1. First steps before moving to North Carolina
Find a reliable moving company, truck rental or moving container
For your move to North Carolina, you will need to hire a reliable moving company or take on the move yourself. To find the best moving company in North Carolina, look for helpful reviews, a professional-looking website, and years of experience.
Planning a move to North Carolina? Take a look at our selection of:
- The Best Moving Companies in Charlotte
Finding a job
As of September 2023, North Carolina had an unemployment rate of 3.4%, which is the higher from 3.3% in August 2023.
Jobs that are often in high demand are registered nurses and other medical professionals
Finding a job in North Carolina is easier if you search online for job openings. Popular websites for this include LinkedIn, Indeed, and SimplyHired.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics (Nov 2023)
Getting there
Below are some travel options to get to North Carolina from different parts of the country include:
Flying: Flying is the most convenient way to move to North Carolina. Book a flight from your departure city to Charlotte Douglas International Airport, depending on your destination within North Carolina.
Train: You can also take the train with Amtrak as an alternative.
Bus: If you want another way to travel, North Carolina cities have bus services like Greyhound, and Flixbus, that can get you there.
If you are flying and require assistance with moving your belongings, you can explore options provided by reputable moving companies.
Must dos before your arrival
Moving to North Carolina may be exciting and will challenge you in many ways. By knowing these things beforehand, you will be better prepared for your new life in the city.
- If you are moving to North Carolina permanently, and you receive a lot of mail (excluding packages), you may want to sign up with USPS’s mail forwarding service. Mail forwarding allows your mail to be redirected to the right address for a given period of time. The fee for regular mail forwarding is only a little over a dollar for 6 months. If you want to extend the service, you will have to pay around $20 for 6 months more. You can begin your mail forwarding process by signing up on USPS’s website or directly at your local Post Office.
- Moving to a new place is an opportunity to start afresh. If you’re moving to North Carolina, selling or donating the items you won’t need will go a long way in making your move easier. You can sell your old household items and personal possessions, and anything that will not be useful. Pick out the items that will not be useful for you in North Carolina, then decide if you want to sell them on websites like Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace or donate them to a non-profit organization.
2. Upon your arrival in North Carolina
Must dos right upon your arrival
- Get familiar with your neighborhood, and make sure to take note of the important emergency numbers.
- If you roam around the city for work or just simply checking on it, it would be great to purchase a daily pass to save money.
- Locate the essential facilities like the nearest hospital, police station, and fire department for your safety and in case of emergency.
Moving around in the state of North Carolina is not difficult at all with or without a car, as there are different means of transport. From buses to cabs, bicycles, and trains, one can easily move from one place to another.
While the most common transportation option remains the car, the NCDOT does provide affordable transportation options like buses.
Exchanging your driver’s license
You’ll have 60 days upon settling down in North Carolina to exchange your previous license with the DMV. If you exceed these 60 days, you may be fined. To exchange your license, visit a NCDMV office in person by taking an appointment online first.
Register your vehicle
To register your vehicle in North Carolina, visit your local license plate agency within 30 days of your arrival. To know more about exchanging your driver’s license and registering your vehicle in North Carolina, visit the NCDMV website.
Change your address
Another thing to note and act on when you move to North Carolina is changing your address. This is made possible by notifying the concerned parties of your new location, so your details are updated.
These parties include your workplace, service providers, bank, insurer, and the government. Your voter registration will also require to be updated online or by mail.
Setting up a bank account
Obtaining a bank account in North Carolina is a straightforward process. You only need to present a copy of your valid state or government-issued ID, such as a driver’s license or passport. The bank with most branches in North Carolina for easy access is Truist Bank. North Carolina’s residents has access to a whopping 295 offices of Truist Bank in the state.Numbeo (Oct 2023)
Getting health insurance
Getting health insurance is an excellent way to get peace of mind when it comes to your health. With health insurance, you will not have to worry about spending a ton of money in case of a health-related emergency. The state of North Carolina proposes a website to help you with your health insurance search. Simply choose North Carolina as your state and create an account.
Type of healthcare | Cost |
Employer-sponsored health insurance | $130.00 |
Non-employer-sponsored health insurance | $482.00 |
Gym | $53.00 |
Numbeo (Nov 2023) & EHealthInsurance (Nov 2023)
3. Best places to live in North Carolina
If you’re moving with your family, the city of Chapel Hill is perfect for you because the cost of living here is very reasonable, and it is home to several quality public schools. It also offers a wide range of job opportunities.
