Missouri to Idaho Moving Guide
Updated June 7, 2025

Planning a 1,591 mile interstate move from Missouri to Idaho? This moving guide will help you compare living in Missouri vs Idaho across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like hot, humid summers vs cooler, dry summers), food & health (like St. Louis-style Pizza vs Idaho Potatoes), real estate & housing (colonial, ranch vs craftsman, ranch), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Idaho), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to St. Louis-style Pizza and Kansas City barbecue, but get your taste buds ready for Idaho Potatoes & Boise River Steelhead Trout
- Idaho housing costs are 86% more expensive than they are in Missouri
- Rent in Idaho is 21.03% more expensive than in Missouri
- Moving from Missouri to Idaho will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,500
- Our top recommended Missouri to Idaho movers is Sunrise Moving and Packing, LLC
Missouri to Idaho Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Missouri to Idaho
- Hot, humid summers
- Tornadoes
- Dense population
- Traffic congestion
- Limited mountain views
- Cooler, dry summers
- Low tornado risk
- More open spaces
- Less traffic
- Scenic mountains
- Quieter evenings
- Less diverse culture
- Fewer urban experiences
- Limited dining variety
- Fewer outdoor festivals
- Vibrant nightlife
- Rich cultural history
- St. Louis attractions
- BBQ and culinary scene
- Ski resorts
Pros of moving from Missouri to Idaho
- Say goodbye to hot, humid summers and hello to cooler, dry summers
- Look forward to moving away from tornadoes and moving to Idaho with low tornado risk
- Swap the dense population of Missouri for more open spaces in Idaho
- Get ready for less traffic in Idaho
Cons of moving from Missouri to Idaho
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from vibrant nightlife in Missouri to live with quieter evenings in Idaho
- You'll lose out on the pro of rich cultural history and have to settle for the con of less diverse culture
- Time to bid farewell to St. Louis attractions and get used to fewer urban experiences in Idaho
- Swap BBQ and the culinary scene for limited dining variety
Missouri vs. Idaho: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Missouri | Idaho |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | St. Louis-style Pizza | Idaho Potatoes |
Most popular meat dish | Kansas City barbecue | Boise River Steelhead Trout |
Most popular street food item | Toasted Ravioli | Idaho Fry Company Fries |
Most popular vegan food | BBQ Jackfruit | Vegan Huckleberry Shakes |
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 Missouri to Idaho, you will be trading the iconic St. Louis-style Pizza of Missouri for the equally delicious Idaho Potatoes of Idaho. And while the locals in Missouri rave about their flavorful Kansas City barbecue and sumptuous Toasted Ravioli, Idaho residents know they have tasty Boise River Steelhead Trout and Idaho Fry Company Fries to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the BBQ Jackfruit they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Vegan Huckleberry Shakes of Idaho. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Missouri eateries like Pappy's Smokehouse, Gooey Louie, and Bluestem. After the boxes are unpacked in Idaho, don't wait too long before making your way to Idaho's acclaimed eateries like State & Lemp, Fork, and Westside Drive-In.
When comparing lifestyles, Idaho shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Missouri. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Idaho, compared to what you are used to in Missouri. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Idaho.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Missouri and Idaho
Comparison | Missouri | Idaho |
---|---|---|
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 | Spacious backyards, proximity to schools | Views, access to outdoor recreation |
- The Colonial and Ranch architecture that Missouri is known for will be replaced with the Craftsman and Ranch architecture typical of Idaho.
- Compared to Missouri's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious backyards and proximity to schools, Idaho real estate listings often highlight features like views and access to outdoor recreation.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Idaho is less walkable than Missouri.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike; Idaho is less bike-friendly than Missouri.
- Idaho has less of an urban feel than Missouri.
- Idaho housing costs are 86% more expensive than they are in Missouri, with a median home price of $451,298 compared to Missouriβs $243,216.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Idaho have increased by 69% compared to a 49% increase in Missouri.
- Rent in Idaho is 21.03% more expensive than in Missouri.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Missouri and Idaho
Comparison | Missouri | Idaho |
---|---|---|
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 | Tornadoes, floods | Wildfires, earthquakes |
Air Quality | Good to moderate | Varies, generally good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 89/67 | 85/54 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 44/24 | 37/20 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 42 | 22 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 18 | 50 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Missouri to Idaho. Idaho gets 4% fewer sunshine days than Missouri.
