DC to Arizona Moving Guide
Updated June 23, 2025

Planning a 2,191 mile interstate move from DC to Arizona? This moving guide will help you compare living in DC vs Arizona across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs lower living costs), food & health (like Half-Smoke vs Sonoran Hot Dog), real estate & housing (victorian, federal vs pueblo revival, spanish colonial), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in DC), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Half-Smoke and Mumbo Sauce Chicken Wings, but get your taste buds ready for Sonoran Hot Dog & Carne Asada
- Arizona housing costs are 30% less expensive than those in DC
- Rent in Arizona is 20.25% more affordable than in DC
- Moving from DC to Arizona will cost on average between $2,500 - $9,000
- Our top recommended DC to Arizona movers is Sterling Interstate LLC
DC to Arizona Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from DC to Arizona
- High cost of living
- Heavy traffic congestion
- Harsh winters
- Dense urban sprawl
- Lower living costs
- Less traffic in suburbs
- Mild winter climate
- Spacious living areas
- Fewer cultural sites
- Limited cuisine variety
- Fewer historical sites
- Less public transit
- Cultural museums
- Diverse dining options
- Famous landmarks
- Public transportation
Pros of moving from DC to Arizona
- Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to lower living costs
- Look forward to moving away from heavy traffic congestion and moving to Arizona with less traffic in the suburbs
- Swap the harsh winters of DC for the mild winter climate in Arizona
- Get ready for spacious living areas in Arizona
Cons of moving from DC to Arizona
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from cultural museums in DC to live with fewer cultural sites in Arizona
- You'll lose out on the pro of diverse dining options and have to settle for the con of limited cuisine variety
- Time to bid farewell to famous landmarks and get used to fewer historical sites in Arizona
- Swap public transportation for less public transit
DC vs. Arizona: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | DC | Arizona |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Half-Smoke | Sonoran Hot Dog |
Most popular meat dish | Mumbo Sauce Chicken Wings | Carne Asada |
Most popular street food item | Falafel | Tacos |
Most popular vegan food | Vegetable Curry | Vegan Tacos |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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Fitness/Health Conscientiousness | šŖšŖšŖšŖšŖšŖšŖšŖšŖšŖ | šŖšŖšŖšŖšŖšŖšŖšŖšŖšŖ |
Abundance of Food Trucks | šššššššššš | šššššššššš |
Foodie Scene | š“š“š“š“š“š“š“š“š“š“ | š“š“š“š“š“š“š“š“š“š“ |
Vegan Friendly | š±š±š±š±š±š±š±š±š±š± | š±š±š±š±š±š±š±š±š±š± |
If you're moving from DC to Arizona, you will be trading the iconic Half-Smoke of DC for the equally delicious Sonoran Hot Dog of Arizona. And while the locals in DC rave about their flavorful Mumbo Sauce Chicken Wings and sumptuous Falafel, Arizona residents know they have tasty Carne Asada and Tacos to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Vegetable Curry they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Vegan Tacos of Arizona. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic DC eateries like Ben's Chili Bowl, Rosa's Thai Cafe, and Le Diplomate. After the boxes are unpacked in Arizona, don't wait too long before making your way to Arizona's acclaimed eateries like El Charro Cafe, Pizzicletta, and Bacanora.
When comparing lifestyles, Arizona shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than DC. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Arizona compared to what you are used to in DC. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Arizona.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between DC and Arizona
Comparison | DC | Arizona |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Victorian, Federal | Pueblo Revival, Spanish Colonial |
Walkability | šššššššššš | šššššššššš |
Bikeability | š²š²š²š²š²š²š²š²š²š² | š²š²š²š²š²š²š²š²š²š² |
Urban Lifestyle | šļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļø | šļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļø |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Proximity to metro, Historic charm | Outdoor living spaces, Views |
- The Victorian and Federal architecture that DC is known for will be replaced with the Pueblo Revival and Spanish Colonial architecture typical of Arizona.
- Compared to DC's real estate listings that commonly reference proximity to metro and historic charm, Arizona real estate listings often highlight features like outdoor living spaces and views.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away. Arizona is less walkable than DC.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike. Arizona is less bike-friendly than DC.
- Arizona has less of an urban feel than DC.
- Arizona housing costs are 30% less expensive than those in DC, with a median home price of $430,827 compared to DCās $619,320.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Arizona have increased by 63% compared to an 8% increase in DC.
