($1,490) Movers From Columbia, SC to St. George, UT

What to know before moving from Columbia to St. George

Moving from Columbia to St. George comes with exciting new opportunities — but also higher living costs. Since St. George is generally more expensive than Columbia, 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 St. George are 22% higher than in Columbia, 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 Columbia.
  Home prices in St. George are 127.3% higher than in Columbia.
• Income in St. George is 9.5% lower than in Columbia, so you could earn less for doing the same job. The top employers in St. George include LHC Health Services Inc, SkyWest Airlines Inc, and Sunroc Corporation.
• Be sure to budget for higher bills in St. George, since the cost of living for a single person in St. George is 10.0% higher than in Columbia. This includes routine expenses like utilities, groceries, clothing, and transportation.
• If you’re moving your family to St. George, keep in mind that your living expenses could increase. The cost of living for a family in St. George is 7.1% higher than in Columbia.
• The unemployment rate in St. George is 44.23% lower than in Columbia.
• You’ll spend less on retail and restaurants in St. George, since the city’s sales taxes in St. George are 15.63% lower than in Columbia.
• One perk of moving to St. George is paying less in state income taxes, which are 29.29% lower than in Columbia.

To put this in perspective, you would need around $3,300.61 in St. George to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with $3,000.00 in Columbia.

How life is different in Columbia vs. St. George

• The population of St. George is about 32% greater than Columbia, 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.
• Getting around St. George without a car might be more difficult than in Columbia. St. George has a public transportation score of 2 out of 10, whereas Columbia is ranked 5. Ratings are based on a city’s transit connectivity, service frequency, and accessibility to key destinations like jobs and grocery stores.
• St. George neighborhoods and districts might not be as easy to navigate on foot as Columbia. Based on its score of 27 out of 100, St. George isn’t as walkable as Columbia, 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.
• If cycling is your thing, St. George is considered more bike-friendly than Columbia in terms of designated lanes and connectivity and how many residents opt to commute on two wheels rather than by car. St. George has a bike-friendliness score of 45 out of 100, while Columbia is rated as 35 out of 100.
• The crime rate in St. George is higher than in Columbia, so you may want to exercise a little extra caution as you're acclimating to your new location. While the crime index is 29.02 in St. George, it is 3.0 in Columbia. 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 St. George than in Columbia, based on St. George’s safety index of 70.98 versus 48.39 for Columbia. 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 St. George and Columbia 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 Columbia vs. St. George move

• Weather: April, October and May are the best months to move to St. George, while you may need additional weather consideration during July and August as these months get hotter compared to other months.
• HOA rules: It’s a good idea to look into your HOA or community regulations before moving day arrives.
• Elevator reservation: If your building has an elevator, it’s a good idea to secure a reservation before your moving day.
• Truck parking permits: To avoid fines or delays, check whether a parking permit is needed for your moving truck.
• State licensing: Although a local license is not required in Utah, make sure the moving company you’ll be hiring is registered with U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT). To verify if you’re dealing with a legal and licensed mover, you may ask them their USDOT registration number. Before booking, ensure the moving company is officially licensed to handle your move.
• State regulator: To confirm a moving company’s license in Utah, visit the state's public utilities commission
• Moving permits: While Utah doesn’t mandate moving permits, checking local parking guidelines before your move-in day is still a good idea.
• Change of address: We recommend submitting your USPS change of address form at least one week before your move to ensure your mail gets forwarded to St. George without delay. You can select your official move date when completing the form. Start the process here.
• Moving company insurance: Every state sets its own rules for what insurance moving companies need to maintain. In Utah, movers commonly offer Released Value Protection at no extra cost, providing coverage at 60 cents per pound. To increase protection, consider discussing Full Value Protection options with the moving company.
• Moving checklist: Our moving checklist gives you the peace of mind that comes with being fully prepared.

Where to live in St. George

With your sights set on "Dixie", these are some of the most popular neighborhoods to consider in St. George.

Helpful moving resources