, delivery times to Salt Lake City from California can range from a few days to a couple of weeks, depending on the company’s schedule and transit logistics. You can always ask for a general timeline before booking.
How far in advance should I book movers when moving from California to Salt Lake City?
Because of the 813-mile move, it’s best to book your move from California to Salt Lake City as soon as you have your moving details. Ideally, you’d book your move two to three months ahead of time.
What time of year is the cheapest to move to Salt Lake City, UT?
With the summer highs of 91ºF and the winter lows of 23ºF, most people move to Salt Lake City from California during the spring and fall months. To avoid competing during those busy moving seasons, you could save some money by booking your move to Salt Lake City during summer or winter.