Pennsylvania to Louisiana Moving Guide
Updated June 9, 2025

Planning a 1,305 mile interstate move from Pennsylvania to Louisiana? This moving guide will help you compare living in Pennsylvania vs Louisiana across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like cold winters vs mild winters), food & health (like Philly Cheesesteak vs Gumbo), real estate & housing (colonial, dutch, federal vs french colonial, creole cottages), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Pennsylvania), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Philly Cheesesteak and Pork and Sauerkraut, but get your taste buds ready for Gumbo & Jambalaya
- Louisiana housing costs are 24% less expensive than they are in Pennsylvania
- Rent in Louisiana is 11.31% more affordable than in Pennsylvania
- Moving from Pennsylvania to Louisiana will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,000
- Our top recommended Pennsylvania to Louisiana movers is Pittsburgh Moving
Pennsylvania to Louisiana Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Pennsylvania to Louisiana
- Cold winters
- High taxes
- Costly housing
- Busy urban life
- Mild winters
- Lower taxes
- Affordable housing
- Laid-back lifestyle
- Less historical landmarks
- Humid summers
- Isolated from major cities
- Limited culinary options
- Rich history
- All four seasons
- Close to NYC/DC
- Diverse food scene
Pros of moving from Pennsylvania to Louisiana
- Say goodbye to cold winters and hello to mild winters
- Look forward to moving away from high taxes and moving to Louisiana with lower taxes
- Swap the costly housing of Pennsylvania for affordable housing in Louisiana
- Get ready for a laid-back lifestyle in Louisiana
Cons of moving from Pennsylvania to Louisiana
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the rich history in Pennsylvania to live with fewer historical landmarks in Louisiana
- You'll lose out on the pro of all four seasons and have to settle for the con of humid summers
- Time to bid farewell to proximity to NYC/DC and get used to being isolated from major cities in Louisiana
- Swap the diverse food scene for limited culinary options
Pennsylvania vs. Louisiana: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Pennsylvania | Louisiana |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Philly Cheesesteak | Gumbo |
Most popular meat dish | Pork and Sauerkraut | Jambalaya |
Most popular street food item | Pretzels | Po'boys |
Most popular vegan food | Mushroom Cheesesteak | Okra Gumbo |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
|
|
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 Louisiana, you will be trading the iconic Philly Cheesesteak of Pennsylvania for the equally delicious Gumbo of Louisiana. And while the locals in Pennsylvania rave about their flavorful Pork and Sauerkraut and sumptuous Pretzels, Louisiana residents know they have tasty Jambalaya and Po'boys to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Mushroom Cheesesteak they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Okra Gumbo of Louisiana. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Pennsylvania eateries like Reading Terminal Market, Zahav, and Primanti Bros. After the boxes are unpacked in Louisiana, don't wait too long before making your way to Louisiana's acclaimed eateries like Commanderβs Palace, Willie Mae's Scotch House, and CafΓ© du Monde.
When comparing lifestyles, Louisiana shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Pennsylvania. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Louisiana compared to what you are used to in Pennsylvania. Also, the overall foodie scene is similarly bustling in Louisiana.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Pennsylvania and Louisiana
Comparison | Pennsylvania | Louisiana |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Dutch, Federal | French Colonial, Creole Cottages |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Hardwood floors, Granite Countertops | Front porches, High ceilings |
- The Colonial, Dutch, and Federal architecture that Pennsylvania is known for will be replaced with the French Colonial and Creole Cottages architecture typical of Louisiana.
- Compared to Pennsylvania's real estate listings that commonly reference hardwood floors and granite countertops, Louisiana real estate listings often highlight features like front porches and high ceilings.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away. Louisiana is less walkable than Pennsylvania.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Louisiana is more bike-friendly than Pennsylvania.
- Louisiana has less of an urban feel than Pennsylvania.
- Louisiana housing costs are 24% less expensive than they are in Pennsylvania, with a median home price of $199,091 compared to Pennsylvaniaβs $261,312.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Louisiana have increased by 13% compared to a 43% increase in Pennsylvania.
- Rent in Louisiana is 11.31% more affordable than in Pennsylvania.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Pennsylvania and Louisiana
Comparison | Pennsylvania | Louisiana |
---|---|---|
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 | Hurricanes, Floods |
Air Quality | Good | Variable |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85Β°F / 62Β°F | 91Β°F / 73Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 37Β°F / 20Β°F | 62Β°F / 43Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 42 | 60 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 38 | < 1 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Pennsylvania to Louisiana. Louisiana gets 20% more sunshine days than Pennsylvania.
