Michigan to Utah Moving Guide
Updated June 16, 2025

Planning a 1,696 mile interstate move from Michigan to Utah? This moving guide will help you compare living in Michigan vs Utah across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winter snowstorms vs milder winters), food & health (like Pasties vs Fry Sauce), real estate & housing (colonial, ranch vs craftsman, ranch), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Utah), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Pasties and Detroit-style Pizza, but get your taste buds ready for Fry Sauce & Utah Scones
- Utah housing costs are 117% more expensive than they are in Michigan
- Rent in Utah is 16.10% more expensive than in Michigan
- Moving from Michigan to Utah will cost on average between $2,000 - $8,000
- Our top recommended Michigan to Utah movers is Pro-Low Moving
Michigan to Utah Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Michigan to Utah
- Harsh winter snowstorms
- Crowded metro areas
- Rust belt economy
- High humidity
- Tough job market
- Milder winters
- Less traffic
- Thriving tech industry
- Dry climate
- Growing job opportunities
- Less diverse culture
- Limited water sources
- Limited seasonal change
- Fewer educational options
- Homogeneous population
- Vibrant arts scene
- Beautiful lakes
- Four distinct seasons
- Renowned universities
- Cultural diversity
Pros of moving from Michigan to Utah
- Say goodbye to harsh winter snowstorms and hello to milder winters
- Look forward to moving away from crowded metro areas and moving to Utah with less traffic
- Swap the rust belt economy of Michigan for a thriving tech industry in Utah
- Get ready for a dry climate in Utah
Cons of moving from Michigan to Utah
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from a vibrant arts scene in Michigan to live with a less diverse culture in Utah
- You'll lose out on the pro of beautiful lakes and have to settle for the con of limited water sources
- Time to bid farewell to four distinct seasons and get used to limited seasonal change in Utah
- Swap renowned universities for fewer educational options
Michigan vs. Utah: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Michigan | Utah |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Pasties | Fry Sauce |
Most popular meat dish | Detroit-style Pizza | Utah Scones |
Most popular street food item | Coney Dog | Navajo Taco |
Most popular vegan food | Tempeh | Quinoa Salad |
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 Michigan to Utah, you will be trading the iconic Pasties of Michigan for the equally delicious Fry Sauce of Utah. And while the locals in Michigan rave about their flavorful Detroit-style Pizza and sumptuous Coney Dog, Utah residents know they have tasty Utah Scones and Navajo Taco to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Tempeh they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Quinoa Salad of Utah. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Michigan eateries like Slows Bar BQ, Zingerman's Delicatessen, and Bell's Eccentric CafΓ©. After the boxes are unpacked in Utah, don't wait too long before making your way to Utah's acclaimed eateries like Red Iguana, Takashi, and HSL.
When comparing lifestyles, Utah shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Michigan. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Utah compared to what you are used to in Michigan. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Utah.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Michigan and Utah
Comparison | Michigan | Utah |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Ranch | Craftsman, Ranch |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Lakeside access, Energy efficient | Mountain views, Open-concept floor plans |
- The Colonial and Ranch architecture that Michigan is known for will be replaced with the Craftsman and Ranch architecture typical of Utah.
- Compared to Michigan's real estate listings that commonly reference lakeside access and energy efficiency, Utah real estate listings often highlight features like mountain views and open-concept floor plans.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away. Utah is less walkable than Michigan.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Utah is more bike-friendly than Michigan.
- Utah has more of an urban feel than Michigan.
- Utah housing costs are 117% more expensive than they are in Michigan, with a median home price of $519,182 compared to Michiganβs $239,770.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Utah have increased by 56% compared to a 45% increase in Michigan.
- Rent in Utah is 16.10% more expensive than in Michigan.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Michigan and Utah
Comparison | Michigan | Utah |
---|---|---|
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 | Blizzards, Thunderstorms | Earthquakes, Avalanches |
Air Quality | Good | Variable |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 79/58 | 90/68 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 31/17 | 37/20 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 30.7 | 12.2 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 60.7 | 54.1 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Michigan to Utah. Utah gets 40% more sunshine days than Michigan.
