Minnesota to Washington Moving Guide
Updated June 23, 2025

Planning a 1,472 mile interstate move from Minnesota to Washington? This moving guide will help you compare living in Minnesota vs Washington across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like severe winter cold vs mild winter climate), food & health (like Hotdish vs Seafood (Salmon)), real estate & housing (cape cod, ranch vs northwest contemporary, craftsman), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Washington), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Hotdish and Walleye, but get your taste buds ready for Seafood (Salmon) & Applewood Smoked Salmon
- Washington housing costs are 79% more expensive than they are in Minnesota
- Rent in Washington is 18.32% more expensive than in Minnesota
- Moving from Minnesota to Washington will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,500
- Our top recommended Minnesota to Washington movers is Seattle Moves & More
Minnesota to Washington Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Minnesota to Washington
- Severe winter cold
- Limited mountain landscape
- Fewer seafood options
- Less cultural diversity
- Mild winter climate
- Abundant mountainous terrain
- Fresh seafood availability
- Rich cultural scene
- Frequent rainfall
- Higher cost of living
- Heavy urban traffic
- Expensive property prices
- Beautiful lakes
- Friendly communities
- Low traffic congestion
- Affordable housing
Pros of moving from Minnesota to Washington
- Say goodbye to severe winter cold and hello to a mild winter climate
- Look forward to moving away from a limited mountain landscape and moving to Washington with abundant mountainous terrain
- Swap the fewer seafood options of Minnesota for fresh seafood availability in Washington
- Get ready for a rich cultural scene in Washington
Cons of moving from Minnesota to Washington
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from beautiful lakes in Minnesota to live with frequent rainfall in Washington
- You'll lose out on the pro of friendly communities and have to settle for the con of a higher cost of living
- Time to bid farewell to low traffic congestion and get used to heavy urban traffic in Washington
- Swap affordable housing for expensive property prices
Minnesota vs. Washington: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Minnesota | Washington |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Hotdish | Seafood (Salmon) |
Most popular meat dish | Walleye | Applewood Smoked Salmon |
Most popular street food item | Jucy Lucy | Teriyaki |
Most popular vegan food | Wild Rice Soup | Foraged Mushrooms Dishes |
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 Washington, you will be trading the iconic Hotdish of Minnesota for the equally delicious Seafood (Salmon) of Washington. And while the locals in Minnesota rave about their flavorful Walleye and sumptuous Jucy Lucy, Washington residents know they have tasty Applewood Smoked Salmon and Teriyaki 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 Foraged Mushroom Dishes of Washington. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Minnesota eateries like Matt's Bar, Manny's Steakhouse, and Cafe Alma. 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 Salumi.
When comparing lifestyles, Washington shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Minnesota. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Washington compared to what you are used to in Minnesota. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Washington.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Minnesota and Washington
Comparison | Minnesota | Washington |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Cape Cod, Ranch | Northwest Contemporary, Craftsman |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Lakeside view, Large yards | Eco-friendly features, Proximity to tech hubs |
- The Cape Cod and Ranch architecture that Minnesota is known for will be replaced with the Northwest Contemporary and Craftsman architecture typical of Washington.
- Compared to Minnesota's real estate listings that commonly reference lakeside views and large yards, Washington real estate listings often highlight features like eco-friendly elements and proximity to tech hubs.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Washington is more walkable than Minnesota.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Washington is more bike-friendly than Minnesota.
- Washington has more of an urban feel than Minnesota.
- Washington housing costs are 79% more expensive than they are in Minnesota, with a median home price of $591,148 compared to Minnesotaβs $331,117.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Washington have increased by 49% compared to a 33% increase in Minnesota.
- Rent in Washington is 18.32% more expensive than in Minnesota.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Minnesota and Washington
Comparison | Minnesota | 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 | Blizzards, Tornadoes | Earthquakes, Volcanoes |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 83Β°F / 63Β°F | 75Β°F / 55Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 24Β°F / 7Β°F | 47Β°F / 37Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 30.16" | 38.19" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 54" | 16" |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Minnesota to Washington. Washington gets 23% fewer sunshine days than Minnesota.
