($1,490) Movers From Des Moines, IA to Providence, RI

What to know before moving from Des Moines to Providence

Moving from Des Moines to Providence comes with exciting new opportunities — but also higher living costs. Since Providence 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 Providence are 91% 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 Providence are 107.3% higher than in Des Moines.
• Income in Providence is 19.6% higher than in Des Moines, so you could earn more for doing the same job. The top employers in Providence include Textron, United Natural Foods, and Citizens Financial Group.
• Be sure to budget for higher bills in Providence, since the cost of living for a single person in Providence is 31.8% higher than in Des Moines. This includes routine expenses like utilities, groceries, clothing, and transportation.
• If you’re moving your family to Providence, keep in mind that your living expenses could increase. The cost of living for a family in Providence is 23.4% higher than in Des Moines.
• The unemployment rate in Providence is 45.76% higher than in Des Moines.
• Sales taxes are the same in Providence and Des Moines.
• State income taxes in Providence are 36.14% higher than in Des Moines.

To put this in perspective, you would need around $3,955.05 in Providence 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. Providence

• Providence might offer you a slower pace of life, since the population is about 73% less than Des Moines.
• Providence offers better access to buses and trains than Des Moines, based on public transportation ratings. Providence has a transit score of 7 out of 10 compared to 5 in Des Moines. The higher the score, the more public transportation pickup and dropoff locations a city provides.
• Living in Providence means you’ll likely be within closer walking distance to restaurants, shops, parks, and entertainment than you are in Des Moines. Providence is considered more walkable than Des Moines, with a score of 76 out of 100 versus 45 out of 100 in Des Moines. A city’s walkability score indicates how pedestrian-friendly it is in terms of proximity of neighborhoods to amenities.
• If cycling is your thing, Providence 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. Providence has a bike-friendliness score of 61 out of 100, while Des Moines is rated as 39 out of 100.
• The crime rate in Providence 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 49.84 in Providence, 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 may want to exercise more caution as you’re getting used to your new surroundings in Providence. With a crime index of 50.16, Providence ranks lower in overall safety than Des Moines, whose index is Des Moines's 57.8. The safety index measures how safe people in a city feel about walking alone, both during the day and at night, as well as data on muggings, theft, vandalism, and other instances of petty crime.
• The air quality in Providence 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. Providence move

• Weather: June, September and August are the most pleasant months in Providence, while January and February are the least comfortable months.
• 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: In Rhode Island, the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission (RIPUC) is responsible for providing regulation and oversight of the moving and storage industry. The state maintains a database of licensed movers, though some information may not be current. To verify that the movers you’re considering are licensed, insured, and authorized to provide relocation services without the state, check the above link and call (401) 780-9700. Make sure the moving company you use has a license before hiring.
• State regulator: You can verify a Rhode Island moving license and its status through the state's public utilities commission.
• Moving permits: Rhode Island 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 Providence. Get started here.
• Moving company insurance: Every state requires moving companies to carry different levels of insurance.In Rhode Island, movers often provide Released Value Protection at no additional cost, offering coverage at 60 cents per pound. For enhanced protection, discuss Full Value Protection with the moving company or explore third-party insurance options. Prioritize understanding coverage limits, potential extra costs, and reading reviews before choosing an insurance plan for your move.
• Moving checklist: Our moving checklist will help you have the peace of mind that you've got everything covered.

Where to live in Providence

Now that you've decided to make the move to "Creative Capital", these are the best neighborhoods to move to in Providence.

Helpful moving resources