Moving to Charlotte

With a prime location just a few hours from North Carolina's beautiful white sandy beaches and the Appalachian Mountains, Charlotte is a remarkable city with a stunning modern skyline. It's also home to the second-largest banking industry in the country, making it an exciting and prosperous place to live and work. 

Fondly known as the Queen City, Charlotte retains a small-town feel and tight-knit communities despite its reputation as a sprawling metropolis. Newcomers moving to Charlotte will enjoy a fantastic quality of life here, with a gentle cost of living, good schools, and excellent public transport and road infrastructure to boot.

Cost of living in Charlotte  

At two percent below the national average, the cost of living in Charlotte is reasonable. The city offers its residents a high quality of life, with many job opportunities, which has driven its population growth. 

Renting accommodation in Charlotte is much more affordable than in other mid-sized US cities, such as Austin and Boston. With various exciting accommodation options, Charlotte offers its residents the opportunity to get on the property ladder, as housing prices in the city remain relatively affordable.  

Utility and grocery prices in Charlotte are also lower than newcomers may expect from an urban area. Although public transport options are plentiful, they generally do not reach the areas further out. New arrivals looking to live in Charlotte's suburbs should consider the cost of buying and maintaining a vehicle. Still, with thoughtful planning, you can easily navigate the city and enjoy all it offers.

Healthcare in Charlotte is expensive and is likely one of the most significant expenses facing newcomers after accommodation. New arrivals to Charlotte are encouraged to secure comprehensive private health insurance to avoid incurring unexpected expenses.  

Getting around in Charlotte 

Charlotte boasts multiple public transport options, making getting around the Queen City's central areas a breeze. The Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) agency oversees the city's light rail and bus services.  

Since its inception in 2007, the LYNX Blue Line light rail has expanded to almost 19 miles (30 km). The LYNX Blue Line light rail has 26 stations and 11 park-and-ride commuter facilities, ensuring an easier commute for the city's residents. The City of Charlotte also has plans to add more lines to connect Charlotte's suburbs to the city centre.  

With 65 routes across the city, buses are the most common way to get around Charlotte. Those living with disabilities are also catered for in Charlotte, with CATS offering a paratransit door-to-door service for people living with disabilities.  

Cycling is also hugely popular in Charlotte, with four bicycle-sharing schemes operating in the city. The City of Charlotte is constructing cycle lanes that will eventually connect more than 40 miles (64 km) of bike pathways across the city. Cycling enthusiasts can easily rent an electric bicycle for a day, month, or year to get around the city centre.  

Useful links

• Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS)
• Charlotte Joy Rides
• Lime

Healthcare in Charlotte 

The healthcare in Charlotte is fantastic, with two major hospital systems operating dozens of hospitals around the city. Atrium Health and Novant Health offer Charlotte's residents excellent facilities and highly trained healthcare practitioners pioneering innovative treatments.  

Charlotte is also home to one of the biggest hospitals in North Carolina, ensuring Charlotte's residents have access to top-notch healthcare. As Charlotte's biggest hospital, Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Centre is an 874-bed hospital offering groundbreaking robotic surgery, cancer, and cardiac treatments.

Useful links

• Atrium Health
• Novant Health

Schools in Charlotte 

Families moving to Charlotte will enjoy many beautiful green spaces and highly-rated schools, making the city a wonderful place to raise children. The possibilities for accessing education in Charlotte are endless, as the city has 10 school districts, nine colleges, and a university.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools is the largest among these districts, with 184 schools and more than 140,000 students. Parents looking to give their children a high-quality education will be delighted to find that Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools offers 38 AP courses.  

Although technically not part of Charlotte, Fort Mill School District is a part of South Carolina and is considered among the best. Many parents moving to Charlotte choose themselves near Fort Mill's catchment zones to ensure their children get the best education possible. Some of Charlotte's other esteemed school districts include Union County Public Schools and Cabarrus County Schools. 

Parents who would like their children to learn a foreign curriculum are in luck, as Charlotte is home to a British international school. Several charter and magnet schools across the city also offer the globally recognised International Baccalaureate programme. Private schools teaching through a religious lens or those offering alternative pedagogical approaches such as Montessori are also plentiful. 

Useful links

• Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
• Fort Mill School District
• Union County Public Schools
• Cabarrus County Schools

Weather in Charlotte 

Charlotte has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. The annual average temperature in the city is a cool 62°F (17°C), while winters are generally mild, with only a few freezing days.  