- Washington has higher humidity and a similar average UV index compared to Minnesota.
- Say goodbye to the possible blizzards and tornadoes in Minnesota, 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 8 degrees colder than in Minnesota.
- The average winter lows are 30 degrees warmer than they are in Minnesota.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Washington. Washington receives 8.0 more inches of rain compared to Minnesota.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Minnesota and Washington
Comparison | Minnesota | Washington |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $82,338 | $91,306 |
Cost of Living Index | 98.75 | 104.1 |
State Income Tax | 5.35% | 0% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.05% | 0.93% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 7.13% | 9.23% |
Top 3 Industries | Manufacturing, Retail, Healthcare | Tech, Aerospace, Agriculture |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Low | Moderate |
Homelessness | Minimal | Notable |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Washington tend to earn about 11% more than those in Minnesota
- The COLI in Washington is 5% higher than what you are used to living in Minnesota
- Hooray, moving to WA means you'll no longer have state income taxes
- The affluence in Washington is high compared to moderate affluence in Minnesota
- The poverty level is moderate in Washington compared to low in Minnesota
- In terms of homelessness, it is minimal in Minnesota and notable in Washington
Political and Religious Climate in Minnesota vs. Washington
Comparison | Minnesota | Washington |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Mixed, with a tendency towards liberal in urban areas | Largely liberal, especially in metropolitan areas |
Local Politics | Local government has varying political leanings based on region | <a href="https://wa.gov/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Local government</a> generally supports progressive policies |
Religion | Diverse, Christianity predominant | Religiously diverse, with a higher percentage of unaffiliated individuals |
- Minnesota tends to lean mixed, with a tendency towards liberal in urban areas in its political climate
- Washington, on the other hand, is often described as largely liberal, especially in metropolitan areas
- Washington's religious environment can be described as religiously diverse, with a higher percentage of unaffiliated individuals
- Minnesota's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as diverse, with Christianity being predominant
Education Guide When Moving from Minnesota to Washington
Comparison | Minnesota | Washington |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Minnesota Twin Cities; Minnesota State University Mankato; University of St. Thomas | University of Washington Seattle; Washington State University Pullman; Western Washington University Bellingham |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Creekside Elementary Chanhassen; Excelsior Elementary Excelsior; Scenic Heights Elementary Minnetonka | Cascade Ridge Elementary Sammamish; Endeavour Elementary Issaquah; Medina Elementary Medina |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Wayzata Central Middle School Plymouth; Minnetonka Middle School East Minnetonka; Eastern Middle School Maplewood | International School Bellevue; Pine Lake Middle School Sammamish; Islander Middle School Mercer Island |
Top 3 High School Schools | Edina High School Edina; Minnetonka High School Minnetonka; Wayzata High School Plymouth | Bellevue High School Bellevue; Interlake Senior High School Bellevue; Redmond High School Redmond |
Top 3 private high schools | Breck School Minneapolis; St. Paul Academy Saint Paul; The Blake School Minneapolis | Lakeside School Seattle; The Overlake School Redmond; Seattle Academy Seattle |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Blake School Minneapolis; Breck School Minneapolis; Minnehaha Academy Minneapolis | Bear Creek School Redmond; Seattle Country Day School Seattle; Lakeside School Seattle |
Top 3 School Districts | Eden Prairie School District; Minnetonka Public School District; Edina Public School District | Issaquah School District; Lake Washington School District; Bellevue School District |
How Much Do Minnesota to Washington Movers Cost?
Moving 1,472 miles from Minnesota to Washington will typically cost between $3,000 and $7,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,000 - $7,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 3-6 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Metro Movers
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,037 | 300 ft3 | $6.79 |
1 Bedroom | $3,033 | 450 ft3 | $6.74 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,018 | 750 ft3 | $6.69 |
3 Bedrooms | $7,304 | 1100 ft3 | $6.64 |
4 Bedrooms | $10,544 | 1600 ft3 | $6.59 |
5+ Bedrooms | $11,772 | 1800 ft3 | $6.54 |
Top Minnesota to Washington Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Minnesota to Washington movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.
Seattle Moves & More
Best moving company overall for Minnesota to Washington