Best Des Moines to Washington DC Movers

How Much Do Des Moines to Washington DC Movers Cost?

Moving 1,104 miles from Des Moines, IA to Washington DC, DC will typically cost between $2,500 and $6,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.

Pro tip for the cheapest long distance move

Find long distance movers in Washington DC that already have a booked job heading from Washington DC to Des Moines. Their moving truck would be making the trip back to Washington DC from Des Moines entirely empty. If you can find a Washington DC moving company willing to move your stuff on the return leg, you'll score a real deal!

Moving Containers: A cheaper Des Moines to Washington DC moving option

Hire local Des Moines movers for the pickup location at an hourly rate. They can quickly load your moving container. When your container is dropped off at your new home, hire Washington DC movers to unpack the container and move you into your new home. You'll have to piece this Des Moines to Washington DC move together yourself with at least 3 different companies. Taking on this scheduling responsibility will save you a little money by moving with this strategy.

How we ranked the top Des Moines to Washington DC movers

Why you should trust us

We take reviews seriously to protect people just like you! Our team has been crunching data on moving companies since 2010. Our math-based ranking system uses data, manual review, and statistical analysis to help you hire the best Des Moines, IA to Washington DC, DC long distance movers.

Rating Methodology

Here's the methodology we used to come up with the best movers for the Des Moines to Washington DC moving route:

Our original review-based ranking algorithm

We started with a total of 29 companies that offer interstate moving services in both the Des Moines and Washington DC areas.

From these 29 companies, we analyzed a total of 12,181 reviews dating all the way back to March 2008.

We also reviewed a total of 2 state and federal moving licenses from these 29 companies and 150 different 3rd party review and social profiles.

Each of the ~12,000 reviews was scored according to our detailed 11-point rating criteria

Reviews are time-weighted so that more recent reviews carry more weight. This helps you understand how a mover is doing today... not 5 years ago. We have 3,734 Des Moines to Washington DC moving company data points from the past 2 years that carry more weight.

Bayesian averages calculated to fairly account for the differences between companies that are newer(like Bookstore Movers) vs older more established companies (like Hemmen Moving).

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The Great Guys Moving 11-Point Rating Breakdown

Our 11-point rating criteria scores every Des Moines to Washington DC moving company across 11 of the most important criteria for a succesful moving experience.

Quality

Overall quality of the service provided on moving day.

9.11/10 avg (Des Moines & Washington DC combined) from 6,936 reviews

Punctuality

Did the crew show up on-time with the required equipment?

8.95/10 avg (Des Moines & Washington DC combined) from 2,989 reviews

Affordability

How affordable was the moving service?

8.28/10 avg (Des Moines & Washington DC combined) from 1,846 reviews

Communication

Responsiveness before, during, and after the move.

8.57/10 avg (Des Moines & Washington DC combined) from 3,268 reviews

Stick to Prices

Was the final price consistent with the original quote?

7.51/10 avg (Des Moines & Washington DC combined) from 1,349 reviews

Speed

Efficiency without taking unnecessary time to increase costs.

9.29/10 avg (Des Moines & Washington DC combined) from 3,477 reviews

Friendliness

Was the moving crew cordial and friendly on moving day?

9.39/10 avg (Des Moines & Washington DC combined) from 3,959 reviews

Will Hire Again

How likely a customer is to hire the same movers again.

8.97/10 avg (Des Moines & Washington DC combined) from 6,926 reviews

Professionalism

Did the moving crew behave professionally on moving day?

9.03/10 avg (Des Moines & Washington DC combined) from 4,301 reviews

Conflict Handling

How well the company responds to accidents and issues.

5.47/10 avg (Des Moines & Washington DC combined) from 741 reviews

Precision & Care

Were walls scratched? Did furniture get damaged or lost?

8.86/10 avg (Des Moines & Washington DC combined) from 3,838 reviews

From Des Moines to Washington DC: Comparable Neighborhoods at a Glance

• Downtown in Des Moines & Penn Quarter in Washington DC are both known for their: central business district with offices & entertainment
• Des Moines' East Village neighborhood & Washington DC's U Street Corridor both share: walkable area with local eateries & nightlife
• If you're moving from Sherman Hill, check out Logan Circle in the Washington DC area for the: Victorian-era homes near downtown
• Do you enjoy Beaverdale's residential bungalows with good schools & local shops? You're sure to love Cleveland Park
• Move from Waveland Park to Chevy Chase and continue to enjoy these neighborhood qualities: quiet, family-friendly with parks
• Ingersoll Park & U Street Corridor are both known for their: vibrant nightlife with bars & restaurants
• Des Moines' Drake neighborhood & Washington DC's Woodley Park neighborhood both have: university-adjacent student housing
• If you're moving from River Bend, look into Navy Yard for the: waterfront locale with modern upscale housing
• Do you cherish living in Woodland Heights' tree-lined historic streets with craftsman homes? Move into Mount Pleasant for something similar

Pros and Cons of Moving from Des Moines to Washington DC

ConsDes Moines, IA

• Smaller Job Market
• Limited Cultural Attractions
• Lesser Dining Options
• Lower Public Transit Options

ProsWashington DC, DC

• Diverse Career Opportunities
• Rich Historical Sites
• World-Class Restaurants
• Extensive Public Transportation

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Washington DC, DC

• Higher Cost of Living
• More Traffic
• Faster Paced Lifestyle
• Less Green Space

