DC to Louisiana Moving Guide
Updated June 21, 2025

Planning a 1,165 mile interstate move from DC to Louisiana? This moving guide will help you compare living in DC vs Louisiana across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs lower housing costs), food & health (like Half-smoke vs Gumbo), real estate & housing (federal and victorian vs creole and 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 on chicken wings, but get your taste buds ready for Gumbo & Jambalaya
- Louisiana housing costs are 68% less expensive than they are in DC
- Rent in Louisiana is 45.15% more affordable than in DC
- Moving from DC to Louisiana will cost on average between $2,000 - $6,500
- Our top recommended DC to Louisiana movers is Bookstore Movers
DC to Louisiana Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from DC to Louisiana
- High cost of living
- Traffic congestion
- Cold winters
- Political tension
- Lower housing costs
- Less traffic
- Mild winters
- Relaxed pace of life
- Fewer cultural venues
- Limited transit options
- Fewer museums
- Less variety in cuisine
- Rich cultural scene
- Public transportation
- Proximity to museums
- Diverse dining options
Pros of moving from DC to Louisiana
- Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to lower housing costs
- Look forward to moving away from traffic congestion and moving to Louisiana with less traffic
- Swap the cold winters of DC for mild winters in Louisiana
- Get ready for a relaxed pace of life in Louisiana
Cons of moving from DC to Louisiana
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the rich cultural scene in DC to live with fewer cultural venues in Louisiana
- You'll lose out on the pro of public transportation and have to settle for the con of limited transit options
- Time to bid farewell to proximity to museums and get used to fewer museums in Louisiana
- Swap diverse dining options for less variety in cuisine
DC vs. Louisiana: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | DC | Louisiana |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Half-smoke | Gumbo |
Most popular meat dish | Mumbo sauce on chicken wings | Jambalaya |
Most popular street food item | Food Trucks Cuisine | Po'boy Sandwiches |
Most popular vegan food | Chickpea Curry | Okra Gumbo |
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 Louisiana, you will be trading the iconic Half-smoke of DC for the equally delicious Gumbo of Louisiana. And while the locals in DC rave about their flavorful Mumbo sauce on chicken wings and sumptuous Food Trucks Cuisine, Louisiana residents know they have tasty Jambalaya and Po'boy Sandwiches to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Chickpea Curry 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 DC eateries like Ben's Chili Bowl, Rosa's Thai Cafe, and Zaytinya. 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, Willie Mae's Scotch House, and Acme Oyster House.
When comparing lifestyles, Louisiana shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than DC. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Louisiana compared to what you are used to in DC. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Louisiana.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between DC and Louisiana
Comparison | DC | Louisiana |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Federal and Victorian | Creole and Colonial |
Walkability | šššššššššš | šššššššššš |
Bikeability | š²š²š²š²š²š²š²š²š²š² | š²š²š²š²š²š²š²š²š²š² |
Urban Lifestyle | šļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļø | šļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļøšļø |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Historic Details, Rooftop Decks | Spacious Yards, Waterfront Views |
- The Federal and Victorian architecture that DC is known for will be replaced with the Creole and Colonial architecture typical of Louisiana.
- Compared to DC's real estate listings that commonly reference historic details and rooftop decks, Louisiana real estate listings often highlight features like spacious yards and waterfront views.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away. Louisiana is less walkable than DC.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike. Louisiana is less bike-friendly than DC.
- Louisiana has less of an urban feel than DC.
- Louisiana housing costs are 68% less expensive than they are in DC, with a median home price of $199,091 compared to DCās $619,320.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Louisiana have increased by 13% compared to an 8% increase in DC.
- Rent in Louisiana is 45.15% more affordable than in DC.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between DC and Louisiana
Comparison | DC | Louisiana |
---|---|---|
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 | Snowstorms, Hurricanes | Hurricanes, Floods |
Air Quality | Good to Moderate | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (°F) | 87°F / 67°F | 91°F / 73°F |
Average Winter High/Low (°F) | 47°F / 28°F | 62°F / 43°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 40 | 60 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 15.4 | 0.2 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from DC to Louisiana. Louisiana gets 6% more sunshine days than DC.
- Louisiana has higher humidity and a higher average UV index compared to DC.
- Say goodbye to the possible snowstorms and hurricanes in DC, but be on the lookout for potential hurricanes and floods in Louisiana.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Louisiana is 4 degrees warmer than in DC.
- The average winter lows are 15 degrees warmer than they are in DC.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Louisiana. Louisiana receives 20 more inches of rain compared to DC.
Financial & Community Snapshot: DC and Louisiana
Comparison | DC | Louisiana |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $101,027 | $55,416 |
Cost of Living Index | 140.1 | 96 |
State Income Tax | 6.5% | 6% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.55% | 0.53% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6% | 9.45% |
Top 3 Industries | Government, Finance, Education | Oil & Gas, Agriculture, Tourism |
Affluence | High | Moderate |
Poverty | Low | High |
Homelessness | Moderate | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Louisiana tend to earn about 45% less than in DC
- The COLI in Louisiana will be 31% lower than what you are used to living in DC
- The state income tax in LA is 6% compared to 6.5% in DC
- The affluence in Louisiana is moderate compared to high in DC
- The poverty level is high in Louisiana compared to low in DC
- In terms of homelessness, it is moderate in DC and low in Louisiana
Political and Religious Climate in DC vs. Louisiana
Comparison | DC | Louisiana |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Heavily Democratic | Primarily Republican |
Local Politics | Progressive Policies | Conservative Policies |
Religion | Diverse, with no single dominant religion | Primarily Christian, with a significant Catholic population |
- DC tends to lean heavily Democratic in its political climate
- Louisiana, on the other hand, is often described as primarily Republican
- Louisiana's religious environment can be described as primarily Christian with a significant Catholic population
- DC's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as diverse with no single dominant religion
Education Guide When Moving from DC to Louisiana
Comparison | DC | Louisiana |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Maryland George Washington University Howard University | Louisiana State University Tulane University University of Louisiana at Lafayette |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Janney Elementary Mann Elementary Eaton Elementary | South Highlands Elementary Magnet Fairfield Magnet A.C. Steere Elementary |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Deal Middle School Hardy Middle School Eliot-Hine Middle School | Caddo Parish Middle Magnet Youngsville Middle School Milton Elementary/Middle School |
Top 3 High Schools | School Without Walls High School Benjamin Banneker Academic High School McKinley Technology High School | Haynes Academy for Advanced Studies Baton Rouge Magnet High School Patrick F. Taylor Science & Technology Academy |
Top 3 private high schools | Sidwell Friends School Georgetown Day School St. Albans School | Isidore Newman School Episcopal High School Metairie Park Country Day School |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Maret School National Cathedral School Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School | University Laboratory School Dunham School Episcopal School of Baton Rouge |
Top 3 School Districts | District of Columbia Public Schools | Zachary Community School District Central Community School System Ascension Parish School Board |
How Much Do DC to Louisiana Movers Cost?
Moving 1,165 miles from DC to Louisiana 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: 2-2 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Mic's Moving
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,863 | 300 ft3 | $6.21 |
1 Bedroom | $2,772 | 450 ft3 | $6.16 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,582 | 750 ft3 | $6.11 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,666 | 1100 ft3 | $6.06 |
4 Bedrooms | $9,616 | 1600 ft3 | $6.01 |
5+ Bedrooms | $10,728 | 1800 ft3 | $5.96 |
Top DC to Louisiana Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best DC to Louisiana movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.