DC to Missouri Moving Guide
Updated June 20, 2025

Planning a 931 mile interstate move from DC to Missouri? This moving guide will help you compare living in DC vs Missouri across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs affordable housing), food & health (like Half-smoke vs St. Louis-style pizza), real estate & housing (federal and victorian vs colonial and craftsman), 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 wings, but get your taste buds ready for St. Louis-style pizza & St. Louis-style ribs
- Missouri housing costs are 61% less expensive than they are in DC
- Rent in Missouri is 44.38% more affordable than in DC
- Moving from DC to Missouri will cost on average between $1,500 - $6,000
- Our top recommended DC to Missouri movers is Sunrise Moving and Packing, LLC
Top DC to Missouri Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best DC to Missouri movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Sunrise Moving and Packing, LLC
Best moving company overall for DC to Missouri

Bookstore Movers

Mic's Moving
DC to Missouri Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from DC to Missouri
- High cost of living
- Heavy traffic
- Limited parking
- Intense political atmosphere
- Affordable housing
- Easier commutes
- Ample parking spaces
- Laid-back lifestyle
- Less cultural variety
- Fewer historical sites
- Limited public transportation
- Quieter evenings
- Cultural diversity
- Proximity to governmental landmarks
- Extensive public transit
- Vibrant nightlife
Pros of moving from DC to Missouri
- Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to affordable housing
- Look forward to moving away from heavy traffic and moving to Missouri with easier commutes
- Swap the limited parking of DC for ample parking spaces in Missouri
- Get ready for a laid-back lifestyle in Missouri
Cons of moving from DC to Missouri
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from cultural diversity in DC to live with less cultural variety in Missouri
- You'll lose out on the pro of proximity to governmental landmarks and have to settle for the con of fewer historical sites
- Time to bid farewell to extensive public transit and get used to limited public transportation in Missouri
- Swap vibrant nightlife for quieter evenings
DC vs. Missouri: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | DC | Missouri |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Half-smoke | St. Louis-style pizza |
Most popular meat dish | Mumbo sauce wings | St. Louis-style ribs |
Most popular street food item | Food trucks various cuisine | Toasted ravioli |
Most popular vegan food | Vegetable forward bowls | BBQ jackfruit sandwich |
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 DC to Missouri, you will be trading the iconic Half-smoke of DC for the equally delicious St. Louis-style pizza of Missouri. And while the locals in DC rave about their flavorful Mumbo sauce wings and sumptuous food truck various cuisine, Missouri residents know they have tasty St. Louis-style ribs and toasted ravioli to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the vegetable-forward bowls they've grown to love, they can get ready for the BBQ jackfruit sandwich of Missouri. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic DC eateries like Ben's Chili Bowl, Le Diplomate, and Zaytinya. After the boxes are unpacked in Missouri, don't wait too long before making your way to Missouri's acclaimed eateries like Pappy's Smokehouse, Ted Drewes Frozen Custard, and Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que.
When comparing lifestyles, Missouri shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than DC. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Missouri compared to what you are used to in DC. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Missouri.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between DC and Missouri
Comparison | DC | Missouri |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Federal and Victorian | Colonial and Craftsman |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Proximity to Metro & historic charm | Spacious yards & family-friendly neighborhoods |
- The Federal and Victorian architecture that DC is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Craftsman architecture typical of Missouri.
- Compared to DC's real estate listings that commonly reference proximity to metro and historic charm, Missouri real estate listings often highlight features like spacious yards and family-friendly neighborhoods.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away. Missouri is less walkable than DC.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike. Missouri is less bike-friendly than DC.
- Missouri has less of an urban feel than DC.
- Missouri housing costs are 61% less expensive than they are in DC, with a median home price of $243,216 compared to DCβs $619,320.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Missouri have increased by 49% compared to an 8% increase in DC.
- Rent in Missouri is 44.38% more affordable than in DC.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between DC and Missouri
Comparison | DC | Missouri |
---|---|---|
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 | Storms, Floods | Tornadoes, Floods |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 87Β°F / 71Β°F | 89Β°F / 68Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 47Β°F / 29Β°F | 40Β°F / 20Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 40" | 42" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 15.4" | 18" |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from DC to Missouri. Missouri gets 6% more sunshine days than DC.
- Missouri has higher humidity and a higher average UV index compared to DC.
- Say goodbye to the possible storms and floods in DC, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and floods in Missouri.
- The average summer high temperature in Missouri is 2 degrees warmer than in DC.
- The average winter lows are 9 degrees colder than they are in DC.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Missouri; Missouri receives 2 more inches of rain compared to DC.
Financial & Community Snapshot: DC and Missouri
Comparison | DC | Missouri |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $101,027 | $64,811 |
Cost of Living Index | 140.1 | 91.8 |
State Income Tax | 6.5% | 5.4% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.85% | 0.97% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.0% | 8.25% |
Top 3 Industries | Government, Education, Healthcare | Manufacturing, Retail, Agriculture |
Affluence | High | Moderate |
Poverty | Low | Moderate |
Homelessness | High | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Missouri tend to earn about 36% less than in DC
- The COLI in Missouri will be 34% lower than what you are used to living in DC
- The state income tax in MO is 5.4% compared to 6.5% in DC
- The affluence in Missouri is moderate compared to high in DC
- The poverty level is moderate in Missouri compared to low in DC
- In terms of homelessness, it is high in DC and low in Missouri
Political and Religious Climate in DC vs. Missouri
Comparison | DC | Missouri |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Significantly Democratic | Moderately Republican |
Local Politics | Liberal policies | Conservative leanings |
Religion | Less religiously affiliated | Higher religious affiliation |
- DC tends to lean significantly Democratic in its political climate
- Missouri, on the other hand, is often described as moderately Republican
- Missouri's religious environment can be described as having a higher religious affiliation
- DC's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as less religiously affiliated
Education Guide When Moving from DC to Missouri
Comparison | DC | Missouri |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | Georgetown University George Washington University American University | University of Missouri Washington University in St. Louis Missouri State University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Mann Elementary Lafayette Elementary Janney Elementary | Conway Elementary Wild Horse Elementary John Weldon Elementary |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Deal Middle School Hardy Middle School Alice Deal Junior High | Pembroke Hill Middle School Ladue Middle School Crestview Middle School |
Top 3 High Schools | School Without Walls Benjamin Banneker Academic High School Ellington School of the Arts | Clayton High School Ladue Horton Watkins High School Marquette High School |
Top 3 private high schools | St. Albans School National Cathedral School Georgetown Preparatory School | Pembroke Hill School John Burroughs School Mary Institute and St. Louis Country Day School |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Sidwell Friends School Maret School St. Anselm's Abbey School | The Pembroke Hill School The Barstow School Thomas Jefferson School |
Top 3 School Districts | DC Public Schools | Clayton School District Ladue School District Park Hill School District |
How Much Do DC to Missouri Movers Cost?
Moving 931 miles from DC to Missouri will typically cost between $2,500 and $6,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,500 - $6,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-7.5 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Sunrise Moving and Packing, LLC
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,730 | 300 ft3 | $5.77 |
1 Bedroom | $2,573 | 450 ft3 | $5.72 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,251 | 750 ft3 | $5.67 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,179 | 1100 ft3 | $5.62 |
4 Bedrooms | $8,908 | 1600 ft3 | $5.57 |
5+ Bedrooms | $9,932 | 1800 ft3 | $5.52 |