North Carolina to Louisiana Moving Guide
Updated June 21, 2025

Planning a 947 mile interstate move from North Carolina to Louisiana? This moving guide will help you compare living in North Carolina vs Louisiana across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs more affordable housing), food & health (like Pulled pork BBQ vs Gumbo), real estate & housing (craftsman, colonial vs creole, french colonial), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in North Carolina), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Pulled pork BBQ and Eastern-style BBQ, but get your taste buds ready for Gumbo & Crawfish ΓtouffΓ©e
- Louisiana housing costs are 40% less expensive than they are in North Carolina
- Rent in Louisiana is 24.02% more affordable than in North Carolina
- Moving from North Carolina to Louisiana will cost on average between $1,500 - $6,000
- Our top recommended North Carolina to Louisiana movers is Just Move It, LLC
North Carolina to Louisiana Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from North Carolina to Louisiana
- High cost of living
- Hurricane risk
- Higher taxes
- Expensive healthcare
- More affordable housing
- Rich cultural scene
- Seafood and Creole cuisine
- Lively music festivals
- Hot, humid summers
- Flat landscape
- Higher unemployment rates
- Lower-ranked schools
- Four seasons climate
- Proximity to mountains
- Diverse job market
- Quality education
Pros of moving from North Carolina to Louisiana
- Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to more affordable housing
- Look forward to moving away from hurricane risk and moving to Louisiana with its rich cultural scene
- Swap the higher taxes of North Carolina for seafood and Creole cuisine in Louisiana
- Get ready for lively music festivals in Louisiana
Cons of moving from North Carolina to Louisiana
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from a four seasons climate in North Carolina to live with hot, humid summers in Louisiana
- You'll lose out on the pro of proximity to mountains and have to settle for the con of a flat landscape
- Time to bid farewell to a diverse job market and get used to higher unemployment rates in Louisiana
- Swap quality education for lower-ranked schools
North Carolina vs. Louisiana: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | North Carolina | Louisiana |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Pulled pork BBQ | Gumbo |
Most popular meat dish | Eastern-style BBQ | Crawfish ΓtouffΓ©e |
Most popular street food item | Hot dogs | Po' boys |
Most popular vegan food | BBQ jackfruit | Okra Gumbo |
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 Louisiana, you will be trading the iconic Pulled Pork BBQ of North Carolina for the equally delicious Gumbo of Louisiana. And while the locals in North Carolina rave about their flavorful Eastern-style BBQ and sumptuous Hot Dogs, Louisiana residents know they have tasty Crawfish ΓtouffΓ©e and Po' Boys to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the BBQ Jackfruit they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Okra Gumbo of Louisiana. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic North Carolina eateries like Lexington Barbecue, Buxton Hall Barbecue, and Cook Out. After the boxes are unpacked in Louisiana, don't wait too long before making your way to Louisiana's acclaimed eateries like Commander's Palace, Acme Oyster House, and Dooky Chase's Restaurant.
When comparing lifestyles, Louisiana shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than North Carolina. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Louisiana compared to what you are used to in North Carolina. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Louisiana.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between North Carolina and Louisiana
Comparison | North Carolina | Louisiana |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Craftsman, Colonial | Creole, French Colonial |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Large backyards, proximity to nature | Historic properties, proximity to water |
- The Craftsman and Colonial architecture that North Carolina is known for will be replaced with the Creole and French Colonial architecture typical of Louisiana.
- Compared to North Carolina's real estate listings that commonly reference large backyards and proximity to nature, Louisiana real estate listings often highlight features like historic properties and proximity to water.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes; Louisiana is more walkable than North Carolina.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; Louisiana is more bike-friendly than North Carolina.
- Louisiana has more of an urban feel than North Carolina.
- Louisiana housing costs are 40% less expensive than they are in North Carolina, with a median home price of $199,091 compared to North Carolinaβs $329,225.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Louisiana have increased by 13% compared to a 63% increase in North Carolina.
- Rent in Louisiana is 24.02% more affordable than in North Carolina.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between North Carolina and Louisiana
Comparison | North Carolina | Louisiana |
---|---|---|
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 | Hurricanes, Floods |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 88Β°F / 66Β°F | 91Β°F / 75Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 50Β°F / 30Β°F | 62Β°F / 42Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 50" | 60" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 4" | <1" |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from North Carolina to Louisiana. Louisiana gets 2% more sunshine days than North Carolina.
