Idaho to DC Moving Guide
Updated June 10, 2025

Planning a 2,381 mile interstate move from Idaho to DC? This moving guide will help you compare living in Idaho vs DC across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like limited job market vs diverse job opportunities), food & health (like Idaho Potatoes vs Half-Smoke), real estate & housing (craftsman, ranch vs federal, victorian), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in DC), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Idaho Potatoes and Trout, but get your taste buds ready for Half-Smoke & Mumbo Sauce on Chicken
- DC housing costs are 37% more expensive than they are in Idaho
- Rent in DC is 48.54% more expensive than in Idaho
- Moving from Idaho to DC will cost on average between $2,500 - $9,000
- Our top recommended Idaho to DC movers is Bookstore Movers
Idaho to DC Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Idaho to DC
- Limited job market
- Remote location
- Few cultural events
- Extreme winters
- Lack of public transit
- Diverse job opportunities
- International airports
- World-class museums
- Mild climate
- Robust metro system
- Urban congestion
- High rent prices
- Fast-paced lifestyle
- Limited green spaces
- High noise levels
- Scenic landscapes
- Low cost of living
- Close-knit communities
- Outdoor activities
- Peaceful environment
Pros of moving from Idaho to DC
- Say goodbye to limited job market and hello to diverse job opportunities
- Look forward to moving away from remote location and moving to DC with international airports
- Swap the few cultural events of Idaho for world-class museums in DC
- Get ready for mild climate in DC
Cons of moving from Idaho to DC
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from scenic landscapes in Idaho to live with urban congestion in DC
- You'll lose out on the pro of low cost of living and have to settle for the con of high rent prices
- Time to bid farewell to close-knit communities and get used to fast-paced lifestyle in DC
- Swap outdoor activities for limited green spaces
Idaho vs. DC: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Idaho | DC |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Idaho Potatoes | Half-Smoke |
Most popular meat dish | Trout | Mumbo Sauce on Chicken |
Most popular street food item | Finger Steaks | Food Trucks Variety |
Most popular vegan food | Wild Huckleberry Pie | Vegetable Curry |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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Fitness/Health Conscientiousness | 💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪 | 💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪 |
Abundance of Food Trucks | 🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚 | 🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚 |
Foodie Scene | 🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴 | 🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴 |
Vegan Friendly | 🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱 | 🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱 |
If you're moving from Idaho to DC, you will be trading the iconic Idaho Potatoes of Idaho for the equally delicious Half-Smoke of DC. And while the locals in Idaho rave about their flavorful Trout and sumptuous Finger Steaks, DC residents know they have tasty Mumbo Sauce on Chicken and Food Trucks Variety to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Wild Huckleberry Pie they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Vegetable Curry of DC. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Idaho eateries like Boise Fry Company, The Old Spaghetti Factory, and Duckworth's Grill and Bar. 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, Rosa's Thai Cafe, and Zaytinya.
When comparing lifestyles, DC shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Idaho. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in DC compared to what you are used to in Idaho. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in DC.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Idaho and DC
Comparison | Idaho | DC |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Craftsman, Ranch | Federal, Victorian |
Walkability | 👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟 | 👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟 |
Bikeability | 🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲 | 🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲 |
Urban Lifestyle | 🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️ | 🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious yards, mountain views | Proximity to metro, vibrant neighborhoods |
- The Craftsman and Ranch architecture that Idaho is known for will be replaced with the Federal and Victorian architecture typical of DC.
- Compared to Idaho's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious yards and mountain views, DC real estate listings often highlight features like proximity to metro and vibrant neighborhoods.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes; DC is more walkable than Idaho.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; DC is more bike-friendly than Idaho.
- DC has more of an urban feel than Idaho.
- DC housing costs are 37% more expensive than they are in Idaho, with a median home price of $619,320 compared to Idaho’s $451,298.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in DC have increased by 8% compared to a 69% increase in Idaho.