Summers in Charlotte are hot, with July and August reaching highs of 86°F (30°C). New arrivals are encouraged to pack breathable clothing to endure the hot summer days.  

Spring and autumn are the best seasons in Charlotte, as temperatures remain mild, and the leaves transform the city into a beautiful wonderland.  

Working in Charlotte 

The labour market in Charlotte is robust, with the Wall Street Journal ranking it in the top 10 in the US. As the US's second-largest banking centre, Charlotte offers new arrivals with finance and banking expertise plenty of employment opportunities. The city's healthcare, social assistance, and education industries are also key employers. Tourism and the service sector also employ many of Charlotte's residents.

Similarly to the rest of the US, the work culture in Charlotte is defined by the 'work hard, play hard' mantra, but this will differ based on one's industry. Those in the finance industry will typically experience a formal working environment where networking is essential. In contrast, newcomers working in the tech industry may find themselves in a more relaxed work culture. A hallmark of the work culture in Charlotte is the diversity of the workforce, which leads to more enriching experiences. 

Accommodation in Charlotte 

Charlotte is a family-friendly city with over 200 fantastic neighbourhoods to choose from. Parents moving with their children must carefully consider the proximity of their chosen neighbourhood to the city's top school districts, as catchment zones determine admissions.

Young professionals and students will love the trendy Uptown Charlotte area for its convenience, proximity to work and college, and walkability. Most of the housing in Uptown Charlotte is high-rise apartments, but it's also possible to find beautiful Victorian homes.  

Plaza Midwood is the suburb to consider for young professionals looking for a suburban feel with more affordable rental prices. This area blends historic homes and modern amenities, including wellness venues, vibrant eateries, and breweries. Cherry and Ashbrook-Clawson Village are other quiet yet trendy neighbourhoods for newcomers to explore. 

Families will also have plenty of options, with neighbourhoods such as Myers Park, Beverly Woods, SouthPark, and Providence Plantation topping the list. Myers Park is a historic neighbourhood with tree-lined streets and some of Charlotte's most expensive homes, all located just 10 minutes from the city centre. Schools in the neighbourhood are excellent, but newcomers will need a car, as public transport here is limited.  

Most families move to Beverly Woods for its top-notch schools, recognised as some of the best in the state. SouthPark, with its stately mansions, typically attracts wealthy newcomers seeking an upscale neighbourhood with great outdoor amenities and modern conveniences. SouthPark Mall is likely to be one of the neighbourhood's most prominent attractions thanks to the presence of designer retailers in the mall.

Useful links

• Top neighbourhoods in Charlotte

Lifestyle in Charlotte 

Whether new arrivals are big sports fans, foodies, or arts and culture lovers, Charlotte has something for everybody. Thanks to the city's central location, it's also reasonably easy to be at the beach or the mountains in under three hours.

With seven professional sports teams calling Charlotte home, sports lovers can enjoy games year-round. Newcomers can catch the Carolina Panthers football team at the Bank of America Stadium, while basketball fans can visit the Spectrum Centre to watch the Charlotte Hornets. Baseball, hockey, golf, and soccer fans are also catered for, while petrolheads will relish watching NASCAR races at the Charlotte Speedway Motor.  

Gourmands and beer connoisseurs will enjoy Charlotte's budding food scene. The city has a diverse food scene that represents its unique population makeup, with everything from North Carolina barbecue and Asian food to microbrews on offer. There are also plenty of food and wine festivals throughout the year.  

Breweries are a quintessential part of Charlotte's culture, with more than 40 scattered across the city. Craft beer lovers can spend their weekends on brewery tours and tastings. As a college city, the nightlife in Charlotte is electric and fun, with many bars and clubs available to suit all budgets.  

The city's world-class performance arts venues often host Broadway and local theatre performances. Visual art enthusiasts can marvel at the art pieces at one of Charlotte's many art galleries or public art tours. The Charlotte Symphony is a fantastic place for classical musical lovers to enjoy phenomenal performances, while the Charlotte Ballet also stages several shows annually.

Fitness enthusiasts can also easily keep fit at one of Charlotte's 14 expansive parks. The nearby Ramsey Creek Park and Crowders Mountain State Park have extensive hiking trails for those looking for more challenging trails.