Iowa to Louisiana Moving Guide
Updated June 23, 2025

Planning a 928 mile interstate move from Iowa to Louisiana? This moving guide will help you compare living in Iowa vs Louisiana across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winters vs mild winters), food & health (like Pork Tenderloin Sandwich vs Gumbo), real estate & housing (colonial revival vs creole and colonial), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Iowa), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Pork Tenderloin Sandwich and Iowa Chop (Pork Chop), but get your taste buds ready for Gumbo & Jambalaya
- Louisiana housing costs are 7% less expensive than they are in Iowa
- Rent in Louisiana is 21.80% more expensive than in Iowa
- Moving from Iowa to Louisiana will cost on average between $1,500 - $6,000
- Our top recommended Iowa to Louisiana movers is Adamantine Spine Moving
Iowa to Louisiana Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Iowa to Louisiana
- Harsh winters
- Flat landscapes
- Limited cuisine
- Fewer entertainment options
- Mild winters
- Cultural diversity
- Culinary variety
- Vibrant nightlife
- Higher crime rate
- Higher humidity
- Hurricane risk
- Varied education quality
- Low crime rate
- Affordable living
- Strong community spirit
- Excellent schools
Pros of moving from Iowa to Louisiana
- Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to mild winters
- Look forward to moving away from flat landscapes and moving to Louisiana with cultural diversity
- Swap the limited cuisine of Iowa for culinary variety in Louisiana
- Get ready for vibrant nightlife in Louisiana
Cons of moving from Iowa to Louisiana
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from a low crime rate in Iowa to live with a higher crime rate in Louisiana
- You'll lose out on the pro of affordable living and have to settle for the con of higher humidity
- Time to bid farewell to a strong community spirit and get used to hurricane risk in Louisiana
- Swap excellent schools for varied education quality
Iowa vs. Louisiana: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Iowa | Louisiana |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Pork Tenderloin Sandwich | Gumbo |
Most popular meat dish | Iowa Chop (Pork Chop) | Jambalaya |
Most popular street food item | Sweet Corn | Po'boys |
Most popular vegan food | Quinoa Salad | Okra Gumbo |
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 Iowa to Louisiana, you will be trading the iconic Pork Tenderloin Sandwich of Iowa for the equally delicious Gumbo of Louisiana. And while the locals in Iowa rave about their flavorful Iowa Chop (Pork Chop) and sumptuous Sweet Corn, Louisiana residents know they have tasty Jambalaya and Po'boys to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Quinoa Salad they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Okra Gumbo of Louisiana. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Iowa eateries like The Summit Restaurant, Zombie Burger, and A & A Pagoda. After the boxes are unpacked in Louisiana, don't wait too long before making your way to Louisiana's acclaimed eateries like Commander's Palace, Emeril's New Orleans, and Cochon.
When comparing lifestyles, Louisiana shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Iowa. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Louisiana compared to what you are used to in Iowa. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Louisiana.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Iowa and Louisiana
Comparison | Iowa | Louisiana |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial Revival | Creole and Colonial |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious Yards, Basements | Outdoor Living Spaces, Near Water |
- The Colonial Revival architecture that Iowa is known for will be replaced with the Creole and Colonial architecture typical of Louisiana.
- Compared to Iowa's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious yards and basements, Louisiana real estate listings often highlight features like outdoor living spaces and being near water.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes; Louisiana is more walkable than Iowa.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; Louisiana is more bike-friendly than Iowa.
- Louisiana has more of an urban feel than Iowa.
- Louisiana housing costs are 7% less expensive than they are in Iowa, with a median home price of $199,091 compared to Iowaβs $214,151.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Louisiana have increased 13%, compared to a 36% increase in Iowa.
- Rent in Louisiana is 21.80% more expensive than in Iowa.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Iowa and Louisiana
Comparison | Iowa | Louisiana |
---|---|---|
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 | Tornadoes, severe storms | Hurricanes, floods |
Air Quality | Good | Variable |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 82Β°F/63Β°F | 91Β°F/73Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 31Β°F/14Β°F | 62Β°F/42Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 36" | 60" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 33" | <1" |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Iowa to Louisiana. Louisiana gets 6% more sunshine days than Iowa.
