Florida to Iowa Moving Guide
Updated June 20, 2025

Planning a 1,387 mile interstate move from Florida to Iowa? This moving guide will help you compare living in Florida vs Iowa across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high humidity vs lower humidity), food & health (like Key Lime Pie vs Corn), real estate & housing (mediterranean, ranch vs craftsman, ranch), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Florida), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Key Lime Pie and Cuban Sandwich, but get your taste buds ready for Corn & Pork Tenderloin Sandwich
- Iowa housing costs are 46% less expensive than they are in Florida
- Rent in Iowa is 51.43% more affordable than in Florida
- Moving from Florida to Iowa will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,000
- Our top recommended Florida to Iowa movers is Sebastian Moving and More
Florida to Iowa Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Florida to Iowa
- High humidity
- Hurricane risk
- Expensive housing
- High traffic
- Heavy tourism
- Lower humidity
- Minimal natural disasters
- Affordable housing
- Less congestion
- Quieter lifestyle
- Cold winters
- Inland location
- Less diverse culture
- Seasonal activities
- Fewer urban options
- Warm winters
- Beach access
- Rich culture
- Year-round outdoor activities
- Big-city amenities
Pros of moving from Florida to Iowa
- Say goodbye to high humidity and hello to lower humidity
- Look forward to moving away from hurricane risk and moving to Iowa with minimal natural disasters
- Swap the expensive housing of Florida for affordable housing in Iowa
- Get ready for less congestion in Iowa
Cons of moving from Florida to Iowa
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from warm winters in Florida to live with cold winters in Iowa
- You'll lose out on the pro of beach access and have to settle for the con of an inland location
- Time to bid farewell to rich culture and get used to a less diverse culture in Iowa
- Swap year-round outdoor activities for seasonal activities
Florida vs. Iowa: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Florida | Iowa |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Key Lime Pie | Corn |
Most popular meat dish | Cuban Sandwich | Pork Tenderloin Sandwich |
Most popular street food item | Empanadas | Fried Snickers |
Most popular vegan food | Jackfruit Tacos | Veggie Corn Dogs |
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 Florida to Iowa, you will be trading the iconic Key Lime Pie of Florida for the equally delicious Corn of Iowa. And while the locals in Florida rave about their flavorful Cuban Sandwich and sumptuous Empanadas, Iowa residents know they have tasty Pork Tenderloin Sandwich and Fried Snickers to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Jackfruit Tacos they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Veggie Corn Dogs of Iowa. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Florida eateries like Versailles Restaurant, Joe's Stone Crab, and Bern's Steak House. After the boxes are unpacked in Iowa, don't wait too long before making your way to Iowa's acclaimed eateries like Zombie Burger, The Summit, and The Ronneburg Restaurant.
When comparing lifestyles, Iowa shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Florida. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Iowa compared to what you are used to in Florida. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Iowa.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Florida and Iowa
Comparison | Florida | Iowa |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Mediterranean, Ranch | Craftsman, Ranch |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Swimming pool, waterfront | Spacious backyard, energy efficiency |
- The Mediterranean and Ranch architecture that Florida is known for will be replaced with the Craftsman and Ranch architecture typical of Iowa.
- Compared to Florida's real estate listings that commonly reference swimming pools and waterfront, Iowa real estate listings often highlight features like spacious backyards and energy efficiency.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away. Iowa is less walkable than Florida.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike. Iowa is less bike-friendly than Florida.
- Iowa has less of an urban feel than Florida.
- Iowa housing costs are 46% less expensive than they are in Florida with a median home price of $214,151 compared to Floridaβs $397,137.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Iowa have increased by 36% compared to a 66% increase in Florida.
- Rent in Iowa is 51.43% more affordable than in Florida.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Florida and Iowa
Comparison | Florida | Iowa |
---|---|---|
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 | Hurricanes, Tropical Storms | Tornadoes, Blizzards |
Air Quality | Good | Variable |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 90Β°F / 75Β°F | 85Β°F / 63Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 70Β°F / 48Β°F | 31Β°F / 14Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 50" | 36" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 0" | 48" |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Florida to Iowa. Iowa gets 14% fewer sunshine days than Florida.
