Rhode Island to Arizona Moving Guide
Updated June 9, 2025

Planning a 2,485 mile interstate move from Rhode Island to Arizona? This moving guide will help you compare living in Rhode Island vs Arizona across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winters vs mild winters), food & health (like Stuffies (Stuffed Clams) vs Chimichanga), real estate & housing (colonial, victorian vs pueblo, ranch), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Rhode Island), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Stuffies (Stuffed Clams) and Grilled Pizza, but get your taste buds ready for Chimichanga & Carne Asada
- Arizona housing costs are 5% less expensive than they are in Rhode Island
- Rent in Arizona is 8.06% more affordable than in Rhode Island
- Moving from Rhode Island to Arizona will cost on average between $2,500 - $9,500
- Our top recommended Rhode Island to Arizona movers is Sterling Interstate LLC
Rhode Island to Arizona Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Rhode Island to Arizona
- Harsh winters
- High cost of living
- Limited land space
- Dense population
- Foggy coastline
- Mild winters
- Lower cost of living
- Expansive landscapes
- Spread-out communities
- Sunny skies
- No ocean access
- Lacks rich history
- Hot desert climate
- Limited seafood options
- More transient population
- Beautiful coastlines
- Historical charm
- Four distinct seasons
- Coastal seafood
- Close communities
Pros of moving from Rhode Island to Arizona
- Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to mild winters
- Look forward to moving away from the high cost of living and moving to Arizona with a lower cost of living
- Swap the limited land space of Rhode Island for expansive landscapes in Arizona
- Get ready for spread-out communities in Arizona
Cons of moving from Rhode Island to Arizona
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the beautiful coastlines in Rhode Island to live with no ocean access in Arizona
- You'll lose out on the pro of historical charm and have to settle with the con of lacking rich history
- Time to bid farewell to four distinct seasons and get used to the hot desert climate in Arizona
- Swap coastal seafood for limited seafood options
Rhode Island vs. Arizona: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Rhode Island | Arizona |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Stuffies (Stuffed Clams) | Chimichanga |
Most popular meat dish | Grilled Pizza | Carne Asada |
Most popular street food item | Hot Wieners | Tacos |
Most popular vegan food | Del's Lemonade | Jackfruit Tacos |
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 Rhode Island to Arizona, you will be trading the iconic Stuffies (Stuffed Clams) of Rhode Island for the equally delicious Chimichanga of Arizona. And while the locals in Rhode Island rave about their flavorful Grilled Pizza and sumptuous Hot Wieners, Arizona residents know they have tasty Carne Asada and Tacos to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Del's Lemonade they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Jackfruit Tacos of Arizona. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Rhode Island eateries like Al Forno, Iggy's Doughboys, and The Mooring. After the boxes are unpacked in Arizona, don't wait too long before making your way to Arizona's acclaimed eateries like Elote CafΓ©, Pizzeria Bianco, and Durant's.
When comparing lifestyles, Arizona shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Rhode Island. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Arizona, compared to what you are used to in Rhode Island. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Arizona.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Rhode Island and Arizona
Comparison | Rhode Island | Arizona |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Victorian | Pueblo, Ranch |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Waterfront, Historic charm | Mountain views, Energy efficiency |
- The Colonial and Victorian architecture that Rhode Island is known for will be replaced with the Pueblo and Ranch architecture typical of Arizona.
- Compared to Rhode Island's real estate listings that commonly reference waterfront and historic charm, Arizona real estate listings often highlight features like mountain views and energy efficiency.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away as Arizona is less walkable than Rhode Island.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike as Arizona is more bike-friendly than Rhode Island.
- Arizona has less of an urban feel than Rhode Island.
- Arizona housing costs are 5% less expensive than they are in Rhode Island, with a median home price of $430,827 compared to Rhode Islandβs $451,868.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Arizona have increased 63% compared to a 55% increase in Rhode Island.
- Rent in Arizona is 8.06% more affordable than in Rhode Island.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Rhode Island and Arizona
Comparison | Rhode Island | Arizona |
---|---|---|
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 | Nor'easters, Blizzards | Heatwaves, Dust Storms |
Air Quality | Good | Varies (Good to Moderate) |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 82Β°F / 63Β°F | 104Β°F / 81Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 40Β°F / 20Β°F | 67Β°F / 46Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 47 | 13 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 33 | 0.3 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Rhode Island to Arizona. Arizona gets 48% more sunshine days than Rhode Island.