- Utah has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Michigan.
- Say goodbye to the possible blizzards and thunderstorms in Michigan, but be on the lookout for potential earthquakes and avalanches in Utah.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Utah is 11 degrees warmer than in Michigan.
- The average winter lows are 3 degrees warmer than they are in Michigan.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Utah. Utah receives 18.5 fewer inches of rain compared to Michigan.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Michigan and Utah
Comparison | Michigan | Utah |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $66,986 | $89,168 |
Cost of Living Index | 91.2 | 95.75 |
State Income Tax | 4.25 | 4.85 |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.62 | 0.60 |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.00 | 6.10 |
Top 3 Industries | Automotive, Manufacturing, Healthcare | Technology, Mining, Tourism |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Moderate | Low |
Homelessness | Moderate | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Utah tend to earn about 33% more than those in Michigan
- The COLI in Utah is 5% higher than what you are used to living in Michigan
- The state income tax in UT is 4.85 compared to 4.25 in MI
- The affluence in Utah is high compared to moderate affluence in Michigan
- The poverty level is low in Utah compared to moderate poverty in Michigan
- In terms of homelessness, it is moderate in Michigan and low in Utah
Political and Religious Climate in Michigan vs. Utah
Comparison | Michigan | Utah |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Swing State, varies in national elections | Strongly Republican, consistent in national elections |
Local Politics | Liberal in urban areas like Detroit | Conservative, with exceptions in places like Salt Lake City |
Religion | Christianity dominates, diverse religious communities | Majority LDS (Mormon) Church |
- Michigan tends to lean swing State, varying in national elections in its political climate
- Utah, on the other hand, is often described as strongly Republican and consistent in national elections
- Utah's religious environment can be described as majority LDS (Mormon) Church
- Michigan's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as Christianity dominates and diverse religious communities
Education Guide When Moving from Michigan to Utah
Comparison | Michigan | Utah |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Michigan Michigan State University Wayne State University | University of Utah Brigham Young University Utah State University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Huntington Woods Elementary (Huntington Woods) Musson Elementary School (Rochester) Okemos Public Montessori-Central (Okemos) | City Academy (Salt Lake City) Oakridge School (Salt Lake City) Hawthorne Elementary School (Salt Lake City) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Boulan Park Middle School (Troy) West Middle School (Rochester Hills) Clague Middle School (Ann Arbor) | Rowland Hall (Salt Lake City) The Waterford School (Sandy) Challenger School-Sandy (Sandy) |
Top 3 High School Schools | International Academy (Bloomfield Hills) Troy High School (Troy) Rochester Adams High School (Rochester Hills) | Academy for Math Engineering & Science (Salt Lake City) Itineris Early College High (West Jordan) Northern Utah Academy for Math Engineering & Science (Layton) |
Top 3 private high schools | Detroit Country Day School (Beverly Hills) Cranbrook Schools (Bloomfield Hills) Greenhills School (Ann Arbor) | Rowland Hall (Salt Lake City) The Waterford School (Sandy) Madeleine Choir School (Salt Lake City) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Roeper School (Bloomfield Hills) Cranbrook Schools (Bloomfield Hills) Greenhills School (Ann Arbor) | The Madeleine Choir School (Salt Lake City) Rowland Hall (Salt Lake City) The Waterford School (Sandy) |
Top 3 School Districts | Oakland Schools Ann Arbor Public Schools Plymouth-Canton Community Schools | Park City School District Davis School District Canyons School District |
How Much Do Michigan to Utah Movers Cost?
Moving 1,696 miles from Michigan to Utah will typically cost between $3,000 and $8,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,000 - $8,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 4-10 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Pro-Low Moving
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,164 | 300 ft3 | $7.21 |
1 Bedroom | $3,223 | 450 ft3 | $7.16 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,335 | 750 ft3 | $7.11 |
3 Bedrooms | $7,770 | 1100 ft3 | $7.06 |
4 Bedrooms | $11,221 | 1600 ft3 | $7.01 |
5+ Bedrooms | $12,534 | 1800 ft3 | $6.96 |
Top Michigan to Utah Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Michigan to Utah movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.