- Iowa has lower humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Florida.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and tropical storms in Florida, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and blizzards in Iowa.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Iowa is 5 degrees colder than in Florida.
- The average winter lows are 34 degrees colder than they are in Florida.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Iowa. Iowa receives 14 fewer inches of rain compared to Florida.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Florida and Iowa
Comparison | Florida | Iowa |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $69,303 | $69,588 |
Cost of Living Index | 97.8 | 95.9 |
State Income Tax | 0% | 4.4% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.83% | 1.53% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.8% | 6.94% |
Top 3 Industries | Tourism, Agriculture, Aerospace | Manufacturing, Agriculture, Healthcare |
Affluence | Moderate | Stable |
Poverty | Concerning | Manageable |
Homelessness | Widespread | Limited |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Iowa tend to earn about 0% more than in Florida
- The COLI in Iowa will be 2% lower than what you are used to living in Florida
- Bummer... By moving from FL to IA, you'll now have a state income tax of 4.4%
- The affluence in Iowa is stable compared to moderate in Florida
- The poverty level is manageable in Iowa compared to concerning in Florida
- In terms of homelessness, it is widespread in Florida and limited in Iowa
Political and Religious Climate in Florida vs. Iowa
Comparison | Florida | Iowa |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Mixed; leans slightly Republican | Swing state, with a current slight Republican lean |
Local Politics | Varies by region; urban areas more Democratic, rural areas more Republican | Rural areas lean Republican, urban centers like Des Moines lean Democratic |
Religion | Christian majority, with a significant number of non-religious individuals | Primarily Christian, including a significant Catholic and Protestant population |
- Florida tends to lean mixed and leans slightly Republican in its political climate
- Iowa, on the other hand, is often described as a swing state with a current slight Republican lean
- Iowa's religious environment can be described as primarily Christian, including a significant Catholic and Protestant population
- Florida's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as a Christian majority with a significant number of non-religious individuals
Education Guide When Moving from Florida to Iowa
Comparison | Florida | Iowa |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Florida Florida State University University of Central Florida | University of Iowa Iowa State University University of Northern Iowa |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Pine View School (Osprey) Somerset Academy Elementar (Miramar) Freedom Crossing Academy (St. Johns) | Waukee Elementary (Waukee) Brookview Elementary (West Des Moines) Orange Elementary (Waterloo) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Pine View School (Osprey) Archimedean Middle Conservatory (Miami) Doral Academy of Technology (Doral) | Ames Middle School (Ames) Northwest Junior High (Coralville) Bettendorf Middle School (Bettendorf) |
Top 3 High School Schools | Pine View School (Osprey) Stanton College Preparatory (Jacksonville) Design and Architecture Senior High (Miami) | Ames High School (Ames) West High School (Iowa City) Decorah High School (Decorah) |
Top 3 private high schools | Bolles School (Jacksonville) American Heritage (Plantation) Berkeley Preparatory School (Tampa) | Phillips Academy (Exeter) Scattergood Friends School (West Branch) Maharishi School (Fairfield) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | North Broward Preparatory School (Coconut Creek) Windermere Preparatory School (Windermere) American Heritage School (Plantation) | Scattergood Friends School (West Branch) Maharishi School (Fairfield) Rivermont Collegiate (Bettendorf) |
Top 3 School Districts | St. Johns County School District Sarasota County Schools Okaloosa County School District | West Des Moines Community Schools Ames Community School District Iowa City Community School District |
How Much Do Florida to Iowa Movers Cost?
Moving 1,387 miles from Florida to Iowa will typically cost between $3,000 and $7,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,000 - $7,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 3-10 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Veteran Moving Group
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,989 | 300 ft3 | $6.63 |
1 Bedroom | $2,961 | 450 ft3 | $6.58 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,897 | 750 ft3 | $6.53 |
3 Bedrooms | $7,127 | 1100 ft3 | $6.48 |
4 Bedrooms | $10,287 | 1600 ft3 | $6.43 |
5+ Bedrooms | $11,483 | 1800 ft3 | $6.38 |
Top Florida to Iowa Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Florida to Iowa movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Sebastian Moving and More
Best moving company overall for Florida to Iowa