Alaska to Washington Moving Guide
Updated June 17, 2025

Planning a 1,681 mile interstate move from Alaska to Washington? This moving guide will help you compare living in Alaska vs Washington across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like long, harsh winters vs moderate climate), food & health (like King Crab vs Salmon), real estate & housing (cabin and ranch vs contemporary and craftsman), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Alaska), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to King Crab and Reindeer Sausage, but get your taste buds ready for Salmon & Teriyaki
- Washington housing costs are 67% more expensive than they are in Alaska
- Rent in Washington is 13.18% more expensive than in Alaska
- Our top recommended Alaska to Washington movers is Seattle Moves & More
Alaska to Washington Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Alaska to Washington
- Long, harsh winters
- Isolation
- Limited dining options
- Higher living costs
- Sparse amenities
- Moderate climate
- Vibrant city life
- Diverse cuisine
- More job opportunities
- Ample recreational facilities
- Less untouched nature
- More urban wildlife
- Less cultural novelty
- Higher traffic congestion
- More regulated activities
- Scenic wilderness
- Abundant wildlife
- Unique culture
- Low population density
- Adventure activities
Pros of moving from Alaska to Washington
- Say goodbye to long, harsh winters and hello to a moderate climate
- Look forward to moving away from isolation and moving to Washington with vibrant city life
- Swap the limited dining options of Alaska for diverse cuisine in Washington
- Get ready for more job opportunities in Washington
Cons of moving from Alaska to Washington
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the scenic wilderness in Alaska to live with less untouched nature in Washington
- You'll lose out on the pro of abundant wildlife and have to settle for the con of more urban wildlife
- Time to bid farewell to unique culture and get used to less cultural novelty in Washington
- Swap low population density for higher traffic congestion
Alaska vs. Washington: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Alaska | Washington |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | King Crab | Salmon |
Most popular meat dish | Reindeer Sausage | Teriyaki |
Most popular street food item | Akutaq | Taco Trucks |
Most popular vegan food | Seaweed | Phα» Chay |
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 Alaska to Washington, you will be trading the iconic King Crab of Alaska for the equally delicious Salmon of Washington. And while the locals in Alaska rave about their flavorful Reindeer Sausage and sumptuous Akutaq, Washington residents know they have tasty Teriyaki and Taco Trucks to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Seaweed they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Phα» Chay of Washington. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Alaska eateries like Simon & Seafort's Saloon and Grill, 49th State Brewing Co, and Glacier Brewhouse. After the boxes are unpacked in Washington, don't wait too long before making your way to Washington's acclaimed eateries like Canlis, Pike Place Chowder, and Rain Shadow Meats.
When comparing lifestyles, Washington shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Alaska. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Washington compared to what you are used to in Alaska. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Washington.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Alaska and Washington
Comparison | Alaska | Washington |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Cabin and Ranch | Contemporary and Craftsman |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Views, Privacy | Eco-friendly, Tech-ready |
- The Cabin and Ranch architecture that Alaska is known for will be replaced with the Contemporary and Craftsman architecture typical of Washington.
- Compared to Alaska's real estate listings that commonly reference views and privacy, Washington real estate listings often highlight features like eco-friendly and tech-ready amenities.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Washington is more walkable than Alaska.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Washington is more bike-friendly than Alaska.
- Washington has more of an urban feel than Alaska.
- Washington housing costs are 67% more expensive than they are in Alaska, with a median home price of $591,148 compared to Alaskaβs $354,563.
- Over the prior 9 years, home prices in Washington have increased by 116% compared to a 34% increase in Alaska.
- Rent in Washington is 13.18% more expensive than in Alaska.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Alaska and Washington
Comparison | Alaska | Washington |
---|---|---|
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 | Snowstorms, Earthquakes | Earthquakes, Volcanoes, Landslides |
Air Quality | Good | Variable |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 60-80Β°F / 40-55Β°F | 75-85Β°F / 50-60Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 0-30Β°F / -20-20Β°F | 45-55Β°F / 35-45Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 22" | 38" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 75" | 20" |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Alaska to Washington. Washington gets 1% more sunshine days than Alaska.
- Washington has higher humidity and a similar average UV index compared to Alaska.
- Say goodbye to the possible snowstorms and earthquakes in Alaska, but be on the lookout for potential earthquakes, volcanoes, and landslides in Washington.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Washington is 15 degrees warmer than in Alaska.
- The average winter lows are 55 degrees warmer than they are in Alaska.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Washington. Washington receives 16 more inches of rain compared to Alaska.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Alaska and Washington
Comparison | Alaska | Washington |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $88,121 | $91,306 |
Cost of Living Index | 132.6 | 104.1 |
State Income Tax | 0% | 0% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.19% | 0.93% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 1.76% | 9.17% |
Top 3 Industries | Oil, Fishing, Tourism | Tech, Agriculture, Aerospace |
Affluence | Comfortable | Prosperous |
Poverty | Moderate | Low |
Homelessness | Visible | Significant |
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Political and Religious Climate in Alaska vs. Washington
Comparison | Alaska | Washington |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Conservative | Lean Liberal |
Local Politics | Libertarian influences | Progressive influences |
Religion | Christianity predominant | More religious diversity |
- Alaska tends to lean Conservative in its political climate
- Washington, on the other hand, is often described as leaning Liberal
- Washington's religious environment can be described as having more religious diversity
- Alaska's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as predominantly Christianity
Education Guide When Moving from Alaska to Washington
Comparison | Alaska | Washington |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Alaska Anchorage University of Alaska Fairbanks Alaska Pacific University | University of Washington Washington State University Western Washington University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Aurora Elementary (Anchorage) Northern Lights ABC School (Anchorage) Rogers Park Elementary (Anchorage) | Cascade Ridge Elementary (Issaquah) Challenger Elementary (Issaquah) Discovery Elementary (Gig Harbor) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Romig Middle School (Anchorage) Mears Middle School (Anchorage) Mirror Lake Middle School (Chugiak) | International School (Bellevue) Environmental & Adventure School (Kirkland) Odle Middle School (Bellevue) |
Top 3 High Schools | West High School (Anchorage) South Anchorage High School (Anchorage) Dimond High School (Anchorage) | International School (Bellevue) Newport High School (Bellevue) Tesla STEM High School (Redmond) |
Top 3 private high schools | Grace Christian School (Anchorage) Holy Rosary Academy (Anchorage) Anchorage Christian Schools (Anchorage) | Lakeside School (Seattle) The Overlake School (Redmond) Seattle Preparatory School (Seattle) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Anchorage Christian Schools (Anchorage) Lumen Christi High School (Anchorage) Birchwood Christian School (Chugiak) | Charles Wright Academy (Tacoma) The Bear Creek School (Redmond) Eastside Preparatory School (Kirkland) |
Top 3 School Districts | Anchorage School District Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District Kenai Peninsula Borough School District | Lake Washington School District Bellevue School District Mercer Island School District |
Top Alaska to Washington Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Alaska to Washington movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.
Seattle Moves & More
Best moving company overall for Alaska to Washington