Minnesota to DC Moving Guide
Updated June 18, 2025

Planning a 1,261 mile interstate move from Minnesota to DC? This moving guide will help you compare living in Minnesota vs DC across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winters vs milder climate), food & health (like Hotdish vs Half-smoke), real estate & housing (craftsman, ramblers vs victorian, federal), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in DC), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Hotdish and Walleye, but get your taste buds ready for Half-smoke & Mumbo sauce with wings
- DC housing costs are 87% more expensive than they are in Minnesota
- Rent in DC is 43.99% more expensive than in Minnesota
- Moving from Minnesota to DC will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,000
- Our top recommended Minnesota to DC movers is Bookstore Movers
Minnesota to DC Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Minnesota to DC
- Harsh winters
- Limited public transit
- Fewer cultural events
- Lower job opportunities in politics
- Milder climate
- Robust metro system
- Numerous events and museums
- Political hub of the U.S.
- Busy urban life
- High cost of living
- Lack of natural water features
- Transient environment
- Friendly communities
- Affordability
- Beautiful lakes
- Close-knit neighborhoods
Pros of moving from Minnesota to DC
- Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to a milder climate
- Look forward to moving away from limited public transit and moving to DC with a robust metro system
- Swap the fewer cultural events of Minnesota for the numerous events and museums in DC
- Get ready for the political hub of the U.S. in DC
Cons of moving from Minnesota to DC
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from friendly communities in Minnesota to live with the busy urban life in DC
- You'll lose out on the pro of affordability and have to settle for the con of a high cost of living
- Time to bid farewell to beautiful lakes and get used to the lack of natural water features in DC
- Swap close-knit neighborhoods for a transient environment
Minnesota vs. DC: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Minnesota | DC |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Hotdish | Half-smoke |
Most popular meat dish | Walleye | Mumbo sauce with wings |
Most popular street food item | Jucy Lucy | Food trucks offerings |
Most popular vegan food | Wild rice soup | Vegan Ethiopian cuisine |
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 Minnesota to DC, you will be trading the iconic Hotdish of Minnesota for the equally delicious Half-smoke of DC. And while the locals in Minnesota rave about their flavorful Walleye and sumptuous Jucy Lucy, DC residents know they have tasty Mumbo sauce with wings and food truck offerings to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Wild Rice Soup they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Vegan Ethiopian cuisine of DC. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Minnesota eateries like Matt's Bar, Spoon and Stable, and The Bachelor Farmer. 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 Minnesota. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in DC compared to what you are used to in Minnesota. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in DC.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Minnesota and DC
Comparison | Minnesota | DC |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Craftsman, Ramblers | Victorian, Federal |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Lake access, spacious yards | Proximity to metro, historic charm |
- The Craftsman and Rambler architecture that Minnesota is known for will be replaced with the Victorian and Federal architecture typical of DC.
- Compared to Minnesota's real estate listings that commonly reference lake access and spacious yards, DC real estate listings often highlight features like proximity to metro and historic charm.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes; DC is more walkable than Minnesota.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; DC is more bike-friendly than Minnesota.
- DC has more of an urban feel than Minnesota.
- DC housing costs are 87% more expensive than they are in Minnesota, with a median home price of $619,320 compared to Minnesotaβs $331,117.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in DC have increased by 8% compared to a 33% increase in Minnesota.
- Rent in DC is 43.99% more expensive than in Minnesota.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Minnesota and DC
Comparison | Minnesota | DC |
---|---|---|
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, Tornadoes | Hurricanes, Floods |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 83/63 | 89/71 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 24/8 | 47/28 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 30 | 40 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 54 | 15 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Minnesota to DC. DC gets 3% more sunshine days than Minnesota.
- DC has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Minnesota.
- Say goodbye to the possible blizzards and tornadoes in Minnesota, but be on the lookout for potential hurricanes and floods in DC.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in DC is 6 degrees warmer than Minnesota.
- The average winter lows in DC are 20 degrees warmer than they are in Minnesota.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in DC. DC receives 10 more inches of rain compared to Minnesota.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Minnesota and DC
Comparison | Minnesota | DC |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $82,338 | $101,027 |
Cost of Living Index | 98.75 | 140.1 |
State Income Tax | 5.35% - 9.85% | 4% - 10.75% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.08% | 0.55% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.88% | 6% |
Top 3 Industries | Healthcare, Manufacturing, Agriculture | Government, Education, Public Policy |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Low | Moderate |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in DC tend to earn about 23% more than in Minnesota
- The COLI in DC will be 42% higher than what you are used to living in Minnesota
- The state income tax in DC is 4% - 10.75% compared to 5.35% - 9.85% in MN
- The affluence in DC is high compared to moderate in Minnesota
- The poverty level is moderate in DC compared to low in Minnesota
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Minnesota and moderate in DC
Political and Religious Climate in Minnesota vs. DC
Comparison | Minnesota | DC |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Democratic | Strongly Democratic |
Local Politics | Progressive in urban areas, conservative in rural | Progressive across the city |
Religion | Mixed, with a significant Christian population | Diverse, but less religiously affiliated overall |
- Minnesota tends to lean Democratic in its political climate
- DC, on the other hand, is often described as strongly Democratic
- DC's religious environment can be described as diverse but less religiously affiliated overall
- Minnesota's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as mixed with a significant Christian population
Education Guide When Moving from Minnesota to DC
Comparison | Minnesota | DC |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Minnesota Carleton College Macalester College | George Washington University Georgetown University American University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Scenic Heights Elementary (Minnetonka) Creek Valley Elementary (Edina) Deephaven Elementary (Minnetonka) | Lafayette Elementary School (Washington) Janney Elementary School (Washington) Mann Elementary School (Washington) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Wayzata East Middle School (Plymouth) Minnetonka Middle School East (Minnetonka) Eden Prairie Central Middle School (Eden Prairie) | Deal Middle School (Washington) Hardy Middle School (Washington) Alice Deal Middle School (Washington) |
Top 3 High School Schools | Edina High School (Edina) Minnetonka High School (Minnetonka) Wayzata High School (Plymouth) | Benjamin Banneker Academic High School (Washington) School Without Walls High School (Washington) Wilson High School (Washington) |
Top 3 private high schools | Breck School (Minneapolis) Blake School (Hopkins) St. Paul Academy (St. Paul) | Sidwell Friends School (Washington) Georgetown Day School (Washington) National Cathedral School (Washington) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Blake School (Hopkins) Breck School (Minneapolis) Minnehaha Academy (Minneapolis) | Sidwell Friends School (Washington) Georgetown Day School (Washington) Maret School (Washington) |
Top 3 School Districts | Edina Public Schools Minnetonka Public School District Wayzata Public Schools | District of Columbia Public Schools |
How Much Do Minnesota to DC Movers Cost?
Moving 1,261 miles from Minnesota to DC will typically cost between $3,000 and $7,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,000 - $7,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-6 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Metro Movers
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,917 | 300 ft3 | $6.39 |
1 Bedroom | $2,854 | 450 ft3 | $6.34 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,718 | 750 ft3 | $6.29 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,865 | 1100 ft3 | $6.24 |
4 Bedrooms | $9,906 | 1600 ft3 | $6.19 |
5+ Bedrooms | $11,054 | 1800 ft3 | $6.14 |
Top Minnesota to DC Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Minnesota to DC movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.