Rhode Island to Michigan Moving Guide
Updated June 16, 2025

Planning a 890 mile interstate move from Rhode Island to Michigan? This moving guide will help you compare living in Rhode Island vs Michigan across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs affordable housing), food & health (like Stuffies (Stuffed Clams) vs Coney Dog), real estate & housing (colonial vs craftsman), 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 Clam Cakes, but get your taste buds ready for Coney Dog & Pasties
- Michigan housing costs are 47% less expensive than they are in Rhode Island
- Rent in Michigan is 30.32% more affordable than in Rhode Island
- Moving from Rhode Island to Michigan will cost on average between $1,500 - $6,000
- Our top recommended Rhode Island to Michigan movers is Pro-Low Moving
Rhode Island to Michigan Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Rhode Island to Michigan
- High cost of living
- Limited job market
- Overcrowded beaches
- Harsh winters
- Affordable housing
- Diverse job opportunities
- Vast natural landscapes
- Milder climates
- Limited coastline
- Fewer historical landmarks
- Urban sprawl
- Potential isolation
- Beautiful coastlines
- Rich colonial history
- Charming small towns
- Close-knit communities
Pros of moving from Rhode Island to Michigan
- Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to affordable housing
- Look forward to moving away from a limited job market and moving to Michigan with diverse job opportunities
- Swap the overcrowded beaches of Rhode Island for vast natural landscapes in Michigan
- Get ready for milder climates in Michigan
Cons of moving from Rhode Island to Michigan
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from beautiful coastlines in Rhode Island to live with limited coastline in Michigan
- You'll lose out on the pro of rich colonial history and have to settle for the con of fewer historical landmarks
- Time to bid farewell to charming small towns and get used to urban sprawl in Michigan
- Swap close-knit communities for potential isolation
Rhode Island vs. Michigan: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Rhode Island | Michigan |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Stuffies (Stuffed Clams) | Coney Dog |
Most popular meat dish | Clam Cakes | Pasties |
Most popular street food item | Hot Wieners | Faygo Floats |
Most popular vegan food | Grilled Pizza | Tempeh Reuben |
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 Michigan, you will be trading the iconic Stuffies (Stuffed Clams) of Rhode Island for the equally delicious Coney Dog of Michigan. And while the locals in Rhode Island rave about their flavorful Clam Cakes and sumptuous Hot Wieners, Michigan residents know they have tasty Pasties and Faygo Floats to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Grilled Pizza they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Tempeh Reuben of Michigan. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Rhode Island eateries like Al Forno, Hemenway's, and Olneyville New York System. After the boxes are unpacked in Michigan, don't wait too long before making your way to Michigan's acclaimed eateries like Zingerman's Deli, Slows Bar BQ, and Lafayette Coney Island.
When comparing lifestyles, Michigan shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Rhode Island. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Michigan, compared to what you are used to in Rhode Island. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Michigan.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Rhode Island and Michigan
Comparison | Rhode Island | Michigan |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial | Craftsman |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Waterfront properties, historic homes | Lakeside living, spacious yards |
- The Colonial architecture that Rhode Island is known for will be replaced with the Craftsman architecture typical of Michigan.
- Compared to Rhode Island's real estate listings that commonly reference waterfront properties and historic homes, Michigan real estate listings often highlight features like lakeside living and spacious yards.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Michigan is less walkable than Rhode Island.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; Michigan is more bike-friendly than Rhode Island.
- Michigan has less of an urban feel than Rhode Island.
- Michigan housing costs are 47% less expensive than they are in Rhode Island, with a median home price of $239,770 compared to Rhode Islandβs $451,868.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Michigan have increased by 45% compared to a 55% increase in Rhode Island.
- Rent in Michigan is 30.32% more affordable than in Rhode Island.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Rhode Island and Michigan
Comparison | Rhode Island | 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 | Hurricanes, Storms | Snowstorms, Tornadoes |
Air Quality | Good to Moderate | Good to Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 82Β°F / 63Β°F | 81Β°F / 59Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 40Β°F / 20Β°F | 31Β°F / 17Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 47 | 30-38 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 33 | 60-80 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Rhode Island to Michigan. Michigan gets 16% fewer sunshine days than Rhode Island.
