Missouri to Michigan Moving Guide
Want help with the heavy lifting?
Updated August 20, 2025
Planning a 657 mile interstate move from Missouri to Michigan? This moving guide will help you compare living in Missouri vs Michigan across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like hot, humid summers vs cooler, milder climate), food & health (like St. Louis-style pizza vs Detroit-style pizza), real estate & housing (craftsman, ranch vs colonial, ranch), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Michigan), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to St. Louis-style pizza and Smoked brisket, but get your taste buds ready for Detroit-style pizza & Pasties
- Michigan housing costs are 1% less expensive than they are in Missouri
- Rent in Michigan is 8.68% more expensive than in Missouri
- Moving from Missouri to Michigan will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,500
- Our top recommended Missouri to Michigan movers is Pro-Low Moving

Top Missouri to Michigan Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Missouri to Michigan movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Pro-Low Moving
Best moving company overall for Missouri to Michigan

Sunrise Moving and Packing, LLC

Tiger Moving LLC
Missouri to Michigan Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Missouri to Michigan
- Hot, humid summers
- Pollen allergies
- Limited job market
- Risk of tornadoes
- Less natural water
- Cooler, milder climate
- Less pollen
- Diverse job opportunities
- Lower tornado risk
- Great Lakes access
- Higher living costs
- More reserved locals
- Pothole issues
- Less BBQ influence
- Harsh winters
- Affordable living
- Friendly communities
- Smooth roads
- Barbecue culture
- Rich history
Pros of moving from Missouri to Michigan
- Say goodbye to hot, humid summers and hello to a cooler, milder climate
- Look forward to moving away from pollen allergies and moving to Michigan with less pollen
- Swap the limited job market of Missouri for diverse job opportunities in Michigan
- Get ready for a lower tornado risk in Michigan
Cons of moving from Missouri to Michigan
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from affordable living in Missouri to live with higher living costs in Michigan
- You'll lose out on the pro of friendly communities and have to settle for the con of more reserved locals
- Time to bid farewell to smooth roads and get used to pothole issues in Michigan
- Swap barbecue culture for less BBQ influence
Missouri vs. Michigan: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Missouri | Michigan |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | St. Louis-style pizza | Detroit-style pizza |
Most popular meat dish | Smoked brisket | Pasties |
Most popular street food item | Toasted ravioli | Coney dogs |
Most popular vegan food | Jackfruit BBQ | Lentil burgers |
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 Michigan, you will be trading the iconic St. Louis-style pizza of Missouri for the equally delicious Detroit-style pizza of Michigan. And while the locals in Missouri rave about their flavorful smoked brisket and sumptuous toasted ravioli, Michigan residents know they have tasty pasties and Coney dogs to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the jackfruit BBQ they've grown to love, they can get ready for the lentil burgers of Michigan. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Missouri eateries like Pappy's Smokehouse, Blueberry Hill, and Sugarfire Smoke House. After the boxes are unpacked in Michigan, don't wait too long before making your way to Michigan's acclaimed eateries like Slows Bar BQ, Lafayette Coney Island, and Zingerman's Delicatessen.
When comparing lifestyles, Michigan shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Missouri. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Michigan, compared to what you are used to in Missouri. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Michigan.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Missouri and Michigan
Comparison | Missouri | Michigan |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Craftsman, Ranch | Colonial, Ranch |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious yards, Quiet neighborhoods | Lake access, Natural light |
- The Craftsman and Ranch architecture that Missouri is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Ranch architecture typical of Michigan.
- Compared to Missouri's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious yards and quiet neighborhoods, Michigan real estate listings often highlight features like lake access and natural light.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away. Michigan is less walkable than Missouri.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Michigan is more bike-friendly than Missouri.
- Michigan has less of an urban feel than Missouri.
- Michigan housing costs are 1% less expensive than they are in Missouri, with a median home price of $239,770 compared to Missouriβs $243,216.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Michigan have increased by 45% compared to a 49% increase in Missouri.