- Rent in DC is 48.54% more expensive than in Idaho.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Idaho and DC
Comparison | Idaho | DC |
---|---|---|
Days of Sunshine per Year | ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️ | ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️ |
Avg. Annual Humidity | 💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦 | 💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦 |
Avg. UV Index | 🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️ | 🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️ |
Natural Disasters | Wildfires, Floods | Hurricanes, Winter Storms |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (°F) | 85°F / 50°F | 89°F / 71°F |
Average Winter High/Low (°F) | 34°F / 16°F | 47°F / 30°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 18.9 | 39.7 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 59.9 | 15.4 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Idaho to DC. DC gets 1% fewer sunshine days than Idaho.
- DC has higher humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Idaho.
- Say goodbye to the possible wildfires and floods in Idaho, but be on the lookout for potential hurricanes and winter storms in DC.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in DC is 4 degrees warmer than in Idaho.
- The average winter lows are 14 degrees warmer than they are in Idaho.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in DC. DC receives 20.8 more inches of rain compared to Idaho.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Idaho and DC
Comparison | Idaho | DC |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $72,785 | $101,027 |
Cost of Living Index | 91.5 | 140.1 |
State Income Tax | 6.5% | 10.75% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.63% | 0.85% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.00% | 6.00% |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Manufacturing, Technology | Government, Education, Healthcare |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Low | Notable |
Homelessness | Scattered | Pronounced |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in DC tend to earn about 39% more than in Idaho
- The COLI in DC is 53% higher than what you are used to living in Idaho
- The state income tax in DC is 10.75% compared to 6.5% in ID
- The affluence in DC is high compared to moderate in Idaho
- The poverty level is notable in DC compared to low in Idaho
- In terms of homelessness, it is scattered in Idaho and pronounced in DC
Political and Religious Climate in Idaho vs. DC
Comparison | Idaho | DC |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Conservative | Liberal |
Local Politics | Republican Dominance | Democratic Stronghold |
Religion | Christian Majority | Diverse Religious Landscape |
- Idaho tends to lean conservative in its political climate
- D.C., on the other hand, is often described as liberal
- D.C.'s religious environment can be described as diverse religious landscape
- Idaho's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as Christian majority
Education Guide When Moving from Idaho to DC
Comparison | Idaho | DC |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | Boise State University University of Idaho Idaho State University | Georgetown University George Washington University American University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Longfellow Elementary School (Boise) White Pine Elementary School (Boise) Andrus Elementary School (Boise) | Lafayette Elementary School (Washington) Janney Elementary School (Washington) Mann Elementary School (Washington) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | North Junior High School (Boise) Les Bois Junior High School (Boise) East Junior High School (Boise) | Deal Middle School (Washington) Hardy Middle School (Washington) Stuart-Hobson Middle School (Washington) |
Top 3 High Schools | Boise High School (Boise) Timberline High School (Boise) Borah High School (Boise) | School Without Walls High School (Washington) Banneker High School (Washington) McKinley Technology High School (Washington) |
Top 3 private high schools | The Ambrose School (Meridian) Bishop Kelly High School (Boise) Coeur d'Alene Christian School (Coeur d'Alene) | Sidwell Friends School (Washington) Georgetown Day School (Washington) The Field School (Washington) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Ambrose School (Meridian) Classical Christian Academy (Post Falls) North Idaho Christian School (Hayden) | Sidwell Friends School (Washington) Georgetown Day School (Washington) Washington International School (Washington) |
Top 3 School Districts | Boise School District Idaho Falls School District Blaine County School District | District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) BASIS DC KIPP DC |
How Much Do Idaho to DC Movers Cost?
Moving 2,381 miles from Idaho to DC will typically cost between $4,000 and $9,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $4,000 - $9,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-2 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Valley Custom Moving
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,552 | 300 ft3 | $8.51 |
1 Bedroom | $3,806 | 450 ft3 | $8.46 |
2 Bedrooms | $6,306 | 750 ft3 | $8.41 |
3 Bedrooms | $9,194 | 1100 ft3 | $8.36 |
4 Bedrooms | $13,292 | 1600 ft3 | $8.31 |
5+ Bedrooms | $14,864 | 1800 ft3 | $8.26 |
Top Idaho to DC Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Idaho to DC movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.