Florida to Washington Moving Guide
Updated June 4, 2025

Planning a 3,062 mile interstate move from Florida to Washington? This moving guide will help you compare living in Florida vs Washington across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like hot, humid summers vs cool, mild climate), food & health (like Key Lime Pie vs Salmon), real estate & housing (spanish revival, coastal vs craftsman, northwest contemporary), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Washington), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Key Lime Pie and Cuban Sandwich, but get your taste buds ready for Salmon & Applewood Smoked Salmon
- Washington housing costs are 49% more expensive than they are in Florida
- Rent in Washington is 11.38% more affordable than in Florida
- Moving from Florida to Washington will cost on average between $3,000 - $10,500
- Our top recommended Florida to Washington movers is Sebastian Moving and More
Florida to Washington Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Florida to Washington
- Hot, humid summers
- Hurricane risk
- Flat landscape
- Less public transport
- Tourist congestion
- Cool, mild climate
- Low natural disaster risk
- Mountainous views
- Extensive public transit
- Quieter surroundings
- Cool, rainy winters
- Higher state taxes
- Frequent rain
- Different cultural scene
- Less diverse wildlife
- Beaches year-round
- No state income tax
- Sunny days
- Familiar cultural vibe
- Abundant marine life
Pros of moving from Florida to Washington
- Say goodbye to hot, humid summers and hello to a cool, mild climate
- Look forward to moving away from hurricane risk and moving to Washington with low natural disaster risk
- Swap the flat landscape of Florida for mountainous views in Washington
- Get ready for extensive public transit in Washington
Cons of moving from Florida to Washington
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from beaches year-round in Florida to live with cool, rainy winters in Washington
- You'll lose out on the pro of no state income tax and have to settle for the con of higher state taxes
- Time to bid farewell to sunny days and get used to frequent rain in Washington
- Swap the familiar cultural vibe for a different cultural scene
Florida vs. Washington: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Florida | Washington |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Key Lime Pie | Salmon |
Most popular meat dish | Cuban Sandwich | Applewood Smoked Salmon |
Most popular street food item | Stone Crab | Teriyaki |
Most popular vegan food | Jackfruit Tacos | Quinoa Salad |
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 Washington, you will be trading the iconic Key Lime Pie of Florida for the equally delicious Salmon of Washington. And while the locals in Florida rave about their flavorful Cuban Sandwich and sumptuous Stone Crab, Washington residents know they have tasty Applewood Smoked Salmon and Teriyaki 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 Quinoa Salad of Washington. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Florida eateries like Joe's Stone Crab, Versailles Restaurant, and Bern's Steak House. After the boxes are unpacked in Washington, don't wait too long before making your way to Washington's acclaimed eateries like Canlis, Salumi, and The Herb Farm.
When comparing lifestyles, Washington shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Florida. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Washington, compared to what you are used to in Florida. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Washington.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Florida and Washington
Comparison | Florida | Washington |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Spanish Revival, Coastal | Craftsman, Northwest Contemporary |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Pool, Waterfront | Eco-friendly, Mountain view |
- The Spanish Revival and Coastal architecture that Florida is known for will be replaced with the Craftsman and Northwest Contemporary architecture typical of Washington.
- Compared to Florida's real estate listings that commonly reference pools and waterfronts, Washington real estate listings often highlight features like eco-friendliness and mountain views.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Washington is more walkable than Florida.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Washington is more bike-friendly than Florida.
- Washington has more of an urban feel than Florida.
- Washington housing costs are 49% more expensive than they are in Florida, with a median home price of $591,148 compared to Floridaβs $397,137.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Washington have increased by 49% compared to a 66% increase in Florida.
- Rent in Washington is 11.38% more affordable than in Florida.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Florida and Washington
Comparison | Florida | Washington |
---|---|---|
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 | Earthquakes, Volcanoes |
Air Quality | Good | Moderately Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 90Β°F / 70Β°F | 75Β°F / 55Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 70Β°F / 48Β°F | 47Β°F / 36Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 50 | 38 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 0 | 47 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Florida to Washington. Washington gets 36% fewer sunshine days than Florida.
- Washington has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Florida.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes in Florida, but be on the lookout for potential earthquakes and volcanoes in Washington.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Washington is 15 degrees colder than Florida.
- The average winter lows are 12 degrees colder than they are in Florida.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Washington. Washington receives 12 fewer inches of rain compared to Florida.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Florida and Washington
Comparison | Florida | Washington |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $69,303 | $91,306 |
Cost of Living Index | 97.8 | 104.1 |
State Income Tax | 0% | 0% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.83% | 0.93% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 7.05% | 9.17% |
Top 3 Industries | Tourism, Agriculture, Aerospace | Technology, Aerospace, Agriculture |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Moderate | Low |
Homelessness | Moderate | High |
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Political and Religious Climate in Florida vs. Washington
Comparison | Florida | Washington |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Conservative | Lean Liberal |
Local Politics | Mixed, varies regionally | Progressive, especially in urban areas |
Religion | Christian majority, diverse religious communities | Less religious overall, diverse beliefs |
- Florida tends to lean Conservative in its political climate
- Washington, on the other hand, is often described as lean Liberal
- Washington's religious environment can be described as less religious overall and featuring diverse beliefs
- Florida's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as a Christian majority and diverse religious communities
Education Guide When Moving from Florida to Washington
Comparison | Florida | Washington |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Florida Florida State University University of Central Florida | University of Washington Washington State University Western Washington University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Pine View School (Osprey) A.D. Henderson University School (Boca Raton) Archimedean Academy (Miami) | Cascade K-8 Community School (Shoreline) Challenge Elementary School (Everett) Bertschi School (Seattle) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Pine View School (Osprey) Archimedean Middle Conservatory (Miami) A.D. Henderson University School (Boca Raton) | International School (Bellevue) Washington Middle School (Seattle) Lakeside Middle School (Seattle) |
Top 3 High Schools | Pine View School (Osprey) Stanton College Preparatory School (Jacksonville) Design and Architecture Senior High School (Miami) | International School (Bellevue) Newport High School (Bellevue) Roosevelt High School (Seattle) |
Top 3 private high schools | Ransom Everglades School (Coconut Grove) Bolles School (Jacksonville) Berke Prep (Odessa) | Lakeside School (Seattle) The Overlake School (Redmond) Seattle Preparatory School (Seattle) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | American Heritage School (Plantation) North Broward Preparatory School (Coconut Creek) Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart (Miami) | The Bush School (Seattle) Annie Wright Schools (Tacoma) Eastside Preparatory School (Kirkland) |
Top 3 School Districts | St. Johns County School District Sarasota County Schools Okaloosa County School District | Bellevue School District Mercer Island School District Lake Washington School District |
How Much Do Florida to Washington Movers Cost?
Moving 3,062 miles from Florida to Washington will typically cost between $4,500 and $10,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $4,500 - $10,500
- 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 | $2,938 | 300 ft3 | $9.79 |
1 Bedroom | $4,385 | 450 ft3 | $9.74 |
2 Bedrooms | $7,271 | 750 ft3 | $9.69 |
3 Bedrooms | $10,609 | 1100 ft3 | $9.64 |
4 Bedrooms | $15,352 | 1600 ft3 | $9.59 |
5+ Bedrooms | $17,181 | 1800 ft3 | $9.54 |
Top Florida to Washington Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Florida to Washington movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

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