Iowa to Missouri Moving Guide
Updated June 14, 2025

Planning a 333 mile interstate move from Iowa to Missouri? This moving guide will help you compare living in Iowa vs Missouri across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winters vs milder winters), food & health (like Pork Tenderloin Sandwich vs St. Louis-style BBQ Ribs), real estate & housing (prairie and ranch vs colonial and craftsman), 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), but get your taste buds ready for St. Louis-style BBQ Ribs & Kansas City-style BBQ
- Missouri housing costs are 14% more expensive than they are in Iowa
- Rent in Missouri is 23.52% more expensive than in Iowa
- Moving from Iowa to Missouri will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,000
- Our top recommended Iowa to Missouri movers is Sunrise Moving and Packing, LLC
Iowa to Missouri Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Iowa to Missouri
- Harsh winters
- Limited entertainment options
- Fewer job opportunities
- Flat landscape
- Fewer urban amenities
- Milder winters
- Vibrant city life
- Improving job market
- Diverse scenery
- More urban amenities
- Higher crime areas
- Higher living costs
- Less community involvement
- Denser populations
- Less agricultural focus
- Low crime rate
- Cost-effective living
- Community-focused
- Spacious outdoors
- Rich farming culture
Pros of moving from Iowa to Missouri
- Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to milder winters
- Look forward to moving away from limited entertainment options and moving to Missouri with vibrant city life
- Swap the fewer job opportunities of Iowa for the improving job market in Missouri
- Get ready for diverse scenery in Missouri
Cons of moving from Iowa to Missouri
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the low crime rate in Iowa to live with higher crime areas in Missouri
- You'll lose out on the pro of cost-effective living and have to settle with the con of higher living costs
- Time to bid farewell to community-focused living and get used to less community involvement in Missouri
- Swap spacious outdoors for denser populations
Iowa vs. Missouri: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Iowa | Missouri |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Pork Tenderloin Sandwich | St. Louis-style BBQ Ribs |
Most popular meat dish | Iowa Chop (Pork) | Kansas City-style BBQ |
Most popular street food item | Fried Corn on the Cob | Toasted Ravioli |
Most popular vegan food | Grilled Veggie Skewers | BBQ Jackfruit Sandwich |
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 Missouri, you will be trading the iconic Pork Tenderloin Sandwich of Iowa for the equally delicious St. Louis-style BBQ Ribs of Missouri. And while the locals in Iowa rave about their flavorful Iowa Chop (Pork) and sumptuous Fried Corn on the Cob, Missouri residents know they have tasty Kansas City-style BBQ and Toasted Ravioli to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Grilled Veggie Skewers they've grown to love, they can get ready for the BBQ Jackfruit Sandwich of Missouri. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Iowa eateries like American Grill, Jethroβs BBQ, and Augusta Restaurant. After the boxes are unpacked in Missouri, don't wait too long before making your way to Missouri's acclaimed eateries like Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que, Pappy's Smokehouse, and The Hill Italianette.
When comparing lifestyles, Missouri shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Iowa. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Missouri compared to what you are used to in Iowa. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Missouri.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Iowa and Missouri
Comparison | Iowa | Missouri |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Prairie and Ranch | Colonial and Craftsman |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious yards, quiet neighborhoods | Historic homes, access to parks |
- The Prairie and Ranch architecture that Iowa is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Craftsman architecture typical of Missouri.
- Compared to Iowa's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious yards and quiet neighborhoods, Missouri real estate listings often highlight features like historic homes and access to parks.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Missouri is more walkable than Iowa.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Missouri is more bike-friendly than Iowa.
- Missouri has more of an urban feel than Iowa.
- Missouri housing costs are 14% more expensive than they are in Iowa, with a median home price of $243,216 compared to Iowaβs $214,151.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Missouri have increased by 49% compared to a 36% increase in Iowa.
- Rent in Missouri is 23.52% more expensive than in Iowa.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Iowa and Missouri
Comparison | Iowa | Missouri |
---|---|---|
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 | Tornados, Floods | Tornados, Floods, Earthquakes |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85/63 | 89/67 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 31/14 | 40/20 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 36 | 42 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 33 | 18 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Iowa to Missouri. Missouri gets 5% more sunshine days than Iowa.