If you are moving as a single person, you can stay in Charlotte, where there is so much vibrancy and youthfulness alongside the mild winters and pleasant falls.
If you’re moving as a young couple, then the city of Raleigh is right for you. Raleigh has a mix of youthful vibes, affordable cost of living, endless outdoor activities and excellent job offers.
Setting up home services
Setting up essential home services like electricity, water, gas, and internet in North Carolina is a straightforward process.
- Depending on the area you live in, your electricity provider will vary. North Carolina’s electricity providers are composed of investor-led electricity companies, cooperatives and not for profit companies. You can find your local electricity provider on Carolina Country’s website. To set up water in North Carolina, visit the MyUtility website and start service. Like with electricity, gas providers will vary based on the area you live in. You can find your natural gas provider on North Carolina’s Utilities Commission website.
- The best internet providers in North Carolina will have bundling options, various speeds, and multiple package options at reasonable prices.
Should you rent or buy?
The average North Carolina home value is $321,505, went up by 1.6% from 2022. North Carolina’s price per square foot to buy an apartment outside the center is $312.73.
Finding an apartment for rent in North Carolina is easy, utilize websites like Zillow, Apartmentguide, and Apartments.com. When seeking a house, these websites—Zillow, Realtor, and Century21—will assist you in your search for a home in North Carolina.
Cost of rent in North Carolina
Area/Neighborhood | 1-bed apartment | 3-bed apartment |
Charlotte (Outside of Center) | $1,834.73 | $2,942.92 |
Cost of buying a property in North Carolina
Area/Neighborhood | Average home price |
Charlotte | $321,505 |
Numbeo (Nov 2023) &Zillow (Nov 2023)
Consider getting home insurance
Home insurance is not mandatory in North Carolina. However, if your property is mortgaged with a lender, the lending company may contractually obligate you to purchase insurance to safeguard the amount outstanding on the loan. North Carolina is quite prone to tropical storms, floods, wildfires, and tornadoes. Getting insurance to protect you from spending on the damages caused by these natural disasters is a great way to get peace of mind when it comes to your home.
4. Cost of living in North Carolina
Category | Monthly cost |
1 bed apt rent outside city center | $1,834.73 |
Groceries Numbeo’s grocery list ($69.88 multiplied by 4) | $279.52 |
Utilities Electricity, heating, cooling, water, garbage | $193.58 |
Internet with 60 Mbps | $75.70 |
Transit pass | $40.00 |
Entertainment Meal, taxi, movie | $89.99 |
Gym membership | $53.00 |
Total | $2,566.52 |
5. The weather in North Carolina
Living in North Carolina allows you to experience blooming springs, leaf-peeping falls, and warm summers. North Carolina does experience windier weather than most US states so be prepared. The average temperature in July is a whopping 90°F. The hot weather is why so many people love to cool down at the beach by enjoying boating, surfing, and other water activities.
6. What to do as a local in North Carolina
North Carolina is full of life and vibrancy. If you love hiking, winter sports, visiting National Parks, and museums, this state is perfect for you.
You can visit Mingo Falls, the North Carolina Arboretum, Greensboro Science Centre, Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest, etc.
The three most popular grocery stores in North Carolina are Harris Teeter, Walmart Stores, and Food Lion.
The top big chain stores in North Carolina are Target and Costco.
Some iconic places to eat at include Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar and Kill Devil’s Frozen Custard & Beach Fries.
7. Fun facts about North Carolina
- Fun Fact #1: The Oldest Public University in the United States is in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
- Fun Fact #2: More than half of sweet potatoes around the world are grown in North Carolina.
- Fun Fact #3: North Carolina is branded ‘The Furniture Capital of the World’.
Conclusion
North Carolina’s diverse landscape, from coastal beauty to the Appalachian Mountains, offers locals a wide range of activities. The state’s strong education system, with universities like Duke, UNC, and NC State, makes it a great place for families and students seeking great academics.
Living in North Carolina has its pros and cons, checking the cost of living is essential to making sure you will live comfortably in this city and call it home. It’s a good idea to research specific neighborhoods within the state and consider your priorities to determine if North Carolina is the right fit for you and your family.
Need a trusted moving company for the area? Discover the 5 best movers in North Carolina.