- Idaho has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Missouri.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and floods in Missouri, but be on the lookout for potential wildfires and earthquakes in Idaho.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Idaho is 4 degrees colder than in Missouri.
- The average winter lows are 4 degrees colder than they are in Missouri.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Idaho. Idaho receives 20 fewer inches of rain compared to Missouri.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Missouri and Idaho
Comparison | Missouri | Idaho |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $64,811 | $72,785 |
Cost of Living Index | 91.8 | 91.5 |
State Income Tax | 5.4% | 6.9% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.97% | 0.63% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 4.225% | 6% |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Aerospace, Manufacturing | Agriculture, Technology, Tourism |
Affluence | Moderate | Moderate |
Poverty | Notable | Moderate |
Homelessness | Visible | Less Common |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Idaho tend to earn about 12% more than in Missouri
- The COLI in Idaho will be 0% lower than what you are used to living in Missouri
- The state income tax in ID is 6.9% compared to 5.4% in MO
- The affluence in Idaho is moderate compared to moderate in Missouri
- The poverty level is moderate in Idaho compared to notable in Missouri
- In terms of homelessness, it is visible in Missouri and less common in Idaho
Political and Religious Climate in Missouri vs. Idaho
Comparison | Missouri | Idaho |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Traditionally swing state, recent lean towards conservative | Strongly conservative |
Local Politics | Mix of urban liberal areas and rural conservative communities | Largely rural conservative, with some liberal pockets in urban areas |
Religion | Christianity predominant, diverse religious communities in urban areas | Christianity predominant, with a notable presence of the LDS (Mormon) Church |
- Missouri tends to lean traditionally as a swing state and has recently leaned towards conservative in its political climate
- Idaho, on the other hand, is often described as strongly conservative
- Idaho's religious environment can be described as predominantly Christianity, with a notable presence of the LDS (Mormon) Church
- Missouri's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as predominantly Christianity and diverse religious communities in urban areas
Education Guide When Moving from Missouri to Idaho
Comparison | Missouri | Idaho |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Missouri Missouri State University University of Central Missouri | Boise State University University of Idaho Idaho State University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Conway Elementary Ladue; Mason Ridge Elementary Town and Country; W. W. Keysor Elementary Kirkwood | Longfellow Elementary Boise; White Pine Elementary Boise; Roosevelt Elementary Boise |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Ladue Middle Ladue; Wydown Middle Clayton; Wildwood Middle Wildwood | North Junior High Boise; Les Bois Junior High Boise; Hillside Junior High Boise |
Top 3 High School Schools | Clayton High Clayton; Ladue Horton Watkins High Ladue; Kirkwood High Kirkwood | Boise High Boise; Timberline High Boise; Capital High Boise |
Top 3 private high schools | St. Louis University High St. Louis; Mary Institute and St. Louis Country Day School St. Louis; The Pembroke Hill School Kansas City | The Ambrose School Meridian; Bishop Kelly High School Boise; Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy Coeur d'Alene |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Barstow School Kansas City; Crossroads College Preparatory School St. Louis; Pembroke Hill School Kansas City | The Ambrose School Meridian; Riverstone International School Boise; Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy Coeur d'Alene |
Top 3 School Districts | Ladue School District Clayton School District Kirkwood School District | Boise School District Blaine County School District Coeur d'Alene School District |
How Much Do Missouri to Idaho Movers Cost?
Moving 1,591 miles from Missouri to Idaho 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: 3-9 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Valley Custom Moving
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,104 | 300 ft3 | $7.01 |
1 Bedroom | $3,134 | 450 ft3 | $6.96 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,186 | 750 ft3 | $6.91 |
3 Bedrooms | $7,551 | 1100 ft3 | $6.86 |
4 Bedrooms | $10,904 | 1600 ft3 | $6.81 |
5+ Bedrooms | $12,177 | 1800 ft3 | $6.76 |
Top Missouri to Idaho Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Missouri to Idaho movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Sunrise Moving and Packing, LLC
Best moving company overall for Missouri to Idaho