Missouri to Washington Moving Guide
Updated June 13, 2025

Planning a 1,982 mile interstate move from Missouri to Washington? This moving guide will help you compare living in Missouri vs Washington across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like hot summers vs cooler climate), food & health (like St. Louis-style pizza vs Salmon), real estate & housing (colonial, ranch vs modern, craftsman), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes, politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to St. Louis-style pizza and Kansas City barbecue, but get your taste buds ready for Salmon & Pacific Northwest seafood
- Washington housing costs are 143% more expensive than they are in Missouri
- Rent in Washington is 47.72% more expensive than in Missouri
- Moving from Missouri to Washington will cost on average between $2,500 - $8,500
- Our top recommended Missouri to Washington movers is Sunrise Moving and Packing, LLC
Missouri to Washington Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Missouri to Washington
- Hot summers
- Limited public transit
- Flat landscapes
- Tornado risk
- Cooler climate
- Extensive transit options
- Scenic mountains
- Less severe weather
- Higher expenses
- Less personal connection
- Adapting to diversity
- Higher dining costs
- Lower cost of living
- Friendly communities
- Rich local traditions
- Plentiful barbecues
Pros of moving from Missouri to Washington
- Say goodbye to hot summers and hello to a cooler climate
- Look forward to moving away from limited public transit and moving to Washington with extensive transit options
- Swap the flat landscapes of Missouri for scenic mountains in Washington
- Get ready for less severe weather in Washington
Cons of moving from Missouri to Washington
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from a lower cost of living in Missouri to live with higher expenses in Washington
- You'll lose out on the pro of friendly communities and have to settle for the con of less personal connection
- Time to bid farewell to rich local traditions and get used to adapting to diversity in Washington
- Swap plentiful barbecues for higher dining costs
Missouri vs. Washington: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Missouri | Washington |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | St. Louis-style pizza | Salmon |
Most popular meat dish | Kansas City barbecue | Pacific Northwest seafood |
Most popular street food item | Toasted Ravioli | Fish Tacos |
Most popular vegan food | BBQ Jackfruit | 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 Missouri to Washington, you will be trading the iconic St. Louis-style pizza of Missouri for the equally delicious salmon of Washington. And while the locals in Missouri rave about their flavorful Kansas City barbecue and sumptuous toasted ravioli, Washington residents know they have tasty Pacific Northwest seafood and fish tacos 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 quinoa salad of Washington. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Missouri eateries like Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que, Pappy's Smokehouse, and Blue Bird Bistro. After the boxes are unpacked in Washington, don't wait too long before making your way to Washington's acclaimed eateries like Canlis, Salumi, and Pike Place Chowder.
When comparing lifestyles, Washington shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Missouri. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Washington, compared to what you are used to in Missouri. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Washington.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Missouri and Washington
Comparison | Missouri | Washington |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Ranch | Modern, Craftsman |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious yards, Quiet neighborhoods | Eco-friendly features, Proximity to nature |
- The Colonial and Ranch architecture that Missouri is known for will be replaced with the Modern and Craftsman architecture typical of Washington.
- Compared to Missouri's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious yards and quiet neighborhoods, Washington real estate listings often highlight features like eco-friendly aspects and proximity to nature.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Washington is more walkable than Missouri.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Washington is more bike-friendly than Missouri.
- Washington has more of an urban feel than Missouri.
- Washington housing costs are 143% more expensive than they are in Missouri, with a median home price of $591,148 compared to Missouriβs $243,216.
- Over the prior five years, home prices in Washington have increased by 49% compared to a 49% increase in Missouri.
- Rent in Washington is 47.72% more expensive than in Missouri.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Missouri and Washington
Comparison | Missouri | 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 | Tornadoes, Floods | Volcanoes, Earthquakes |
Air Quality | Moderate | Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 89/67 | 75/55 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 40/20 | 47/36 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 42 | 38 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 18 | 50* |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Missouri to Washington. Washington gets 26% fewer sunshine days than Missouri.
- Washington 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 volcanoes and earthquakes in Washington.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Washington is 14 degrees colder than in Missouri.
- The average winter lows are 16 degrees warmer than they are in Missouri.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Washington. Washington receives 4 fewer inches of rain compared to Missouri.
Political and Religious Climate in Missouri vs. Washington
Comparison | Missouri | Washington |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Leans Republican | Leans Democratic |
Local Politics | Moderately conservative in rural areas | Liberal, especially in urban areas |
Religion | Christianity predominant, with strong Evangelical presence | More secular, diverse religious landscapes |
- Missouri tends to lean Republican in its political climate
- Washington, on the other hand, is often described as leaning Democratic
- Washington's religious environment can be described as more secular and diverse with religious landscapes
- Missouri's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as predominantly Christianity, with a strong Evangelical presence
Education Guide When Moving from Missouri to Washington
Comparison | Missouri | Washington |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Missouri Missouri State University University of Missouri-Kansas City | University of Washington Washington State University Western Washington University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Conway Elementary (St. Louis) Mason Ridge Elementary (Town and Country) John Thomas School of Discovery (Nixa) | East Ridge Elementary (Woodinville) Cascadia Elementary (Seattle) Clara Barton Elementary (Redmond) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Central Middle (Chesterfield) Ladue Middle (Ladue) Pembroke Hill Middle (Kansas City) | International School (Bellevue) Odle Middle (Bellevue) Lakeside Middle (Seattle) |
Top 3 High School Schools | Clayton High (Clayton) Ladue Horton Watkins High (Ladue) Pembroke Hill School (Kansas City) | Lakeside School (Seattle) Newport High (Bellevue) International School (Bellevue) |
Top 3 private high schools | St. Louis University High (St. Louis) Pembroke Hill School (Kansas City) John Burroughs School (St. Louis) | Lakeside School (Seattle) The Overlake School (Redmond) Eastside Preparatory School (Kirkland) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Thomas Jefferson School (St. Louis) The Barstow School (Kansas City) Pembroke Hill School (Kansas City) | The Bush School (Seattle) Lakeside School (Seattle) The Overlake School (Redmond) |
Top 3 School Districts | Clayton School District (Clayton) Ladue School District (Ladue) Park Hill School District (Kansas City) | Bellevue School District (Bellevue) Mercer Island School District (Mercer Island) Lake Washington School District (Redmond) |
How Much Do Missouri to Washington Movers Cost?
Moving 1,982 miles from Missouri to Washington will typically cost between $3,500 and $8,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,500 - $8,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 3-7 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: John Volken Academy Movers
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,326 | 300 ft3 | $7.75 |
1 Bedroom | $3,467 | 450 ft3 | $7.70 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,740 | 750 ft3 | $7.65 |
3 Bedrooms | $8,364 | 1100 ft3 | $7.60 |
4 Bedrooms | $12,086 | 1600 ft3 | $7.55 |
5+ Bedrooms | $13,507 | 1800 ft3 | $7.50 |
Top Missouri to Washington Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Missouri to Washington movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

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