Pennsylvania to DC Moving Guide
Updated June 11, 2025

Planning a 216 mile interstate move from Pennsylvania to DC? This moving guide will help you compare living in Pennsylvania vs DC across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winters vs milder climate), food & health (like Philly Cheesesteak vs Half-Smoke), real estate & housing (colonial, farmhouse vs victorian, row houses), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in DC), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Philly Cheesesteak and Pork and Sauerkraut, but get your taste buds ready for Half-Smoke & Mumbo Sauce Chicken Wings
- DC housing costs are 137% more expensive than they are in Pennsylvania
- Rent in DC is 61.71% more expensive than in Pennsylvania
- Moving from Pennsylvania to DC will cost on average between $1,000 - $4,000
- Our top recommended Pennsylvania to DC movers is Pittsburgh Moving
Top Pennsylvania to DC Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Pennsylvania to DC movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Pittsburgh Moving
Best moving company overall for Pennsylvania to DC

Bookstore Movers

Mic's Moving
Pennsylvania to DC Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Pennsylvania to DC
- Harsh winters
- Limited public transit
- Less cultural diversity
- Milder climate
- Extensive Metro system
- Rich cultural scene
- Higher expense
- Noisy urban life
- More transient population
- Lower cost of living
- Quieter suburbs
- Close-knit communities
Pros of moving from Pennsylvania 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 an extensive Metro system
- Swap the less cultural diversity of Pennsylvania for a rich cultural scene in DC
Cons of moving from Pennsylvania to DC
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from a lower cost of living in Pennsylvania to live with a higher expense in DC
- You'll lose out on the pro of quieter suburbs and have to settle with the con of a noisy urban life
- Time to bid farewell to close-knit communities and get used to a more transient population in DC
Pennsylvania vs. DC: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Pennsylvania | DC |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Philly Cheesesteak | Half-Smoke |
Most popular meat dish | Pork and Sauerkraut | Mumbo Sauce Chicken Wings |
Most popular street food item | Pretzels | Falafel |
Most popular vegan food | Seitan Cheesesteak | Vegan Soul Food |
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 Pennsylvania to DC, you will be trading the iconic Philly Cheesesteak of Pennsylvania for the equally delicious Half-Smoke of DC. And while the locals in Pennsylvania rave about their flavorful Pork and Sauerkraut and sumptuous Pretzels, DC residents know they have tasty Mumbo Sauce Chicken Wings and Falafel to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Seitan Cheesesteak they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Vegan Soul Food of DC. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Pennsylvania eateries like Pat's King of Steaks, Zahav, and Vesuvio. 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, Rose's Luxury, and Zaytinya.
When comparing lifestyles, DC shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Pennsylvania. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in DC compared to what you are used to in Pennsylvania. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in DC.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Pennsylvania and DC
Comparison | Pennsylvania | DC |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Farmhouse | Victorian, Row Houses |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious layout, Natural scenery | Proximity to metro, Rooftop decks |
- The Colonial and Farmhouse architecture that Pennsylvania is known for will be replaced with the Victorian and Row Houses architecture typical of DC.
- Compared to Pennsylvania's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious layouts and natural scenery, DC real estate listings often highlight features like proximity to the metro and rooftop decks.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. DC is more walkable than Pennsylvania.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. DC is more bike-friendly than Pennsylvania.
- DC has more of an urban feel than Pennsylvania.
- DC housing costs are 137% more expensive than they are in Pennsylvania, with a median home price of $619,320 compared to Pennsylvaniaβs $261,312.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in DC have increased by 8% compared to a 43% increase in Pennsylvania.
- Rent in DC is 61.71% more expensive than in Pennsylvania.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Pennsylvania and DC
Comparison | Pennsylvania | 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, Floods | Heatwaves, Hurricanes |