- Louisiana has higher 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 hurricanes and floods in Louisiana.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Louisiana is 6 degrees warmer than in Pennsylvania.
- The average winter lows are 23 degrees warmer than they are in Pennsylvania.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Louisiana. Louisiana receives 18 more inches of rain compared to Pennsylvania.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Pennsylvania and Louisiana
Comparison | Pennsylvania | Louisiana |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $71,798 | $55,416 |
Cost of Living Index | 99.7 | 96 |
State Income Tax | 3.07% | Variable with federal offset |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.58% | 0.51% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.34% | 9.55% |
Top 3 Industries | Manufacturing, Energy, Finance | Oil, Tourism, Agriculture |
Affluence | Moderate | Modest |
Poverty | Moderate | Elevated |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Louisiana tend to earn about 23% less than those in Pennsylvania
- The COLI in Louisiana will be 4% lower than what you are used to living in Pennsylvania
- The state income tax in LA is variable with a federal offset compared to 3.07% in PA
- The affluence in Louisiana is modest compared to moderate affluence in Pennsylvania
- The poverty level is elevated in Louisiana compared to moderate poverty in Pennsylvania
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Pennsylvania and moderate in Louisiana
Political and Religious Climate in Pennsylvania vs. Louisiana
Comparison | Pennsylvania | Louisiana |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Swing state with tendencies towards both parties | Leans Republican, especially in recent federal elections |
Local Politics | Mixed political control in local governments | Republican dominance in statewide offices |
Religion | Christianity predominates, diverse religious communities | Strongly Christian, significant Catholic population) |
- Pennsylvania tends to lean swing state with tendencies towards both parties in its political climate
- Louisiana, on the other hand, is often described as leaning Republican, especially in recent federal elections
- Louisiana's religious environment can be described as strongly Christian with a significant Catholic population
- Pennsylvania's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as predominantly Christianity with diverse religious communities
Education Guide When Moving from Pennsylvania to Louisiana
Comparison | Pennsylvania | Louisiana |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | Penn State University University of Pennsylvania Temple University | Louisiana State University Tulane University University of Louisiana |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Masterman Julia R Sec School (Philadelphia) Albert M. Greenfield School (Philadelphia) Ad Prima Charter School (Philadelphia) | Lusher Charter School (New Orleans) Baton Rouge Foreign Language Acad. Immersion Magnet (Baton Rouge) Airline Park Academy (Metairie) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Masterman Julia R Sec School (Philadelphia) Radnor Middle School (Radnor) Charles F. Patton Middle School (Kennett Square) | Lusher Charter School (New Orleans) Patrick F. Taylor Science & Technology Academy (Jefferson) Glasgow Middle School (Baton Rouge) |
Top 3 High Schools | Masterman Julia R Sec School (Philadelphia) Central High School (Philadelphia) Conestoga High School (Berwyn) | Baton Rouge Magnet High School (Baton Rouge) Benjamin Franklin High School (New Orleans) Haynes Academy School for Advanced Studies (Metairie) |
Top 3 private high schools | The Baldwin School (Bryn Mawr) The Haverford School (Haverford) Episcopal Academy (Newtown Square) | Isidore Newman School (New Orleans) Metairie Park Country Day School (Metairie) Episcopal School of Baton Rouge (Baton Rouge) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Baldwin School (Bryn Mawr) The Haverford School (Haverford) Episcopal Academy (Newtown Square) | Isidore Newman School (New Orleans) Metairie Park Country Day School (Metairie) Episcopal School of Baton Rouge (Baton Rouge) |
Top 3 School Districts | Tredyffrin/Easttown School District Radnor Township School District Lower Merion School District | Zachary Community School District Central Community School System St. Tammany Parish Public Schools |
How Much Do Pennsylvania to Louisiana Movers Cost?
Moving 1,305 miles from Pennsylvania to Louisiana will typically cost between $3,000 and $7,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,000 - $7,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 1-3 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: U-Relax Moving
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,942 | 300 ft3 | $6.47 |
1 Bedroom | $2,891 | 450 ft3 | $6.42 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,781 | 750 ft3 | $6.37 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,957 | 1100 ft3 | $6.32 |
4 Bedrooms | $10,039 | 1600 ft3 | $6.27 |
5+ Bedrooms | $11,204 | 1800 ft3 | $6.22 |
Top Pennsylvania to Louisiana Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Pennsylvania to Louisiana movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Pittsburgh Moving
Best moving company overall for Pennsylvania to Louisiana