- Rent in Arizona is 20.25% more affordable than in DC.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between DC and Arizona
Comparison | DC | Arizona |
---|---|---|
Days of Sunshine per Year | āļøāļøāļøāļøāļø | āļøāļøāļøāļøāļø |
Avg. Annual Humidity | š¦š¦š¦š¦š¦š¦š¦š¦š¦š¦ | š¦š¦š¦š¦š¦š¦š¦š¦š¦š¦ |
Avg. UV Index | š¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļø | š¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļøš¶ļø |
Natural Disasters | Hurricanes, Floods | Wildfires, Dust Storms |
Air Quality | Moderate | Varies (Urban vs. Rural) |
Average Summer High/Low (°F) | 88°F / 71°F | 104°F / 81°F |
Average Winter High/Low (°F) | 47°F / 29°F | 67°F / 46°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 40.8 | 13.6 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 15.4 | 0.3 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from DC to Arizona. Arizona gets 47% more sunshine days than DC.
- Arizona has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to DC.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and floods in DC, 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 DC.
- The average winter lows are 17 degrees warmer than they are in DC.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Arizona. Arizona receives 27.2 fewer inches of rain compared to DC.
Financial & Community Snapshot: DC and Arizona
Comparison | DC | Arizona |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $101,027 | $74,568 |
Cost of Living Index | 140.1 | 101.2 |
State Income Tax | 6.5% | 4.5% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.55% | 0.62% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.0% | 8.4% |
Top 3 Industries | Government, Education, Business | Tourism, Real Estate, Technology |
Affluence | High | Moderate |
Poverty | Moderate | High |
Homelessness | Prevalent | Considerable |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Arizona tend to earn about 26% less than those in DC
- The COLI in Arizona will be 28% lower than what you are used to living in DC
- The state income tax in AZ is 4.5% compared to 6.5% in DC
- The affluence in Arizona is moderate compared to high in DC
- The poverty level is high in Arizona compared to moderate in DC
- In terms of homelessness, it is prevalent in DC and considerable in Arizona
Political and Religious Climate in DC vs. Arizona
Comparison | DC | Arizona |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Heavily Democratic | Moderately Republican, but moving towards a political center in recent years |
Local Politics | DC Council - Liberal policies | <a href="https://www.azleg.gov/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Arizona Legislature</a> - Historically conservative, but showing increasing bipartisan tendencies |
Religion | Diverse; significant Catholic and Protestant communities | Primarily Christian, with a large population of Catholics and Evangelicals |
- DC tends to lean heavily Democratic in its political climate
- Arizona, on the other hand, is often described as moderately Republican but moving towards a political center in recent years
- Arizona's religious environment can be described as primarily Christian with a large population of Catholics and Evangelicals
- DC's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as diverse with significant Catholic and Protestant communities
Education Guide When Moving from DC to Arizona
Comparison | DC | Arizona |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | 1. Georgetown University 2. George Washington University 3. American University | 1. Arizona State University 2. University of Arizona 3. Northern Arizona University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | 1. Mann Elementary 2. Janney Elementary 3. Eaton Elementary | 1. BASIS Scottsdale Primary 2. Knox Gifted Academy 3. Archway Classical Academy |
Top 3 Middle Schools | 1. Deal Middle School 2. Hardy Middle School 3. Eliot-Hine Middle School | 1. BASIS Scottsdale 2. BASIS Chandler 3. Great Hearts Academies |
Top 3 High Schools | 1. School Without Walls High School 2. Benjamin Banneker Academic High School 3. McKinley Technology High School | 1. BASIS Scottsdale 2. BASIS Chandler 3. BASIS Peoria |
Top 3 private high schools | 1. Sidwell Friends School 2. Georgetown Preparatory School 3. St. Albans School | 1. Brophy College Preparatory 2. Xavier College Preparatory 3. The Gregory School |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | 1. Georgetown Day School 2. Sidwell Friends School 3. Maret School | 1. Rancho Solano Preparatory School 2. Phoenix Country Day School 3. The Gregory School |
Top 3 School Districts | 1. District of Columbia Public Schools 2. N/A 3. N/A | 1. Scottsdale Unified School District 2. Chandler Unified School District 3. Gilbert Public Schools |
How Much Do DC to Arizona Movers Cost?
Moving 2,191 miles from DC to Arizona will typically cost between $3,500 and $9,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,500 - $9,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-7 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Sterling Interstate LLC
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,445 | 300 ft3 | $8.15 |
1 Bedroom | $3,644 | 450 ft3 | $8.10 |
2 Bedrooms | $6,037 | 750 ft3 | $8.05 |
3 Bedrooms | $8,799 | 1100 ft3 | $8.00 |
4 Bedrooms | $12,718 | 1600 ft3 | $7.95 |
5+ Bedrooms | $14,218 | 1800 ft3 | $7.90 |
Top DC to Arizona Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best DC to Arizona movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.