- Arizona has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Rhode Island.
- Say goodbye to the possible nor'easters and blizzards in Rhode Island, but be on the lookout for potential heatwaves and dust storms in Arizona.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Arizona is 22 degrees warmer than in Rhode Island.
- The average winter lows are 26 degrees warmer than they are in Rhode Island.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Arizona. Arizona receives 34 fewer inches of rain compared to Rhode Island.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Rhode Island and Arizona
Comparison | Rhode Island | Arizona |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $81,854 | $74,568 |
Cost of Living Index | 123.3 | 101.2 |
State Income Tax | 3.75% to 5.99% | 2.59% to 4.50% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.63% | 0.66% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 7% | 8.4% |
Top 3 Industries | Health Care, Education, Financial Services | Real Estate, Manufacturing, Financial Services |
Affluence | Moderate | Varied |
Poverty | Low | Moderate |
Homelessness | Low | Varied |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Arizona tend to earn about 9% less than in Rhode Island
- The COLI in Arizona will be 18% lower than what you are used to living in Rhode Island
- The state income tax in AZ is 2.59% to 4.50% compared to 3.75% to 5.99% in RI
- The affluence in Arizona is varied compared to moderate in Rhode Island
- The poverty level is moderate in Arizona compared to low in Rhode Island
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Rhode Island and varied in Arizona
Political and Religious Climate in Rhode Island vs. Arizona
Comparison | Rhode Island | Arizona |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Mostly Democratic | Mixed, with recent trends towards Democratic |
Local Politics | Liberal in urban areas | Conservative in rural, liberal in urban |
Religion | Primarily Roman Catholic | Christianity diverse; substantial Mormon population |
- Rhode Island tends to lean mostly Democratic in its political climate
- Arizona, on the other hand, is often described as mixed, with recent trends towards Democratic
- Arizona's religious environment can be described as a diverse Christianity with a substantial Mormon population
- Rhode Island's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as primarily Roman Catholic
Education Guide When Moving from Rhode Island to Arizona
Comparison | Rhode Island | Arizona |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Rhode Island Brown University Rhode Island College | Arizona State University University of Arizona Northern Arizona University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Rockwell Elementary (Bristol) Nayatt School (Barrington) Community School (Cumberland) | Basis Scottsdale Primary (Scottsdale) Knox Gifted Academy (Chandler) Archway Classical Academy (Phoenix) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Barrington Middle (Barrington) Wickford Middle (North Kingstown) Portsmouth Middle (Portsmouth) | Basis Chandler (Chandler) Basis Scottsdale (Scottsdale) Basis Oro Valley (Oro Valley) |
Top 3 High School Schools | Classical High (Providence) Barrington High (Barrington) East Greenwich High (East Greenwich) | Basis Scottsdale (Scottsdale) Basis Oro Valley (Oro Valley) Basis Peoria (Peoria) |
Top 3 private high schools | Moses Brown School (Providence) St. George's School (Middletown) Wheeler School (Providence) | Brophy College Preparatory (Phoenix) Xavier College Preparatory (Phoenix) The Gregory School (Tucson) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Wheeler School (Providence) St. Andrew's School (Barrington) Lincoln School (Providence) | Tesseract School (Phoenix) Rancho Solano Preparatory School (Scottsdale) Phoenix Country Day School (Paradise Valley) |
Top 3 School Districts | Barrington Public Schools East Greenwich Public Schools Portsmouth School District | Scottsdale Unified School District Catalina Foothills School District Chandler Unified School District |
How Much Do Rhode Island to Arizona Movers Cost?
Moving 2,485 miles from Rhode Island to Arizona will typically cost between $4,000 and $9,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $4,000 - $9,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 3.5-11 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Sterling Interstate LLC
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,611 | 300 ft3 | $8.70 |
1 Bedroom | $3,894 | 450 ft3 | $8.65 |
2 Bedrooms | $6,453 | 750 ft3 | $8.60 |
3 Bedrooms | $9,410 | 1100 ft3 | $8.55 |
4 Bedrooms | $13,607 | 1600 ft3 | $8.50 |
5+ Bedrooms | $15,218 | 1800 ft3 | $8.45 |
Top Rhode Island to Arizona Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Rhode Island to Arizona movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Sterling Interstate LLC
Best moving company overall for Rhode Island to Arizona