- Missouri has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Iowa.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and floods in Iowa, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes, floods, and earthquakes in Missouri.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Missouri is 4 degrees warmer than in Iowa.
- The average winter lows are 6 degrees warmer than they are in Iowa.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Missouri. Missouri receives 6 more inches of rain compared to Iowa.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Iowa and Missouri
Comparison | Iowa | Missouri |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $69,588 | $64,811 |
Cost of Living Index | 95.9 | 91.8 |
State Income Tax | 8.98% | 5.4% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.53% | 0.97% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.94% | 8.25% |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Manufacturing, Insurance | Agriculture, Aerospace, Manufacturing |
Affluence | Moderate | Varied |
Poverty | Low | Moderate |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Missouri tend to earn about 7% less than in Iowa
- The COLI in Missouri will be 4% lower than what you are used to living in Iowa
- The state income tax in MO is 5.4% compared to 8.98% in IA
- The affluence in Missouri is varied compared to moderate in Iowa
- The poverty level is moderate in Missouri compared to low in Iowa
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Iowa and moderate in Missouri
Political and Religious Climate in Iowa vs. Missouri
Comparison | Iowa | Missouri |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Swing state with a slight Republican lean in recent elections | Leans Republican, particularly in statewide and national elections |
Local Politics | Combination of conservative and liberal strongholds, depending on the region | Urban areas lean more Democratic, rural areas are predominantly Republican |
Religion | Christianity is predominant, Protestant and Catholicism most common | Similar Christian majority, with evangelical Protestants being particularly influential |
- Iowa tends to lean swing state with a slight Republican lean in its political climate
- Missouri, on the other hand, is often described as leaning Republican, particularly in statewide and national elections
- Missouri's religious environment can be described as having a similar Christian majority, with evangelical Protestants being particularly influential
- Iowa's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as Christianity being predominant, with Protestantism and Catholicism being most common
Education Guide When Moving from Iowa to Missouri
Comparison | Iowa | Missouri |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Iowa Iowa State University University of Northern Iowa | University of Missouri Missouri State University Washington University in St. Louis |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Wickham Elementary (Coralville) Grant Wood Elementary (Bettendorf) Shimek Elementary School (Iowa City) | Clayton Elementary (Clayton) Wilson's Creek 5-6 (Springfield) McKelvey Elementary School (Maryland Heights) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Ames Middle School (Ames) Northwest Junior High (Coralville) North Central Junior High (North Liberty) | Wydown Middle School (Clayton) Ladue Middle School (Ladue) Wildwood Middle School (Wildwood) |
Top 3 High Schools | West High School (Iowa City) Ames High School (Ames) Pleasant Valley High School (Bettendorf) | Ladue Horton Watkins High (Ladue) Clayton High School (Clayton) Marquette High School (Chesterfield) |
Top 3 private high schools | Xavier High School (Cedar Rapids) Dowling Catholic High School (West Des Moines) Bishop Heelan Catholic High (Sioux City) | MICDS (St. Louis) John Burroughs School (Ladue) Pembroke Hill School (Kansas City) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Maharishi School (Fairfield) Scattergood Friends School (West Branch) Cedar Valley Christian School (Cedar Rapids) | The Barstow School (Kansas City) Thomas Jefferson School (St. Louis) Christian Brothers College High School (St. Louis) |
Top 3 School Districts | Iowa City Community School District Ames Community School District Pleasant Valley Community School District | Clayton School District Ladue School District Parkway School District |
How Much Do Iowa to Missouri Movers Cost?
Moving 333 miles from Iowa to Missouri will typically cost between $2,000 and $5,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,000 - $5,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 3-9 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Sunrise Moving and Packing, LLC
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,391 | 300 ft3 | $4.64 |
1 Bedroom | $2,064 | 450 ft3 | $4.59 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,403 | 750 ft3 | $4.54 |
3 Bedrooms | $4,936 | 1100 ft3 | $4.49 |
4 Bedrooms | $7,100 | 1600 ft3 | $4.44 |
5+ Bedrooms | $7,898 | 1800 ft3 | $4.39 |
Top Iowa to Missouri Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Iowa to Missouri movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Sunrise Moving and Packing, LLC
Best moving company overall for Iowa to Missouri