- Louisiana has higher 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 hurricanes and floods in Louisiana.
- The average summer high temperature in Louisiana is 3 degrees warmer than in North Carolina.
- The average winter lows are 12 degrees warmer than they are in North Carolina.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Louisiana. Louisiana receives 10 more inches of rain compared to North Carolina.
Financial & Community Snapshot: North Carolina and Louisiana
Comparison | North Carolina | Louisiana |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $67,481 | $55,416 |
Cost of Living Index | 95.85 | 96 |
State Income Tax | 5.25% | 2% - 6% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.77% | 0.53% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.98% | 9.45% |
Top 3 Industries | Technology, Banking, Agriculture | Oil & Gas, Agriculture, Tourism |
Affluence | Moderate | Lower |
Poverty | Average | High |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Louisiana tend to earn about 18% less than in North Carolina
- The COLI in Louisiana is 0% higher than what you are used to living in North Carolina
- The state income tax in LA is 2% to 6% compared to 5.25% in NC
- The affluence in Louisiana is lower compared to moderate in North Carolina
- The poverty level is high in Louisiana compared to average in North Carolina
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in North Carolina and moderate in Louisiana
Political and Religious Climate in North Carolina vs. Louisiana
Comparison | North Carolina | Louisiana |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Mixed; leans slightly Republican | Leans Republican, especially in rural areas |
Local Politics | Varies widely between urban and rural areas | Dominance of local politics by long-standing families in some regions |
Religion | Christian majority, with a notable presence of Evangelicals | Strong Catholic presence, especially in South Louisiana |
- North Carolina tends to lean mixed and leans slightly Republican in its political climate
- Louisiana, on the other hand, is often described as leaning Republican, especially in rural areas
- Louisiana's religious environment can be described as having a strong Catholic presence, especially in South Louisiana
- North Carolina's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as a Christian majority, with a notable presence of Evangelicals
Education Guide When Moving from North Carolina to Louisiana
Comparison | North Carolina | Louisiana |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of North Carolina Duke University North Carolina State University | Louisiana State University Tulane University University of Louisiana |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Morrisville Elementary (Morrisville) Thales Academy (Raleigh) Sterling Montessori Academy (Morrisville) | Lusher Charter School (New Orleans) Baton Rouge FLAIM (Baton Rouge) South Highlands Elementary Magnet (Shreveport) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Thales Academy (Raleigh) Metrolina Regional Scholars' Academy (Charlotte) Sterling Montessori Academy (Morrisville) | Caddo Parish Middle Magnet (Shreveport) Lusher Charter School (New Orleans) Glasgow Middle School (Baton Rouge) |
Top 3 High Schools | North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics (Durham) Raleigh Charter High School (Raleigh) Woods Charter (Chapel Hill) | Benjamin Franklin High School (New Orleans) Haynes Academy School for Advanced Studies (Metairie) Baton Rouge Magnet High School (Baton Rouge) |
Top 3 private high schools | Charlotte Country Day School (Charlotte) Durham Academy (Durham) Ravenscroft School (Raleigh) | Isidore Newman School (New Orleans) Metairie Park Country Day School (Metairie) Episcopal High School (Baton Rouge) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Cary Academy (Cary) Charlotte Country Day School (Charlotte) Greensboro Day School (Greensboro) | Isidore Newman School (New Orleans) Metairie Park Country Day School (Metairie) Episcopal School of Baton Rouge (Baton Rouge) |
Top 3 School Districts | Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Wake County Public School System Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools | Zachary Community School District Central Community School System Ascension Parish School Board |
How Much Do North Carolina to Louisiana Movers Cost?
Moving 947 miles from North Carolina to Louisiana will typically cost between $2,500 and $6,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,500 - $6,000
- 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 | $1,739 | 300 ft3 | $5.80 |
1 Bedroom | $2,587 | 450 ft3 | $5.75 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,273 | 750 ft3 | $5.70 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,213 | 1100 ft3 | $5.65 |
4 Bedrooms | $8,957 | 1600 ft3 | $5.60 |
5+ Bedrooms | $9,986 | 1800 ft3 | $5.55 |
Top North Carolina to Louisiana Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best North Carolina to Louisiana movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Just Move It, LLC
Best moving company overall for North Carolina to Louisiana