North Carolina to Arizona Moving Guide
Updated June 15, 2025

Planning a 2,069 mile interstate move from North Carolina to Arizona? This moving guide will help you compare living in North Carolina vs Arizona across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like humid summers vs dry heat), food & health (like Pulled pork BBQ vs Sonoran Hot Dog), real estate & housing (craftsman, colonial vs pueblo, spanish revival), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Arizona), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Pulled pork BBQ and Eastern NC BBQ, but get your taste buds ready for Sonoran Hot Dog & Carne Asada
- Arizona housing costs are 31% more expensive than they are in North Carolina
- Rent in Arizona is 10.48% more expensive than in North Carolina
- Moving from North Carolina to Arizona will cost on average between $2,500 - $8,500
- Our top recommended North Carolina to Arizona movers is Sterling Interstate LLC
North Carolina to Arizona Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from North Carolina to Arizona
- Humid summers
- Hurricane risk
- Higher taxes
- Less outdoor activities
- Dry heat
- No hurricanes
- Lower taxes
- Wide desert landscapes
- Arid environment
- Minimal seasonal variety
- Newer settlements
- Landlocked state
- Lush greenery
- Seasonal changes
- Rich history
- Coastal proximity
Pros of moving from North Carolina to Arizona
- Say goodbye to humid summers and hello to dry heat
- Look forward to moving away from hurricane risk and moving to Arizona with no hurricanes
- Swap the higher taxes of North Carolina for lower taxes in Arizona
- Get ready for wide desert landscapes in Arizona
Cons of moving from North Carolina to Arizona
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from lush greenery in North Carolina to live with an arid environment in Arizona
- You'll lose out on the pro of seasonal changes and have to settle for the con of minimal seasonal variety
- Time to bid farewell to rich history and get used to newer settlements in Arizona
- Swap coastal proximity for a landlocked state
North Carolina vs. Arizona: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | North Carolina | Arizona |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Pulled pork BBQ | Sonoran Hot Dog |
Most popular meat dish | Eastern NC BBQ | Carne Asada |
Most popular street food item | Boiled Peanuts | Tacos |
Most popular vegan food | Sweet Potato | Jackfruit Tacos |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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Fitness/Health Conscientiousness | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ |
Abundance of Food Trucks | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Foodie Scene | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ |
Vegan Friendly | π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π± | π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π± |
If you're moving from North Carolina to Arizona, you will be trading the iconic Pulled Pork BBQ of North Carolina for the equally delicious Sonoran Hot Dog of Arizona. And while the locals in North Carolina rave about their flavorful Eastern NC BBQ and sumptuous Boiled Peanuts, Arizona residents know they have tasty Carne Asada and Tacos to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Sweet Potato they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Jackfruit Tacos of Arizona. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic North Carolina eateries like Lexington Barbecue, Acme, and Chef & The Farmer. After the boxes are unpacked in Arizona, don't wait too long before making your way to Arizona's acclaimed eateries like El GΓΌero Canelo, Pizzeria Bianco, and Bacanora.
When comparing lifestyles, Arizona shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than North Carolina. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Arizona compared to what you are used to in North Carolina. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Arizona.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between North Carolina and Arizona
Comparison | North Carolina | Arizona |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Craftsman, Colonial | Pueblo, Spanish Revival |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious backyards, proximity to schools | Swimming pools, energy-efficient features |
- The Craftsman and Colonial architecture that North Carolina is known for will be replaced with the Pueblo and Spanish Revival architecture typical of Arizona.
- Compared to North Carolina's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious backyards and proximity to schools, Arizona real estate listings often highlight features like swimming pools and energy-efficient amenities.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Arizona is more walkable than North Carolina.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Arizona is more bike-friendly than North Carolina.
- Arizona has more of an urban feel than North Carolina.
- Arizona housing costs are 31% more expensive than they are in North Carolina, with a median home price of $430,827 compared to North Carolinaβs $329,225.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Arizona have increased by 63% compared to a 63% increase in North Carolina.
- Rent in Arizona is 10.48% more expensive than in North Carolina.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between North Carolina and Arizona
Comparison | North Carolina | Arizona |
---|---|---|
Days of Sunshine per Year | βοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈ | βοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈ |
Avg. Annual Humidity | π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦ | π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦ |
Avg. UV Index | πΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈ | πΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈ |
Natural Disasters | Hurricanes, Tornadoes | Wildfires, Dust Storms |
Air Quality | Good | Varies, mostly Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 88Β°F / 66Β°F | 104Β°F / 81Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 50Β°F / 30Β°F | 67Β°F / 46Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 50" | 13" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 4" | 0.3" |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from North Carolina to Arizona. Arizona gets 40% more sunshine days than North Carolina.
