($1,502) Movers From Des Moines, IA to Birmingham, AL

What to know before moving from Des Moines to Birmingham

Moving from Des Moines to Birmingham comes with exciting new opportunities — but also higher living costs. Since Birmingham is generally more expensive than Des Moines, 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 Birmingham are 9% higher than in Des Moines, which means you’ll have less money in your pocket each month.
• In terms of homeownership, you’ll be able to get more for your money in Birmingham.
  Home prices in Birmingham are 34.5% lower than in Des Moines.
• Income in Birmingham is 32.6% lower than in Des Moines, so you could earn less for doing the same job. The top employers in Birmingham include Encompass Health, Regions Bank, and University of Alabama at Birmingham.
• Be sure to budget for higher bills in Birmingham, since the cost of living for a single person in Birmingham is 42.6% higher than in Des Moines. This includes routine expenses like utilities, groceries, clothing, and transportation.
• If you’re moving your family to Birmingham, keep in mind that your living expenses could increase. The cost of living for a family in Birmingham is 53.6% higher than in Des Moines.
• The unemployment rate in Birmingham is 5.08% lower than in Des Moines.
• You’ll spend more on retail and restaurants in Birmingham, since the city’s sales taxes in Birmingham are 42.86% higher than in Des Moines.
• State income taxes in Birmingham are 13.64% higher than in Des Moines.

To put this in perspective, you would need around $4,278.69 in Birmingham to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with $3,000.00 in Des Moines.

How life is different in Des Moines vs. Birmingham

• Birmingham's population is about 72% less than Des Moines.
• Birmingham's public transportation has a score of 0 out of 10 versus Des Moines's higher score of 5.
• Birmingham is less walkable than Des Moines with a score of 33 out of 100 vs Des Moines's 45 out of 100.
• Birmingham has a bike-friendliness score 31 out of 100, which means it isn't as accessible to and safe for cyclists as Des Moines, which has a score of 39 out of 100.
• Birmingham's crime rate is higher than Des Moines with a score of 61.64 compared to Des Moines's 5.0. This means that Birmingham neighborhoods are safer than 61.64% of all U.S. neighborhoods, and Des Moines neighborhoods are safer than 5.0%.
• Birmingham is considered to be less safe than Des Moines with a score of 38.36 vs Des Moines's 57.8.
• Air quality in Birmingham is good, and in Des Moines it's good.

Other things to consider for your Des Moines vs. Birmingham move

• Weather: Birmingham has hot summers, mild winters, and abundant rainfall. Birmingham is also located in tornado alley.
• 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: To guarantee the safety and reliability of local moving services in Alabama, it is essential for moving companies to possess a registration number issued by the Alabama Public Service Commission (APSC). Trust your move to registered professionals for a secure and dependable experience. Make sure the moving company you use has a license before hiring.
• State regulator: You can verify a Alabama moving license and its status through the state's public utilities commission.
• Moving permits: Alabama 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 Birmingham. Get started here.
• Moving company insurance: Every state requires moving companies to carry different levels of insurance.Moving companies typically take responsibility for your belongings at a rate of 60 cents per pound (or even less) per item. This means that for a lightweight item weighing five pounds and valued at $500, the reimbursement would be only $3 in the event of loss or damage. To enhance your coverage, certain movers provide additional valuation options, such as declared value or lump sum value protection, which offer better protection compared to the basic released value protection. To better understand and explore these options, consider discussing them with your chosen moving company.
• Moving checklist: Our moving checklist will help you have the peace of mind that you've got everything covered.

Where to live in Birmingham

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

Helpful moving resources