($941) Movers From Charleston, WV to Winston-Salem, NC

What to know before moving from Charleston to Winston-Salem

Moving from Charleston to Winston-Salem comes with exciting new opportunities — but also higher living costs. Since Winston-Salem is generally more expensive than Charleston, 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 Winston-Salem are 49% higher than in Charleston, 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 Charleston.
  Home prices in Winston-Salem are 61.9% higher than in Charleston.
• Income in Winston-Salem is 5.2% higher than in Charleston, so you could earn more 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 56.2% higher than in Charleston. 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 36.3% higher than in Charleston.
• The unemployment rate in Winston-Salem is 16.13% lower than in Charleston.
• Sales taxes are the same in Winston-Salem and Charleston.
• One perk of moving to Winston-Salem is paying less in state income taxes, which are 30.77% lower than in Charleston.

To put this in perspective, you would need around $4,686.89 in Winston-Salem to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with $3,000.00 in Charleston.

How life is different in Charleston vs. Winston-Salem

• The population of Winston-Salem is about 420% greater than Charleston, 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.
• Winston-Salem offers better access to buses and trains than Charleston, based on public transportation ratings. Winston-Salem has a transit score of 3 out of 10 compared to 2 in Charleston. The higher the score, the more public transportation pickup and dropoff locations a city provides.
• Winston-Salem neighborhoods and districts might not be as easy to navigate on foot as Charleston. Based on its score of 22 out of 100, Winston-Salem isn’t as walkable as Charleston, which has a score of 33 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.
• Winston-Salem and Charleston are similarly bike-friendly based on their comparable ratings of 29 and 28 respectively. 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.
• Winston-Salem has a lower crime rate than Charleston based on scores of 32.67 and Charleston's 53.94, 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 Charleston, based on Winston-Salem’s safety index of 67.33 versus 46.06 for Charleston. 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 Charleston 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 Charleston 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: 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: 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). Before booking, ensure the moving company is officially licensed to handle your move.
• State regulator: To confirm a moving company’s license in North Carolina, visit the state's public utilities commission
• Moving permits: While North Carolina 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 Winston-Salem 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. 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 gives you the peace of mind that comes with being fully prepared.

Where to live in Winston-Salem

With your sights set on "Camel City", these are some of the most popular neighborhoods to consider in Winston-Salem.

Helpful moving resources