($1,801) Movers From Billings, MT to Winston-Salem, NC

What to know before moving from Billings to Winston-Salem

Moving from Billings to Winston-Salem comes with exciting new opportunities — but also higher living costs. Since Winston-Salem is generally more expensive than Billings, 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 are the same in Winston-Salem and Billings.
• In terms of homeownership, you’ll be able to get more for your money in Winston-Salem.
  Home prices in Winston-Salem are 34.8% lower than in Billings.
• Income in Winston-Salem is 1.7% lower than in Billings, so you could earn less for doing the same job. The top employers in Winston-Salem include Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Novant Health, and Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools.
• Be sure to budget for higher bills in Winston-Salem, since the cost of living for a single person in Winston-Salem is 36.5% higher than in Billings. This includes routine expenses like utilities, groceries, clothing, and transportation.
• If you’re moving your family to Winston-Salem, keep in mind that your living expenses could increase. The cost of living for a family in Winston-Salem is 16.1% higher than in Billings.
• The unemployment rate in Winston-Salem is 26.83% higher than in Billings.
• You’ll spend more on retail and restaurants in Winston-Salem, since the city’s sales taxes in Winston-Salem are 7.00% higher than in Billings.
• One perk of moving to Winston-Salem is paying less in state income taxes, which are 33.33% lower than in Billings.

To put this in perspective, you would need around $4,094.75 in Winston-Salem to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with $3,000.00 in Billings.

How life is different in Billings vs. Winston-Salem

• The population of Winston-Salem is about 35% greater than Billings, so you may find more to see and do in your new surroundings. Of course, with more people can also come increased competition for jobs and housing.
• Your access to buses, shuttles, trams, or trains in Winston-Salem will be about the same as it currently is in Billings. 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.
• Winston-Salem neighborhoods and districts might not be as easy to navigate on foot as Billings. Based on its score of 22 out of 100, Winston-Salem isn’t as walkable as Billings, which has a score of 35 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.
• You probably won’t see as many cycling lanes or off-road trails in Winston-Salem, which is ranked as less bike-friendly than Billings. While Billings has a bike-friendliness score of 47 out of 100, Winston-Salem earned a 29. Scores are based on factors like whether a city accommodates cyclists on major roadways, how often people bike to work, and how many steep hills it has.
• Winston-Salem has a lower crime rate than Billings based on scores of 32.67 and Billings's 48.63, respectively. The crime index shows how safe a city is perceived to be. So, a lower score generally means less crime.
• You might find more confidence in your overall safety in Winston-Salem than in Billings, based on Winston-Salem’s safety index of 67.33 versus 50.37 for Billings. 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 Winston-Salem and Billings 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 Billings vs. Winston-Salem move

• Weather: Climate in Winston-Salem is unlikely to affect your move but a freezing day in the winter could affect the conditions of the roads.
• HOA rules: Be sure to review your community or HOA guidelines before moving day to avoid any surprises or delays.
• Elevator reservation: If your building has an elevator, make sure to find out how to reserve it ahead of your move.
• Truck parking permits: Many cities require special permits for parking large moving trucks. Check in advance to see if one is needed for your move.
• 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).Double-check that the moving company is properly licensed before you hire them.
• State regulator: You can check the status of a North Carolina moving license through the state's public utilities commission.
• Moving permits: North Carolina doesn\’t require moving permits, but it\’s still a good idea to check local parking rules before your move-in day.
• Change of address: We suggest filing your USPS change of address form at least one week before your move. You’ll be able to set your official move date, helping ensure your mail is forwarded correctly to Winston-Salem. Start the process here.
• Moving company insurance: Each state has its own requirements for the level of insurance moving companies must carry.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: Use our moving checklist to stay on top of every detail and reduce last-minute stress.

Where to live in Winston-Salem

Ready to relocate to "Camel City"? Here are some of the top neighborhoods to consider in Winston-Salem.

Helpful moving resources