Des Moines, IA

• Affordable Housing
• Quiet Neighborhoods
• Community Feel
• Easy Nature Access

Pros of moving from Des Moines to Washington DC

• Say goodbye to smaller Job Market and hello to diverse Career Opportunities
• Look forward to moving away from limited Cultural Attractions and moving to Washington DC with rich Historical Sites
• Swap the lesser Dining Options of Des Moines for World-Class Restaurants in Washington DC
• Get ready for extensive Public Transportation in Washington DC

Cons of moving from Des Moines to Washington DC

• Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from affordable Housing in Des Moines to live with a higher Cost of Living in Washington DC
• You'll lose out on the pro of quiet Neighborhoods and have to settle for the con of more Traffic
• Time to bid farewell to community Feel and get used to a faster Paced Lifestyle in Washington DC
• Swap easy Nature Access for less Green Space

Des Moines vs. Washington DC: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene

If you're moving from Des Moines to Washington DC, you will be trading the iconic Pork Tenderloin Sandwich of Des Moines for the equally delicious Half-Smoke of Washington DC. And while the locals in Des Moines rave about their flavorful Iowa Chop and sumptuous Tacos, Washington DC residents know they have tasty Mumbo Sauce Wings and Food Trucks Variety to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Vegan Corn Dogs they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Plant-based Bowls of Washington DC. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Des Moines eateries like Centro, Zombie Burger, and Fong's Pizza. After the boxes are unpacked in Washington DC, don't wait too long before making your way to Washington DC's acclaimed eateries like Ben's Chili Bowl, Zaytinya, and Rosa's Thai Cafe.

When comparing lifestyles, Washington DC shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Des Moines. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Washington DC compared to what you are used to in Des Moines. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Washington DC.

Discover Washington DC Restaurants You'll Love

Moving to Washington DC is an opportunity to try lots of new restaurants. Sure, you'll miss your old Des Moines favorites, but we've got you covered. If you loved Zombie Burger + Drink Lab, Fong's Pizza, and Centro in Des Moines, we're sure you'll love DuPont Burger, Pi Pizzeria, and Centrolina in Washington DC. See our Washington DC restaurant discovery table below to find the closest comparison restaurant to all of your cherished Des Moines hotspots. For example, if you enjoyed dining at Alba, head to Le Diplomate on your first Friday night after the boxes are unpacked.

Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Des Moines and Washington DC

• The Colonial and Ranch architecture that Des Moines is known for will be replaced with the Federal and Victorian architecture typical of Washington DC.
• Compared to Des Moines's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious yards and quiet neighborhoods, Washington DC real estate listings often highlight features like proximity to metro and historic features.
• Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Washington DC is more walkable than Des Moines.
• Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Washington DC is more bike-friendly than Des Moines.
• Washington DC has more of an urban feel than Des Moines.
• Washington DC housing costs are 210% more expensive than they are in Des Moines, with a median home price of $619,321 compared to Des Moines’s $199,739.
• Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Washington DC have increased by 8% compared to a 38% increase in Des Moines.
• Rent in Washington DC is 127.87% more expensive than in Des Moines.

Pet-friendly Neighborhoods in Washington DC, DC

1. Capitol Hill : You'll find plenty of parks and dog-friendly businesses, making it easy to enjoy outings with your furry friend.
2. Dupont Circle : With its numerous pet-friendly cafes and proximity to the S Street Dog Park, your pet will love the vibrant atmosphere.
3. Logan Circle : Known for its welcoming community and several nearby green spaces, it's a great spot for you and your pet to explore together.

Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Des Moines and Washington DC

• The shades won't be used as much for your move from Des Moines to Washington DC. Washington DC gets 0% fewer sunshine days than Des Moines.
• Washington DC has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Des Moines.
• Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and floods in Des Moines, but be on the lookout for potential hurricanes and floods in Washington DC.
• The average summer high temperature in Washington DC is 2 degrees warmer than in Des Moines.
• The average winter lows are 15 degrees warmer than they are in Des Moines.
• Your umbrella might be more overworked in Washington DC as it receives 4 more inches of rain compared to Des Moines.

Financial & Community Snapshot: Des Moines and Washington DC

• When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Washington DC tend to earn about 48% more than in Des Moines
• The COLI in Washington DC is 54% higher than what you are used to living in Des Moines
• The state income tax in DC is between 4.00 and 8.95 compared to 0.33 and 8.53 in IA
• The affluence in Washington DC is high compared to moderate in Des Moines
• The poverty level is moderate in Washington DC compared to moderate in Des Moines
• In terms of homelessness, it is low in Des Moines and high in Washington DC

Political and Religious Climate in Des Moines vs. Washington DC

• Des Moines tends to lean mixed, leaning Democratic in its political climate
• Washington DC, on the other hand, is often described as heavily Democratic
• Washington DC's religious environment can be described as diverse and has a Christian majority with notable non-Christian communities like the National Cathedral
• Des Moines' residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as diverse and have a Christian majority, including local churches

Des Moines vs. Washington DC Traffic and Public Transit Considerations

• Bummer! Looks like you might end up spending about 70% more time stuck in traffic commuting to work in Washington DC compared to your Des Moines commute. That's 7,280 minutes lost each year in a car.
• You can expect traffic in Washington DC to be worse than it is in Des Moines.
• Public transit is more readily available in Washington DC.