Louisiana to Washington Moving Guide
Updated June 3, 2025

Planning a 2,491 mile interstate move from Louisiana to Washington? This moving guide will help you compare living in Louisiana vs Washington across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high humidity vs cooler summers), food & health (like Gumbo vs Salmon), real estate & housing (french colonial, creole vs modern, craftsman), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Washington), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Gumbo and Jambalaya, but get your taste buds ready for Salmon & Teriyaki
- Washington housing costs are 197% more expensive than they are in Louisiana
- Rent in Washington is 49.81% more expensive than in Louisiana
- Moving from Louisiana to Washington will cost on average between $2,500 - $9,500
- Our top recommended Louisiana to Washington movers is Seattle Moves & More
Louisiana to Washington Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Louisiana to Washington
- High humidity
- Hurricane risk
- Limited public transit
- Hot summers
- Higher crime rates
- Cooler summers
- Minimal natural disasters
- Extensive transit options
- Mild weather
- Safer neighborhoods
- Higher cost of living
- Less culinary diversity
- Colder winters
- Less vibrant music scene
- More reserved residents
- Rich culture
- Delicious cuisine
- Warm winters
- Jazz music
- Friendly locals
Pros of moving from Louisiana to Washington
- Say goodbye to high humidity and hello to cooler summers
- Look forward to moving away from hurricane risk and moving to Washington with minimal natural disasters
- Swap the limited public transit of Louisiana for extensive transit options in Washington
- Get ready for mild weather in Washington
Cons of moving from Louisiana to Washington
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from rich culture in Louisiana to live with a higher cost of living in Washington
- You'll lose out on the pro of delicious cuisine and have to settle for the con of less culinary diversity
- Time to bid farewell to warm winters and get used to colder winters in Washington
- Swap jazz music for a less vibrant music scene
Louisiana vs. Washington: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Louisiana | Washington |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Gumbo | Salmon |
Most popular meat dish | Jambalaya | Teriyaki |
Most popular street food item | Po'boy | Food truck tacos |
Most popular vegan food | Okra Gumbo | Vegan Pho |
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 Louisiana to Washington, you will be trading the iconic Gumbo of Louisiana for the equally delicious Salmon of Washington. And while the locals in Louisiana rave about their flavorful Jambalaya and sumptuous Po'boy, Washington residents know they have tasty Teriyaki and food truck tacos to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Okra Gumbo they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Vegan Pho of Washington. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Louisiana eateries like Commander's Palace, Antoine's, and Dooky Chase's Restaurant. After the boxes are unpacked in Washington, don't wait too long before making your way to Washington's acclaimed eateries like Canlis, The Herbfarm, and Ray's Boathouse.
When comparing lifestyles, Washington shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Louisiana. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Washington compared to what you are used to in Louisiana. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Washington.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Louisiana and Washington
Comparison | Louisiana | Washington |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | French Colonial, Creole | Modern, Craftsman |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Large yards, waterfront | Eco-friendly features, tech-ready |
- The French Colonial and Creole architecture that Louisiana is known for will be replaced with the Modern and Craftsman architecture typical of Washington.
- Compared to Louisiana's real estate listings that commonly reference large yards and waterfront, Washington real estate listings often highlight features like eco-friendly amenities and tech readiness.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Washington is more walkable than Louisiana.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Washington is more bike-friendly than Louisiana.
- Washington has more of an urban feel than Louisiana.
- Washington housing costs are 197% more expensive than they are in Louisiana, with a median home price of $591,148 compared to Louisianaβs $199,091.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Washington have increased by 49% compared to a 13% increase in Louisiana.
- Rent in Washington is 49.81% more expensive than in Louisiana.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Louisiana and Washington
Comparison | Louisiana | Washington |
---|---|---|
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 | Hurricanes, Floods | Earthquakes, Volcanoes |
Air Quality | Good to Moderate | Good to Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 91/73 | 75/55 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 62/42 | 47/36 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 60 | 38 (Western WA: 60+) |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 0.2 | 20 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Louisiana to Washington. Washington gets 30% fewer sunshine days than Louisiana.
- Washington has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Louisiana.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and floods in Louisiana, but be on the lookout for potential earthquakes and volcanoes in Washington.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Washington is 16 degrees colder than in Louisiana.
