Iowa to Wyoming Moving Guide
Updated June 7, 2025

Planning a 899 mile interstate move from Iowa to Wyoming? This moving guide will help you compare living in Iowa vs Wyoming across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like humid summers vs cooler climate), food & health (like Pork Tenderloin Sandwich vs Bison Steak), real estate & housing (farmhouses vs ranch-style), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes, politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Pork Tenderloin Sandwich and Iowa Chop (Pork), but get your taste buds ready for Bison Steak & Elk Steak
- Wyoming housing costs are 59% more expensive than they are in Iowa
- Rent in Wyoming is 1.73% more expensive than in Iowa
- Moving from Iowa to Wyoming will cost on average between $1,500 - $6,000
- Our top recommended Iowa to Wyoming movers is Adamantine Spine Moving
Iowa to Wyoming Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Iowa to Wyoming
- Humid summers
- Fewer scenic mountains
- Crowded urban centers
- Limited wildlife
- Cooler climate
- Beautiful landscapes
- Open spaces
- Abundant wildlife
- Harsh winters
- High cost of living
- Fewer cultural amenities
- Limited job opportunities
- Rich farmland
- Affordable housing
- Vibrant communities
- Strong agriculture
Pros of moving from Iowa to Wyoming
- Say goodbye to humid summers and hello to a cooler climate
- Look forward to moving away from fewer scenic mountains and moving to Wyoming with beautiful landscapes
- Swap the crowded urban centers of Iowa for open spaces in Wyoming
- Get ready for abundant wildlife in Wyoming
Cons of moving from Iowa to Wyoming
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from rich farmland in Iowa to live with harsh winters in Wyoming
- You'll lose out on the pro of affordable housing and have to settle for the con of a high cost of living
- Time to bid farewell to vibrant communities and get used to fewer cultural amenities in Wyoming
- Swap strong agriculture for limited job opportunities
Iowa vs. Wyoming: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Iowa | Wyoming |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Pork Tenderloin Sandwich | Bison Steak |
Most popular meat dish | Iowa Chop (Pork) | Elk Steak |
Most popular street food item | Sweet Corn | Indian Tacos |
Most popular vegan food | Quinoa Salad | Lentil Stew |
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 Wyoming, you will be trading the iconic Pork Tenderloin Sandwich of Iowa for the equally delicious Bison Steak of Wyoming. And while the locals in Iowa rave about their flavorful Iowa Chop (Pork) and sumptuous Sweet Corn, Wyoming residents know they have tasty Elk Steak and Indian Tacos 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 Lentil Stew of Wyoming. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Iowa eateries like Jethroβs BBQ, The Ronneburg Restaurant, and La Mie Bakery. After the boxes are unpacked in Wyoming, don't wait too long before making your way to Wyoming's acclaimed eateries like King's Saddle Inn, Buffalo Bill Steak House, and The Historic Plains Hotel.
When comparing lifestyles, Wyoming shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Iowa. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Wyoming compared to what you are used to in Iowa. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Wyoming.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Iowa and Wyoming
Comparison | Iowa | Wyoming |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Farmhouses | Ranch-style |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Large Yards | Mountain Views |
- The Farmhouses architecture that Iowa is known for will be replaced with the Ranch-style architecture typical of Wyoming.
- Compared to Iowa's real estate listings that commonly reference large yards, Wyoming real estate listings often highlight features like mountain views.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Wyoming is less walkable than Iowa.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike; Wyoming is less bike-friendly than Iowa.
- Wyoming has less of an urban feel than Iowa.
- Wyoming housing costs are 59% more expensive than they are in Iowa, with a median home price of $340,933 compared to Iowaβs $214,151.
- Over the prior five years, home prices in Wyoming have increased 40% compared to a 36% increase in Iowa.
- Rent in Wyoming is 1.73% more expensive than in Iowa.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Iowa and Wyoming
Comparison | Iowa | Wyoming |
---|---|---|
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, floods | Snowstorms, wildfires |
Air Quality | Good | Very Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85Β°F / 63Β°F | 85Β°F / 50Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 31Β°F / 14Β°F | 35Β°F / 17Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 36 | 13 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 32 | 60 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Iowa to Wyoming. Wyoming gets 9% more sunshine days than Iowa.
- Wyoming 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 snowstorms and wildfires in Wyoming.
- The average summer high temperature in Wyoming is the same as Iowa.
- The average winter lows are 3 degrees warmer than they are in Iowa.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Wyoming. Wyoming receives 23 fewer inches of rain compared to Iowa.
Political and Religious Climate in Iowa vs. Wyoming
Comparison | Iowa | Wyoming |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Battleground State | Strongly Republican |
Local Politics | Moderate, with leanings based on region | Conservative, with emphasis on energy and land rights |
Religion | Christian-majority, diverse denominations | Christian-majority, with a significant Mormon population |
- Iowa tends to lean battleground State in its political climate
- Wyoming, on the other hand, is often described as strongly Republican
- Wyoming's religious environment can be described as Christian-majority with a significant Mormon population
- Iowa's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as Christian-majority with diverse denominations
Education Guide When Moving from Iowa to Wyoming
Comparison | Iowa | Wyoming |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Iowa Iowa State University University of Northern Iowa | University of Wyoming Casper College Laramie County Community College |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Wickham Elementary (Coralville) Webster Elementary (Urbandale) Grant Ragan Elementary (Waukee) | Pokey Creek Elementary (Sheridan) Meadowlark Elementary (Gillette) Alta Vista Elementary (Cheyenne) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | North Central Junior High (Coralville) Ames Middle School (Ames) South East Junior High (Iowa City) | Johnson Junior High (Cheyenne) McCormick Junior High (Cheyenne) Dean Morgan Junior High (Casper) |
Top 3 High School Schools | West High School (Iowa City) Ames High School (Ames) Waukee High School (Waukee) | Jackson Hole High School (Jackson) Central High School (Cheyenne) East High School (Cheyenne) |
Top 3 private high schools | Regina High School (Iowa City) Dowling Catholic High School (West Des Moines) Scattergood Friends School (West Branch) | Jackson Hole Community School (Jackson) Wyoming Catholic College (Lander) Cheyenne East High School (Cheyenne) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Des Moines Christian School (Urbandale) Maharishi School (Fairfield) Scattergood Friends School (West Branch) | Jackson Hole Classical Academy (Jackson) St. Mary's Catholic School (Cheyenne) Trinity Lutheran School (Casper) |
Top 3 School Districts | Iowa City Community School District Waukee Community School District Ames Community School District | Teton County School District #1 Laramie County School District #1 Sheridan County School District #2 |
How Much Do Iowa to Wyoming Movers Cost?
Moving 899 miles from Iowa to Wyoming 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
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Hemmen Moving
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,712 | 300 ft3 | $5.71 |
1 Bedroom | $2,546 | 450 ft3 | $5.66 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,205 | 750 ft3 | $5.61 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,113 | 1100 ft3 | $5.56 |
4 Bedrooms | $8,811 | 1600 ft3 | $5.51 |
5+ Bedrooms | $9,823 | 1800 ft3 | $5.46 |
Top Iowa to Wyoming Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Iowa to Wyoming movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Adamantine Spine Moving
Best moving company overall for Iowa to Wyoming