Hawaii to DC Moving Guide
Updated June 20, 2025

Planning a interstate move from Hawaii to DC? This moving guide will help you compare living in Hawaii vs DC across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs broader job market), food & health (like Poke vs Half-smoke), real estate & housing (plantation, modern vs federal, victorian), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Hawaii), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Poke and Loco Moco, but get your taste buds ready for Half-smoke & Mumbo Sauce Wings
- DC housing costs are 28% less expensive than they are in Hawaii
- Rent in DC is 18.17% more affordable than in Hawaii
- Our top recommended Hawaii to DC movers is Bookstore Movers
Hawaii to DC Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Hawaii to DC
- High cost of living
- Limited career options
- Isolation
- Tropical storms
- High export costs
- Broader job market
- Rich in museums and culture
- Vibrant urban scene
- Mild weather seasons
- Diverse dining experiences
- Heavy traffic
- Cold winters
- High humidity in summer
- Fast-paced environment
- Dense urban landscape
- Beautiful beaches
- Warm climate year-round
- Unique culture
- Relaxed lifestyle
- Rich natural beauty
Pros of moving from Hawaii to DC
- Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to a broader job market
- Look forward to moving away from limited career options and moving to DC with its rich museums and culture
- Swap the isolation of Hawaii for the vibrant urban scene in DC
- Get ready for mild weather seasons in DC
Cons of moving from Hawaii to DC
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the beautiful beaches in Hawaii to live with heavy traffic in DC
- You'll lose out on the pro of a warm climate year-round and have to settle with the con of cold winters
- Time to bid farewell to the unique culture and get used to high humidity in the summer in DC
- Swap the relaxed lifestyle for a fast-paced environment
Hawaii vs. DC: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Hawaii | DC |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Poke | Half-smoke |
Most popular meat dish | Loco Moco | Mumbo Sauce Wings |
Most popular street food item | Spam Musubi | Jumbo Slice Pizza |
Most popular vegan food | Acai Bowl | Vegetable Chili |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
|
|
Fitness/Health Conscientiousness | 💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪 | 💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪 |
Abundance of Food Trucks | 🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚 | 🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚 |
Foodie Scene | 🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴 | 🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴 |
Vegan Friendly | 🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱 | 🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱 |
If you're moving from Hawaii to DC, you will be trading the iconic Poke of Hawaii for the equally delicious Half-smoke of DC. And while the locals in Hawaii rave about their flavorful Loco Moco and sumptuous Spam Musubi, DC residents know they have tasty Mumbo Sauce Wings and Jumbo Slice Pizza to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Acai Bowl they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Vegetable Chili of DC. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Hawaii eateries like Helena's Hawaiian Food, Leonard's Bakery, and Matsumoto's Shave Ice. After the boxes are unpacked in DC, don't wait too long before making your way to DC's acclaimed eateries like Ben's Chili Bowl, Zaytinya, and Rose's Luxury.
When comparing lifestyles, DC shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Hawaii. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in DC compared to what you are used to in Hawaii. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in DC.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Hawaii and DC
Comparison | Hawaii | DC |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Plantation, Modern | Federal, Victorian |
Walkability | 👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟 | 👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟 |
Bikeability | 🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲 | 🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲 |
Urban Lifestyle | 🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️ | 🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Ocean views, Lanais | Proximity to metro, Historic charm |
- The Plantation and Modern architecture that Hawaii is known for will be replaced with the Federal and Victorian architecture typical of DC.
- Compared to Hawaii's real estate listings that commonly reference ocean views and lanais, DC real estate listings often highlight features like proximity to the metro and historic charm.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. DC is more walkable than Hawaii.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. DC is more bike-friendly than Hawaii.
- DC has more of an urban feel than Hawaii.
- DC housing costs are 28% less expensive than they are in Hawaii, with a median home price of $619,320 compared to Hawaii’s $858,106.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in DC have increased 8% compared to a 38% increase in Hawaii.
