($1,440) Movers From Des Moines, IA to Raleigh, NC

What to know before moving from Des Moines to Raleigh

Moving from Des Moines to Raleigh comes with exciting new opportunities — but also higher living costs. Since Raleigh 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 Raleigh are 45% 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 Raleigh are 124.5% higher than in Des Moines.
• Income in Raleigh is 95.6% lower than in Des Moines, 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 221.4% higher than in Des Moines. This includes routine expenses like utilities, groceries, clothing, and transportation.
• If you’re moving your family to Raleigh, keep in mind that your living expenses could increase. The cost of living for a family in Raleigh is 38.7% higher than in Des Moines.
• The unemployment rate in Raleigh is 27.12% lower than in Des Moines.
• You’ll spend more on retail and restaurants in Raleigh, since the city’s sales taxes in Raleigh are 3.57% higher than in Des Moines.
• State income taxes in Raleigh are 2.27% higher than in Des Moines.

To put this in perspective, you would need around $9,640.93 in Raleigh 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. Raleigh

• Raleigh might offer you a slower pace of life, since the population is about 33% less than Des Moines.
• Getting around Raleigh without a car might be more difficult than in Des Moines. Raleigh has a public transportation score of 4 out of 10, whereas Des Moines is ranked 5. 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 Des Moines. Based on its score of 31 out of 100, Raleigh 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.
• Raleigh and Des Moines are similarly bike-friendly based on their rating of 39. Bike-friendliness scores between 50 and 100 indicate varying levels of infrastructure to support cyclists, including bike lanes and roadway connectivity. Cities with scores under 50 are considered more car-dependent.
• The crime rate in Raleigh 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 38.87 in Raleigh, it is 5.0 in Des Moines. With this index, the lower the score, the better, since it indicates a city’s crime levels.
• Raleigh is generally as safe as Des Moines, according to their similar safety index ratings. The ratings are based on how comfortable residents feel about walking alone during the daytime and nighttime and the number of small crimes like theft and muggings.
• The air quality in Raleigh isn’t as good as it is in Des Moines, so you may want to take precautions if you suffer from conditions like allergies or asthma. Raleigh has an air quality rating of Moderate, and Des Moines is considered to be good. Cities with good to moderate air quality may have varying levels of minor potential for health risks for certain people. Beyond the moderate rating, those health risks increase in severity and the amount of residents affected.

Other things to consider for your Des Moines 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.

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