California to Wyoming Moving Guide
Updated June 21, 2025

Planning a 1,191 mile interstate move from California to Wyoming? This moving guide will help you compare living in California vs Wyoming across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs lower cost of living), food & health (like Sushi vs Bison steaks), real estate & housing (modern, spanish vs ranch, mountain), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in California), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Sushi and Tri-tip BBQ, but get your taste buds ready for Bison steaks & Elk meatloaf
- Wyoming housing costs are 56% less expensive than they are in California
- Rent in Wyoming is 59.68% more affordable than in California
- Moving from California to Wyoming will cost on average between $2,000 - $6,500
- Our top recommended California to Wyoming movers is OCD Moving Services LLC
California to Wyoming Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from California to Wyoming
- High cost of living
- Traffic congestion
- Overcrowded cities
- Wildfires
- Lower cost of living
- Quieter roads
- Open spaces
- Lower fire risk
- Landlocked state
- Less cultural diversity
- Limited job opportunities
- Harsh winters
- Beautiful beaches
- Diverse culture
- Thriving job market
- Mild winters
Pros of moving from California to Wyoming
- Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to the lower cost of living
- Look forward to moving away from traffic congestion and moving to Wyoming with quieter roads
- Swap the overcrowded cities of California for the open spaces in Wyoming
- Get ready for the lower fire risk in Wyoming
Cons of moving from California to Wyoming
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the beautiful beaches in California to live in a landlocked state in Wyoming
- You'll lose out on the pro of diverse culture and have to settle for the con of less cultural diversity
- Time to bid farewell to the thriving job market and get used to the limited job opportunities in Wyoming
- Swap the mild winters for harsh winters
California vs. Wyoming: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | California | Wyoming |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Sushi | Bison steaks |
Most popular meat dish | Tri-tip BBQ | Elk meatloaf |
Most popular street food item | Fish tacos | Indian tacos |
Most popular vegan food | Acai bowls | Vegan chili |
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 California to Wyoming, you will be trading the iconic Sushi of California for the equally delicious Bison steaks of Wyoming. And while the locals in California rave about their flavorful Tri-tip BBQ and sumptuous Fish tacos, Wyoming residents know they have tasty Elk meatloaf and Indian tacos to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Acai bowls they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Vegan chili of Wyoming. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic California eateries like The Cheesecake Factory, In-N-Out Burger, and The French Laundry. After the boxes are unpacked in Wyoming, don't wait too long before making your way to Wyoming's acclaimed eateries like King's Saddle Inn, Cody Steakhouse, and Open Range at the Historic Sheridan Inn.
When comparing lifestyles, Wyoming shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than California. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Wyoming compared to what you are used to in California. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Wyoming.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between California and Wyoming
Comparison | California | Wyoming |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Modern, Spanish | Ranch, Mountain |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Ocean view, sustainability features | Spacious land, mountain views |
- The Modern and Spanish architecture that California is known for will be replaced with the Ranch and Mountain architecture typical of Wyoming.
- Compared to California's real estate listings that commonly reference ocean views and sustainability features, Wyoming real estate listings often highlight features like spacious land and mountain views.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away. Wyoming is less walkable than California.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike. Wyoming is less bike-friendly than California.
- Wyoming has less of an urban feel than California.
- Wyoming housing costs are 56% less expensive than they are in California, with a median home price of $340,933 compared to Californiaβs $783,666.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Wyoming have increased by 40% compared to a 42% increase in California.
- Rent in Wyoming is 59.68% more affordable than in California.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between California and Wyoming
Comparison | California | Wyoming |
---|---|---|
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 | Earthquakes, Wildfires | Blizzards, Tornadoes |
Air Quality | Variable, urban areas worse | Generally good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85/58 | 80/55 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 60/45 | 32/15 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 22 | 13 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 7 | 60 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from California to Wyoming. Wyoming gets 22% fewer sunshine days than California.
- Wyoming has lower humidity and a lower average UV index compared to California.