- Rent in DC is 18.17% more affordable than in Hawaii.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Hawaii and DC
Comparison | Hawaii | DC |
---|---|---|
Days of Sunshine per Year | ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️ | ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️ |
Avg. Annual Humidity | 💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦 | 💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦 |
Avg. UV Index | 🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️ | 🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️ |
Natural Disasters | Volcanoes, tsunamis | Severe storms, hurricanes |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (°F) | 85°F / 70°F | 87°F / 71°F |
Average Winter High/Low (°F) | 78°F / 63°F | 47°F / 28°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 63.7 | 40.8 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 0 | 15.5 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Hawaii to DC. DC gets 27% fewer sunshine days than Hawaii.
- DC has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Hawaii.
- Say goodbye to the possible volcanoes and tsunamis in Hawaii, but be on the lookout for potential severe storms and hurricanes in DC.
- The average summer high temperature in DC is 2 degrees warmer than in Hawaii.
- The average winter lows are 35 degrees colder than they are in Hawaii.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in DC. DC receives 22.9 fewer inches of rain compared to Hawaii.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Hawaii and DC
Comparison | Hawaii | DC |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $92,458 | $101,027 |
Cost of Living Index | 165.7 | 140.1 |
State Income Tax | 4.4-11% | 4-10.75% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.28% | 0.55% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 4.5% | 6% |
Top 3 Industries | Tourism, Defense, Agriculture | Government, Education, Technology |
Affluence | High | High |
Poverty | Moderate | Moderate |
Homelessness | High | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in DC tend to earn about 9% more than those in Hawaii
- The COLI in DC will be 15% lower than what you are used to living in Hawaii
- The state income tax in DC is 4-10.75% compared to 4.4-11% in HI
- The affluence in DC is high compared to high in Hawaii
- The poverty level is moderate in DC compared to moderate in Hawaii
- In terms of homelessness, it is high in Hawaii and moderate in DC
Political and Religious Climate in Hawaii vs. DC
Comparison | Hawaii | DC |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Democratically dominated | Heavily Democratic |
Local Politics | Focus on environmental and indigenous rights | Emphasis on federal government presence and policies |
Religion | Christianity, Buddhism, Shintoism | Christianity, Non-religious |
- Hawaii tends to lean democratically dominated in its political climate
- DC, on the other hand, is often described as heavily Democratic
- DC's religious environment can be described as Christianity
- Hawaii's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as Christianity, Buddhism, and Shintoism
Education Guide When Moving from Hawaii to DC
Comparison | Hawaii | DC |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Hawaii at Manoa Pacific University Oregon State University | Georgetown University George Washington University Howard University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Momilani Elementary School Pearl City | Noelani Elementary School Honolulu | Manoa Elementary School Honolulu | Janney Elementary School Washington | Lafayette Elementary School Washington | Mann Elementary School Washington |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Iolani School Honolulu | Kamehameha Schools Honolulu | Punahou School Honolulu | Deal Middle School Washington | Hardy Middle School Washington | Stuart-Hobson Middle School Washington |
Top 3 High Schools | Iolani School Honolulu | Punahou School Honolulu | Kamehameha Schools Honolulu | School Without Walls Washington | Banneker High School Washington | McKinley Technology High School Washington |
Top 3 private high schools | Hawaii Preparatory Academy Kamuela | Le Jardin Academy Kailua | Mid-Pacific Institute Honolulu | Georgetown Preparatory School North Bethesda | Sidwell Friends School Washington | The National Cathedral School Washington |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Punahou School Honolulu | Kamehameha Schools Honolulu | Iolani School Honolulu | Sidwell Friends School Washington | Georgetown Day School Washington | Maret School Washington |
Top 3 School Districts | Hawaii Department of Education (statewide) | District of Columbia Public Schools |
Top Hawaii to DC Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Hawaii to DC movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.