Air Quality | Good to Moderate | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85Β°F / 62Β°F | 88Β°F / 71Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 40Β°F / 20Β°F | 47Β°F / 29Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 42 | 40 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 38 | 15 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Pennsylvania to DC. DC gets 13% more sunshine days than Pennsylvania.
- DC has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Pennsylvania.
- Say goodbye to the possible blizzards and floods in Pennsylvania, but be on the lookout for potential heatwaves and hurricanes in DC.
- The average summer high temperature in DC is 3 degrees warmer than in Pennsylvania.
- The average winter lows are 9 degrees warmer than they are in Pennsylvania.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in DC. DC receives 2 fewer inches of rain compared to Pennsylvania.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Pennsylvania and DC
Comparison | Pennsylvania | DC |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $71,798 | $101,027 |
Cost of Living Index | 99.7 | 140.1 |
State Income Tax | 3.07 | 6.0-10.75 |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.58 | 0.56 |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.34 | 6.0 |
Top 3 Industries | Finance, Health Care, Manufacturing | Government, Education, Professional Services |
Affluence | Moderate | Significant |
Poverty | Concerning | Variable |
Homelessness | Visible | Apparent |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in DC tend to earn about 41% more than those in Pennsylvania
- The COLI in DC will be 41% higher than what you are used to living in Pennsylvania
- The state income tax in DC is 6.0-10.75 compared to 3.07 in PA
- The affluence in DC is significant compared to moderate affluence in Pennsylvania
- The poverty level is variable in DC compared to concerning levels in Pennsylvania
- In terms of homelessness, it is visible in Pennsylvania and apparent in DC
Political and Religious Climate in Pennsylvania vs. DC
Comparison | Pennsylvania | DC |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Battleground State | Strongly Democratic |
Local Politics | Mixed; varies by region | Liberal-dominant |
Religion | <a href="https://pachurches.org/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Diverse; Christian majority</a> | High religious diversity; less religious overall |
- Pennsylvania tends to lean battleground State in its political climate
- D.C., on the other hand, is often described as strongly Democratic
- D.C.'s religious environment can be described as having high religious diversity and being less religious overall
- Pennsylvania's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as <a href="https://pachurches.org/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">diverse and having a Christian majority</a>
Education Guide When Moving from Pennsylvania to DC
Comparison | Pennsylvania | DC |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | Penn State University University of Pennsylvania Temple University | Georgetown University George Washington University American University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Marshall Elementary (Pittsburgh) Albert M. Greenfield School (Philadelphia) Ad Prima Charter School (Philadelphia) | Lafayette Elementary School Mann Elementary School Janney Elementary School (All in Washington DC) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Julia R. Masterman Secondary School (Philadelphia) Radnor Middle School (Radnor) Charles F. Patton Middle School (Kennett Square) | Deal Middle School Hardy Middle School Stuart-Hobson Middle School (All in Washington DC) |
Top 3 High School Schools | Julia R. Masterman Secondary School (Philadelphia) Conestoga High School (Berwyn) Central High School (Philadelphia) | School Without Walls Banneker High School McKinley Technology High School (All in Washington DC) |
Top 3 private high schools | The Haverford School (Haverford) The Shipley School (Bryn Mawr) Germantown Friends School (Philadelphia) | Sidwell Friends School Georgetown Day School St. Albans School (All in Washington DC) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Baldwin School (Bryn Mawr) Friends' Central School (Wynnewood) The Agnes Irwin School (Rosemont) | Sidwell Friends School Georgetown Day School Maret School (All in Washington DC) |
Top 3 School Districts | Tredyffrin-Easttown School District Radnor Township School District Lower Merion School District | There is no school district system as DC is a single district under DC Public Schools (DCPS) |
How Much Do Pennsylvania to DC Movers Cost?
Moving 216 miles from Pennsylvania to DC will typically cost between $1,500 and $4,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $1,500 - $4,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-3 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: U-Relax Moving
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,126 | 300 ft3 | $3.75 |
1 Bedroom | $1,670 | 450 ft3 | $3.71 |
2 Bedrooms | $2,752 | 750 ft3 | $3.67 |
3 Bedrooms | $3,989 | 1100 ft3 | $3.63 |
4 Bedrooms | $5,734 | 1600 ft3 | $3.58 |
5+ Bedrooms | $6,375 | 1800 ft3 | $3.54 |