- Rent in Michigan is 8.68% more expensive than in Missouri.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Missouri and Michigan
Comparison | Missouri | Michigan |
---|---|---|
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 | Snowstorms, Ice storms |
Air Quality | Good to Moderate | Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 89/67 | 81/60 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 40/21 | 31/18 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 42 | 32 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 20 | 60 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Missouri to Michigan. Michigan gets 17% fewer sunshine days than Missouri.
- Michigan has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Missouri.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and floods in Missouri, but be on the lookout for potential snowstorms and ice storms in Michigan.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Michigan is 8 degrees colder than in Missouri.
- The average winter lows are 3 degrees colder than they are in Missouri.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Michigan. Michigan receives 10 fewer inches of rain compared to Missouri.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Missouri and Michigan
Comparison | Missouri | Michigan |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $64,811 | $66,986 |
Cost of Living Index | 91.8 | 91.2 |
State Income Tax | 5.4% | 4.25% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.93% | 1.54% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 8.68% | 6% |
Top 3 Industries | Healthcare, Manufacturing, Retail | Automotive, Technology, Agriculture |
Affluence | Moderate | Varied |
Poverty | Moderate | Varied |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Michigan tend to earn about 3% more than those in Missouri
- The COLI in Michigan will be 1% lower than what you are used to living in Missouri
- The state income tax in MI is 4.25% compared to 5.4% in MO
- The affluence in Michigan is varied compared to moderate affluence in Missouri
- The poverty level is varied in Michigan compared to moderate poverty in Missouri
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Missouri and moderate in Michigan
Political and Religious Climate in Missouri vs. Michigan
Comparison | Missouri | Michigan |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Generally Republican-leaning in federal and statewide races; GOP holds most statewide offices and legislative supermajorities. Urban cores (St. Louis, Kansas City, Columbia) lean Democratic; rural and many suburban areas lean Republican. | Competitive swing state. Recent statewide results often favor Democrats, with urban centers strongly Democratic, many suburbs competitive, and rural/northern areas more Republican-leaning. |
Local Politics | State legislature dominated by Republicans. Local governments vary: St. Louis and Kansas City areas are Democratic-leaning; many rural counties are conservative. Common local issues include taxes, agriculture, public safety, and gun policy. | Democratic governor and, recently, Democratic control of the state legislature. Cities like Detroit, Ann Arbor, Lansing, and Grand Rapids lean Democratic; parts of western and northern Michigan are more conservative. Common local issues include manufacturing and labor, Great Lakes/environment, and infrastructure. |
Religion | Higher share of Evangelical Protestants than the national average, with notable Mainline Protestant and Catholic communities. Religious service attendance tends to be relatively high; religiously unaffiliated share is growing. | Larger Catholic share than Missouri, alongside substantial Mainline and Evangelical Protestant communities. Notable Muslim communities in southeast Michigan. Religiously unaffiliated share is significant and growing. |
- Missouri tends to lean generally Republican in its political climate
- Michigan, on the other hand, is often described as a competitive swing state
- Michigan's religious environment can be described as having a larger Catholic share than Missouri alongside substantial Mainline and Evangelical Protestant communities, with notable Muslim communities in southeast Michigan; the religiously unaffiliated share is significant and growing
- Missouri's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as having a higher share of Evangelical Protestants than the national average, with notable Mainline Protestant and Catholic communities; religious service attendance tends to be relatively high and the religiously unaffiliated share is growing
How Much Do Missouri to Michigan Movers Cost?
Moving 657 miles from Missouri to Michigan will typically cost between $2,500 and $5,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,500 - $5,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 3-10 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Pro-Low Moving
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,575 | 300 ft3 | $5.25 |
1 Bedroom | $2,340 | 450 ft3 | $5.20 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,862 | 750 ft3 | $5.15 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,610 | 1100 ft3 | $5.10 |
4 Bedrooms | $8,080 | 1600 ft3 | $5.05 |
5+ Bedrooms | $9,000 | 1800 ft3 | $5.00 |