- Say goodbye to the possible earthquakes and wildfires in California, but be on the lookout for potential blizzards and tornadoes in Wyoming.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Wyoming is 5 degrees colder than in California.
- The average winter lows are 30 degrees colder than they are in California.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Wyoming. Wyoming receives 9 fewer inches of rain compared to California.
Financial & Community Snapshot: California and Wyoming
Comparison | California | Wyoming |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $91,551 | $70,042 |
Cost of Living Index | 136.4 | 98.75 |
State Income Tax | 13.3% | 0% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.73% | 0.61% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 8.82% | 5.36% |
Top 3 Industries | Technology, Entertainment, Agriculture | Mineral Extraction, Tourism, Agriculture |
Affluence | High | Moderate |
Poverty | Moderate | Low |
Homelessness | High | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Wyoming tend to earn about 23% less than those in California
- The COLI in Wyoming will be 28% lower than what you are used to living in California
- Hooray, moving to WY means you'll no longer have state income taxes
- The affluence in Wyoming is moderate compared to high in California
- The poverty level is low in Wyoming compared to moderate in California
- In terms of homelessness, it is high in California and low in Wyoming
Political and Religious Climate in California vs. Wyoming
Comparison | California | Wyoming |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Primarily Democratic | Primarily Republican |
Local Politics | Progressive policies on environment, health care | Conservative policies on resource management, taxation |
Religion | Diverse, with a significant number of people identifying as religiously unaffiliated | Christianity dominates, with a higher percentage of residents identifying as religious |
- California tends to lean primarily Democratic in its political climate
- Wyoming, on the other hand, is often described as primarily Republican
- Wyoming's religious environment can be described as dominated by Christianity, with a higher percentage of residents identifying as religious
- California's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as diverse, with a significant number of people identifying as religiously unaffiliated
Education Guide When Moving from California to Wyoming
Comparison | California | Wyoming |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of California Stanford University California State University | University of Wyoming Colorado State University University of Colorado Boulder |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Glenwood Elementary (San Rafael) Montecito Union (Santa Barbara) Old Orchard (Valencia) | Slade Elementary (Laramie) Meadowlark Elementary (Gillette) Alta Vista Elementary (Cheyenne) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Miller Creek Middle (San Rafael) Egan Junior High (Los Altos) Carmel Valley Middle (San Diego) | Laramie Junior High (Laramie) McCormick Junior High (Cheyenne) Cody Middle (Cody) |
Top 3 High Schools | Henry M. Gunn High (Palo Alto) Torrey Pines High (San Diego) Lynbrook High (San Jose) | Central High (Cheyenne) Jackson Hole High (Jackson) Laramie High School (Laramie) |
Top 3 private high schools | The Harker School (San Jose) Harvard-Westlake (Los Angeles) Phillips Academy (Andover) | Jackson Hole Community School (Jackson) Cheyenne Classical Academy (Cheyenne) St. Mary's Catholic School (Cheyenne) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Head-Royce School (Oakland) The College Preparatory School (Oakland) Crossroads School (Santa Monica) | Jackson Hole Classical Academy (Jackson) Cody Christian School (Cody) Trinity Lutheran School (Casper) |
Top 3 School Districts | San Marino Unified Palo Alto Unified La CaΓ±ada Unified | Teton County School District #1 Sheridan County School District #2 Albany County School District #1 |
How Much Do California to Wyoming Movers Cost?
Moving 1,191 miles from California to Wyoming will typically cost between $3,000 and $6,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,000 - $6,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-8 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: CC Relocation, Inc.
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,878 | 300 ft3 | $6.26 |
1 Bedroom | $2,794 | 450 ft3 | $6.21 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,619 | 750 ft3 | $6.16 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,720 | 1100 ft3 | $6.11 |
4 Bedrooms | $9,694 | 1600 ft3 | $6.06 |
5+ Bedrooms | $10,816 | 1800 ft3 | $6.01 |
Top California to Wyoming Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best California to Wyoming movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

OCD Moving Services LLC
Best moving company overall for California to Wyoming