($1,508) Movers From Des Moines, IA to Charlotte, NC

What to know before moving from Des Moines to Charlotte

Moving from Des Moines to Charlotte comes with exciting new opportunities — but also higher living costs. Since Charlotte 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 Charlotte are 56% 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 Charlotte are 103.6% higher than in Des Moines.
• Income in Charlotte is 10.8% higher than in Des Moines, so you could earn more for doing the same job. The top employers in Charlotte include Atrium Health, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, and Bank of America.
• Be sure to budget for higher bills in Charlotte, since the cost of living for a single person in Charlotte is 67.0% higher than in Des Moines. This includes routine expenses like utilities, groceries, clothing, and transportation.
• If you’re moving your family to Charlotte, keep in mind that your living expenses could increase. The cost of living for a family in Charlotte is 90.1% higher than in Des Moines.
• The unemployment rate in Charlotte is 44.07% lower than in Des Moines.
• You’ll spend more on retail and restaurants in Charlotte, since the city’s sales taxes in Charlotte are 3.57% higher than in Des Moines.
• State income taxes in Charlotte are 2.27% higher than in Des Moines.

To put this in perspective, you would need around $5,010.05 in Charlotte 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. Charlotte

• Charlotte's population is about 25% greater than Des Moines.
• Charlotte's public transportation has a similar score to Des Moines.
• Charlotte is less walkable than Des Moines with a score of 26 out of 100 vs Des Moines's 45 out of 100.
• Charlotte 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.
• Charlotte's crime rate is higher than Des Moines with a score of 46.52 compared to Des Moines's 5.0. This means that Charlotte neighborhoods are safer than 46.52% of all U.S. neighborhoods, and Des Moines neighborhoods are safer than 5.0%.
• Charlotte is considered to be less safe than Des Moines with a score of 53.48 vs Des Moines's 57.8.
• Air quality in Charlotte is moderate, and in Des Moines it's good.

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

• Weather: Charlotte has a moderate climate. Your move is unlikely to be affected by the weather although, the rare snow day in the wintertime could make the road conditions difficult to drive on.
• 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 Charlotte. 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 Charlotte

Now that you've decided to make the move to "Queen City", these are the best neighborhoods to move to in Charlotte.

Helpful moving resources