- Michigan has higher humidity and a similar average UV index compared to Rhode Island.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and storms in Rhode Island, but be on the lookout for potential snowstorms and tornadoes in Michigan.
- The average summer high temperature in Michigan is 1 degree colder than in Rhode Island.
- The average winter lows are 3 degrees colder than they are in Rhode Island.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Michigan. Michigan receives 17 fewer inches of rain compared to Rhode Island.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Rhode Island and Michigan
Comparison | Rhode Island | Michigan |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $81,854 | $66,986 |
Cost of Living Index | 123.3 | 91.2 |
State Income Tax | 3.75% - 5.99% | 4.25% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.63% | 1.54% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 7% | 6% |
Top 3 Industries | Healthcare, Education, Manufacturing | Automotive, Healthcare, Agriculture |
Affluence | Moderate | Moderate |
Poverty | Moderate | High |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Michigan tend to earn about 18% less than those in Rhode Island
- The COLI in Michigan will be 26% lower than what you are used to living in Rhode Island
- The state income tax in MI is 4.25% compared to 3.75% to 5.99% in RI
- The affluence in Michigan is moderate compared to moderate affluence in Rhode Island
- The poverty level is high in Michigan compared to moderate in Rhode Island
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Rhode Island and moderate in Michigan
Political and Religious Climate in Rhode Island vs. Michigan
Comparison | Rhode Island | Michigan |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Democratic-leaning | Mixed, with both Democratic and Republican strongholds |
Local Politics | Local governance tends to be Democratic | Varies greatly; Democratic in urban areas like Detroit, Republican in rural areas |
Religion | Largely Catholic, <a href="https://diospringfield.org/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">local Catholic churches</a> | Diverse, with a strong Protestant presence, local churches |
- Rhode Island tends to lean Democratic-leaning in its political climate
- Michigan, on the other hand, is often described as mixed, with both Democratic and Republican strongholds
- Michigan's religious environment can be described as diverse, with a strong Protestant presence and local churches
- Rhode Island's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as largely Catholic and <a href="https://diospringfield.org/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">local Catholic churches</a>
Education Guide When Moving from Rhode Island to Michigan
Comparison | Rhode Island | Michigan |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Rhode Island Rhode Island College Brown University | University of Michigan Michigan State University Wayne State University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Rockwell Elementary - Bristol Nayatt School - Barrington Community School - Cumberland | Bates Elementary - Dexter Wealthy Elementary - East Grand Rapids Ferry Elementary - Grand Haven |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Barrington Middle - Barrington Wickford Middle - North Kingstown Gallagher Middle - Smithfield | Eagle Crest Charter Academy - Holland Boulan Park Middle - Troy West Middle School - Grand Blanc |
Top 3 High Schools | Classical High School - Providence Barrington High - Barrington East Greenwich High - East Greenwich | International Academy - Bloomfield Hills City Middle/High School - Grand Rapids Troy High School - Troy |
Top 3 private high schools | Moses Brown School - Providence St. George's School - Middletown The Wheeler School - Providence | Detroit Country Day School - Beverly Hills Cranbrook Schools - Bloomfield Hills The Roeper School - Birmingham |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Lincoln School - Providence Rocky Hill Country Day School - East Greenwich The Wheeler School - Providence | Cranbrook Schools - Bloomfield Hills Detroit Country Day School - Beverly Hills The Roeper School - Birmingham |
Top 3 School Districts | Barrington Public Schools East Greenwich Public Schools Cumberland School District | East Grand Rapids Public Schools Bloomfield Hills Schools Novi Community School District |
How Much Do Rhode Island to Michigan Movers Cost?
Moving 890 miles from Rhode Island to Michigan will typically cost between $2,500 and $6,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,500 - $6,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 6.5-15.5 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Pro-Low Moving
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,707 | 300 ft3 | $5.69 |
1 Bedroom | $2,538 | 450 ft3 | $5.64 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,193 | 750 ft3 | $5.59 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,094 | 1100 ft3 | $5.54 |
4 Bedrooms | $8,784 | 1600 ft3 | $5.49 |
5+ Bedrooms | $9,792 | 1800 ft3 | $5.44 |
Top Rhode Island to Michigan Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Rhode Island to Michigan movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Pro-Low Moving
Best moving company overall for Rhode Island to Michigan