($1,469) Movers From Des Moines, IA to Scottsdale, AZ

What to know before moving from Des Moines to Scottsdale

Moving from Des Moines to Scottsdale comes with exciting new opportunities — but also higher living costs. Since Scottsdale 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 Scottsdale are 187% 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 Des Moines.
  Home prices in Scottsdale are 330.1% higher than in Des Moines.
• Income in Scottsdale is 10.3% higher than in Des Moines, so you could earn more for doing the same job. The top employers in Scottsdale include Honor Health, CVS Health, and Scottsdale Unified School District.
• Be sure to budget for higher bills in Scottsdale, since the cost of living for a single person in Scottsdale is 204.2% higher than in Des Moines. This includes routine expenses like utilities, groceries, clothing, and transportation.
• If you’re moving your family to Scottsdale, keep in mind that your living expenses could increase. The cost of living for a family in Scottsdale is 4.3% higher than in Des Moines.
• The unemployment rate in Scottsdale is 20.34% lower than in Des Moines.
• You’ll spend more on retail and restaurants in Scottsdale, since the city’s sales taxes in Scottsdale are 15.00% higher than in Des Moines.
• One perk of moving to Scottsdale is paying less in state income taxes, which are 43.18% lower than in Des Moines.

To put this in perspective, you would need around $9,126.92 in Scottsdale 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. Scottsdale

• Scottsdale might offer you a slower pace of life, since the population is about 65% less than Des Moines.
• Your access to buses, shuttles, trams, or trains in Scottsdale will be about the same as it currently is in Des Moines. The cities share a similar public transportation score, which means their transit systems are comparable in terms of how connected they are, how often they provide service, and how close they are to jobs, housing, retail and food stores, and other important locations.
• Scottsdale neighborhoods and districts might not be as easy to navigate on foot as Des Moines. Based on its score of 32 out of 100, Scottsdale isn’t as walkable as Des Moines, which has a score of 45 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.
• If cycling is your thing, Scottsdale is considered more bike-friendly than Des Moines in terms of designated lanes and connectivity and how many residents opt to commute on two wheels rather than by car. Scottsdale has a bike-friendliness score of 56 out of 100, while Des Moines is rated as 39 out of 100.
• The crime rate in Scottsdale is higher than in Des Moines, so you may want to exercise a little extra caution as you're acclimating to your new location. While the crime index is 25.8 in Scottsdale, it is 5.0 in Des Moines. With this index, the lower the score, the better, since it indicates a city’s crime levels.
• You might find more confidence in your overall safety in Scottsdale than in Des Moines, based on Scottsdale’s safety index of 74.2 versus 57.8 for Des Moines. 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 Scottsdale and Des Moines 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 Des Moines vs. Scottsdale move

• Weather: Extreme heat may cause discomfort if you choose to move in the summer. Pay close attention to heat sensitive household items such as instruments, antique furniture, and electronics.
• 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: Though Arizona is largely an “unregulated” state, local moving companies are subject to some Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS) and Department of Weights and Measures regulations intended to ensure that they operate safely and ethically. Make sure the moving company you use has a license before hiring.
• State regulator: You can verify a Arizona moving license and its status through the state's public utilities commission.
• Moving permits: Arizona 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 Scottsdale. Get started here.
• Moving company insurance: Every state requires moving companies to carry different levels of insurance.Choose Released Value Protection for its cost-effectiveness—offered by movers at no extra charge, although it provides minimal coverage. With a liability limit of 60 cents per pound per article, consider this option carefully. For instance, if a 50-inch TV weighing 25 pounds is lost or damaged, your reimbursement would only be $15 (60 cents x 25 pounds). For comprehensive coverage of your items' full value, consult with your moving company for alternative options or consider third-party insurance providers.
• Moving checklist: Our moving checklist will help you have the peace of mind that you've got everything covered.

Where to live in Scottsdale

Now that you've decided to make the move to "West's Most Western Town", these are the best neighborhoods to move to in Scottsdale.

Helpful moving resources