- The average winter lows in Washington are 6 degrees colder than they are in Louisiana.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Washington. Washington receives 22 fewer inches of rain compared to Louisiana.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Louisiana and Washington
Comparison | Louisiana | Washington |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $55,416 | $91,306 |
Cost of Living Index | 96 | 104.1 |
State Income Tax | 2% to 6% | 0% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.53% | 0.93% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 9.45% | 9.23% |
Top 3 Industries | Oil and Gas, Agriculture, Tourism | Technology, Aerospace, Agriculture |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | High | Moderate |
Homelessness | Moderate | High |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Washington tend to earn about 65% more than those in Louisiana
- The COLI in Washington is 8% higher than what you are used to living in Louisiana
- Hooray, moving to WA means you'll no longer have state income taxes
- The affluence in Washington is high compared to moderate affluence in Louisiana
- The poverty level is moderate in Washington compared to high poverty in Louisiana
- In terms of homelessness, it is moderate in Louisiana and high in Washington
Political and Religious Climate in Louisiana vs. Washington
Comparison | Louisiana | Washington |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Conservative | Lean Liberal |
Local Politics | Mix of Democrats and Republicans with strong parochial influences | Progressive, with a strong emphasis on environmental and social issues |
Religion | Higher proportion of Evangelical Protestants<a href="https://www.la-umc.org/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank"> </a>, Catholics | Less religiously affiliated, higher percentage of residents with no religious ties |
- Louisiana tends to lean Conservative in its political climate
- Washington, on the other hand, is often described as leaning Liberal
- Washington's religious environment can be described as less religiously affiliated with a higher percentage of residents having no religious ties
- Louisiana's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as a higher proportion of Evangelical Protestants and Catholics
Education Guide When Moving from Louisiana to Washington
Comparison | Louisiana | Washington |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | Louisiana State University Tulane University University of Louisiana | University of Washington Washington State University Seattle University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Lusher Charter School (New Orleans) Lake Forest Elementary Charter School (New Orleans) Baton Rouge Foreign Language Academic Immersion Magnet (Baton Rouge) | Cascade Ridge Elementary (Issaquah) Medina Elementary (Medina) Briarwood Elementary (Sammamish) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Glasgow Middle School (Baton Rouge) Caddo Parish Middle Magnet School (Shreveport) Isidore Newman School (New Orleans) | International Community School (Kirkland) Pacific Cascade Middle School (Issaquah) Environmental & Adventure School (Kirkland) |
Top 3 High School Schools | Benjamin Franklin High School (New Orleans) Haynes Academy School for Advanced Studies (Metairie) Patrick F. Taylor Science & Technology Academy (Jefferson) | Lakeside School (Seattle) International School (Bellevue) Tesla STEM High School (Redmond) |
Top 3 private high schools | Isidore Newman School (New Orleans) Metairie Park Country Day School (Metairie) Episcopal School of Baton Rouge (Baton Rouge) | The Overlake School (Redmond) Annie Wright Schools (Tacoma) Eastside Preparatory School (Kirkland) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Louisiana School for Math Science and the Arts (Natchitoches) Academy of the Sacred Heart (New Orleans) St. Martin's Episcopal School (Metairie) | The Bush School (Seattle) The Bear Creek School (Redmond) Seattle Academy (Seattle) |
Top 3 School Districts | St. Tammany Parish Public Schools Zachary Community Schools Central Community School System | Lake Washington School District Mercer Island School District Bellevue School District |
How Much Do Louisiana to Washington Movers Cost?
Moving 2,491 miles from Louisiana to Washington will typically cost between $4,000 and $9,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $4,000 - $9,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-4 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: John Volken Academy Movers
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,615 | 300 ft3 | $8.72 |
1 Bedroom | $3,900 | 450 ft3 | $8.67 |
2 Bedrooms | $6,462 | 750 ft3 | $8.62 |
3 Bedrooms | $9,422 | 1100 ft3 | $8.57 |
4 Bedrooms | $13,625 | 1600 ft3 | $8.52 |
5+ Bedrooms | $15,238 | 1800 ft3 | $8.47 |
Top Louisiana to Washington Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Louisiana to Washington movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.
Seattle Moves & More
Best moving company overall for Louisiana to Washington