- Arizona has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to North Carolina.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and tornadoes in North Carolina, but be on the lookout for potential wildfires and dust storms in Arizona.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Arizona is 16 degrees warmer than in North Carolina.
- The average winter lows are 16 degrees warmer than they are in North Carolina.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Arizona. Arizona receives 37 fewer inches of rain compared to North Carolina.
Financial & Community Snapshot: North Carolina and Arizona
Comparison | North Carolina | Arizona |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $67,481 | $74,568 |
Cost of Living Index | 95.85 | 101.2 |
State Income Tax | 5.25% | 2.59% - 4.50% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.77% | 0.62% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.98% | 8.40% |
Top 3 Industries | Finance, Technology, Agriculture | Tourism, Technology, Mining |
Affluence | Moderate | Moderate |
Poverty | Notable | Notable |
Homelessness | Concern | Concern |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Arizona tend to earn about 11% more than in North Carolina
- The COLI in Arizona will be 6% higher than what you are used to living in North Carolina
- The state income tax in AZ is 2.59% - 4.50% compared to 5.25% in NC
- The affluence in Arizona is moderate compared to moderate in North Carolina
- The poverty level is notable in Arizona compared to notable in North Carolina
- In terms of homelessness, it is a concern in North Carolina and a concern in Arizona
Political and Religious Climate in North Carolina vs. Arizona
Comparison | North Carolina | Arizona |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Moderately conservative, with a mix of Democratic and Republican strongholds | Swing state with a recent trend towards Democratic in federal elections |
Local Politics | Varies greatly between urban and rural areas | Large urban centers lean more progressive, rural areas remain conservative |
Religion | Primarily Christian, with a significant presence of Baptists and Methodists | Diverse, but predominantly Christian, including a significant Catholic community |
- North Carolina tends to lean moderately conservative with a mix of Democratic and Republican strongholds in its political climate
- Arizona, on the other hand, is often described as a swing state with a recent trend towards Democratic in federal elections
- Arizona's religious environment can be described as diverse but predominantly Christian, including a significant Catholic community
- North Carolina's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as primarily Christian with a significant presence of Baptists and Methodists
Education Guide When Moving from North Carolina to Arizona
Comparison | North Carolina | Arizona |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill North Carolina State University Duke University | University of Arizona Arizona State University Northern Arizona University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Endhaven Elementary School (Charlotte) Morrisville Elementary School (Morrisville) Davis Drive Elementary School (Cary) | Cherokee Elementary School (Scottsdale) Manzanita Elementary School (Tucson) Basis Ahwatukee (Phoenix) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Community House Middle School (Charlotte) Jay M. Robinson Middle School (Charlotte) Davis Drive Middle School (Cary) | Basis Scottsdale (Scottsdale) Basis Oro Valley (Oro Valley) Basis Chandler (Chandler) |
Top 3 High Schools | Early College at Guilford (Greensboro) Raleigh Charter High School (Raleigh) Green Hope High School (Cary) | Basis Scottsdale (Scottsdale) Basis Oro Valley (Oro Valley) Basis Peoria (Peoria) |
Top 3 private high schools | Charlotte Latin School (Charlotte) Cary Academy (Cary) Durham Academy (Durham) | Brophy College Preparatory (Phoenix) The Gregory School (Tucson) Phoenix Country Day School (Paradise Valley) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Ravenscroft School (Raleigh) Providence Day School (Charlotte) Cary Academy (Cary) | Veritas Preparatory Academy (Phoenix) The Gregory School (Tucson) Rancho Solano Preparatory School (Scottsdale) |
Top 3 School Districts | Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Wake County Public School System Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools | Scottsdale Unified School District Catalina Foothills Unified District Chandler Unified School District |
How Much Do North Carolina to Arizona Movers Cost?
Moving 2,069 miles from North Carolina to Arizona will typically cost between $3,500 and $8,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,500 - $8,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-10 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Raleigh Moving Company
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,375 | 300 ft3 | $7.92 |
1 Bedroom | $3,541 | 450 ft3 | $7.87 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,864 | 750 ft3 | $7.82 |
3 Bedrooms | $8,545 | 1100 ft3 | $7.77 |
4 Bedrooms | $12,349 | 1600 ft3 | $7.72 |
5+ Bedrooms | $13,803 | 1800 ft3 | $7.67 |
Top North Carolina to Arizona Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best North Carolina to Arizona movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Sterling Interstate LLC
Best moving company overall for North Carolina to Arizona