- Louisiana has higher humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Iowa.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and severe storms in Iowa, but be on the lookout for potential hurricanes and floods in Louisiana.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Louisiana is 9 degrees warmer than Iowa.
- The average winter lows are 28 degrees warmer than they are in Iowa.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Louisiana. Louisiana receives 24 more inches of rain compared to Iowa.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Iowa and Louisiana
Comparison | Iowa | Louisiana |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $69,588 | $55,416 |
Cost of Living Index | 95.9 | 96 |
State Income Tax | 8.53% | 6% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.53% | 0.55% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6% | 9.45% |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Manufacturing, Finance | Oil, Fishing, Tourism |
Affluence | Moderate | Varied |
Poverty | Low | High |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Louisiana tend to earn about 20% less than those in Iowa
- The COLI in Louisiana will be 0% higher than what you are used to living in Iowa
- The state income tax in LA is 6% compared to 8.53% in IA
- The affluence in Louisiana is varied compared to moderate in Iowa
- The poverty level is high in Louisiana compared to low in Iowa
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Iowa and moderate in Louisiana
Political and Religious Climate in Iowa vs. Louisiana
Comparison | Iowa | Louisiana |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Moderately swing state, leans Republican | Strongly Republican, especially in rural areas |
Local Politics | Civic engagement and community initiatives active | Diverse political views with a focus on local governance |
Religion | Mainly Protestant with a significant Catholic minority | Primarily Catholic, reflective of its French and Spanish heritage |
- Iowa tends to lean moderately as a swing state and leans Republican in its political climate
- Louisiana, on the other hand, is often described as strongly Republican, especially in rural areas
- Louisiana's religious environment can be described as primarily Catholic, reflective of its French and Spanish heritage
- Iowa's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as mainly Protestant with a significant Catholic minority
Education Guide When Moving from Iowa to Louisiana
Comparison | Iowa | Louisiana |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Iowa Iowa State University University of Northern Iowa | Louisiana State University Tulane University University of Louisiana at Lafayette |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Wickham Elementary (Coralville) Roosevelt Elementary (Ames) Hoover Elementary (Iowa City) | Lusher Charter School (New Orleans) South Highlands Elementary Magnet (Shreveport) Baton Rouge Foreign Language Academic Immersion Magnet (Baton Rouge) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Ames Middle School (Ames) Northwest Junior High (Coralville) North Central Junior High (North Liberty) | Caddo Middle Magnet (Shreveport) Lusher Charter School (New Orleans) Youngsville Middle School (Youngsville) |
Top 3 High Schools | West High School (Iowa City) Ames High School (Ames) Decorah High School (Decorah) | Benjamin Franklin High School (New Orleans) Haynes Academy for Advanced Studies (Metairie) Patrick F. Taylor Science & Technology Academy (Jefferson) |
Top 3 private high schools | Phillips Academy (Exeter) The Thacher School (Ojai) St. Paul's School (Concord) | Louisiana School for Math Science and the Arts (Natchitoches) Episcopal High School (Baton Rouge) Isidore Newman School (New Orleans) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Maharishi School (Fairfield) Scattergood Friends School (West Branch) Rivermont Collegiate (Bettendorf) | Mt. Carmel Academy (New Orleans) St. Martin's Episcopal School (Metairie) The Dunham School (Baton Rouge) |
Top 3 School Districts | Iowa City Community School District Ames Community School District Des Moines Public Schools | Zachary Community School District Central Community School System Orleans Parish School Board |
How Much Do Iowa to Louisiana Movers Cost?
Moving 928 miles from Iowa to Louisiana 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: 2-2 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Hemmen Moving
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,729 | 300 ft3 | $5.76 |
1 Bedroom | $2,570 | 450 ft3 | $5.71 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,246 | 750 ft3 | $5.66 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,173 | 1100 ft3 | $5.61 |
4 Bedrooms | $8,899 | 1600 ft3 | $5.56 |
5+ Bedrooms | $9,922 | 1800 ft3 | $5.51 |
Top Iowa to Louisiana Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Iowa to Louisiana movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Adamantine Spine Moving
Best moving company overall for Iowa to Louisiana