Rhode Island to Missouri Moving Guide
Updated June 5, 2025

Planning a 1,225 mile interstate move from Rhode Island to Missouri? This moving guide will help you compare living in Rhode Island vs Missouri across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs affordable housing), food & health (like Stuffies vs St. Louis-style pizza), real estate & housing (colonial, victorian vs ranch, craftsman), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Rhode Island), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Stuffies and Clam cakes, but get your taste buds ready for St. Louis-style pizza & Kansas City barbecue
- Missouri housing costs are 46% less expensive than they are in Rhode Island
- Rent in Missouri is 35.88% more affordable than in Rhode Island
- Moving from Rhode Island to Missouri will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,000
- Our top recommended Rhode Island to Missouri movers is Sunrise Moving and Packing, LLC
Top Rhode Island to Missouri Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Rhode Island to Missouri movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

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

Tiger Moving LLC

Two Men and a Truck
Rhode Island to Missouri Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Rhode Island to Missouri
- High cost of living
- Limited job market
- Overcrowded beaches
- Traffic congestion
- Severe winters
- Affordable housing
- Diverse job opportunities
- Spacious natural parks
- Less traffic
- Milder winters
- No coastal beaches
- Fewer historic landmarks
- Less diverse food scene
- Inland living
- Fewer cultural events
- Ocean access
- Historical sites
- Varied cuisine
- Coastal charm
- Art and culture
Pros of moving from Rhode Island to Missouri
- Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to affordable housing
- Look forward to moving away from the limited job market and moving to Missouri with diverse job opportunities
- Swap the overcrowded beaches of Rhode Island for spacious natural parks in Missouri
- Get ready for less traffic in Missouri
Cons of moving from Rhode Island to Missouri
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from ocean access in Rhode Island to live with no coastal beaches in Missouri
- You'll lose out on the pro of historical sites and have to settle for the con of fewer historic landmarks
- Time to bid farewell to varied cuisine and get used to a less diverse food scene in Missouri
- Swap coastal charm for inland living
Rhode Island vs. Missouri: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Rhode Island | Missouri |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Stuffies | St. Louis-style pizza |
Most popular meat dish | Clam cakes | Kansas City barbecue |
Most popular street food item | Hot wieners | Toasted ravioli |
Most popular vegan food | Grilled vegetable platter | Cauliflower wings |
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 Missouri, you will be trading the iconic Stuffies of Rhode Island for the equally delicious St. Louis-style pizza of Missouri. And while the locals in Rhode Island rave about their flavorful Clam cakes and sumptuous Hot wieners, Missouri residents know they have tasty Kansas City barbecue and Toasted ravioli to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Grilled vegetable platter they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Cauliflower wings of Missouri. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Rhode Island eateries like Al Forno, Hemenway's, and The White Horse Tavern. After the boxes are unpacked in Missouri, don't wait too long before making your way to Missouri's acclaimed eateries like Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que, Pappy's Smokehouse, and Ted Drewes Frozen Custard.
When comparing lifestyles, Missouri shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Rhode Island. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Missouri compared to what you are used to in Rhode Island. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Missouri.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Rhode Island and Missouri
Comparison | Rhode Island | Missouri |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Victorian | Ranch, Craftsman |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Waterfront views, Historic details | Spacious backyards, Modern updates |
- The Colonial and Victorian architecture that Rhode Island is known for will be replaced with the Ranch and Craftsman architecture typical of Missouri.
- Compared to Rhode Island's real estate listings that commonly reference waterfront views and historic details, Missouri real estate listings often highlight features like spacious backyards and modern updates.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away. Missouri is less walkable than Rhode Island.
- Missouri is similarly bike-friendly to Rhode Island.
- Missouri has less of an urban feel than Rhode Island.
- Missouri housing costs are 46% less expensive than they are in Rhode Island, with a median home price of $243,216 compared to Rhode Islandβs $451,868.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Missouri have increased by 49%, compared to a 55% increase in Rhode Island.
- Rent in Missouri is 35.88% more affordable than in Rhode Island.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Rhode Island and Missouri
Comparison | Rhode Island | Missouri |
---|---|---|
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, Nor'easters | Tornadoes, Severe Storms |
Air Quality | Generally Good | Variable, Urban areas moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 82Β°F / 63Β°F | 89Β°F / 68Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 40Β°F / 20Β°F | 42Β°F / 23Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 50" | 42" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 33" | 20" |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Rhode Island to Missouri. Missouri gets 6% more sunshine days than Rhode Island.
- Missouri has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Rhode Island.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and nor'easters in Rhode Island, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and severe storms in Missouri.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Missouri is 7 degrees warmer than in Rhode Island.
- The average winter lows are 3 degrees warmer than they are in Rhode Island.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Missouri. Missouri receives 8 fewer inches of rain compared to Rhode Island.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Rhode Island and Missouri
Comparison | Rhode Island | Missouri |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $81,854 | $64,811 |
Cost of Living Index | 123.3 | 91.8 |
State Income Tax | 3.75% - 5.99% | 0% - 5.4% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.63% | 0.91% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 7% | 4.225% |
Top 3 Industries | Manufacturing, Health Services, Education | Agriculture, Manufacturing, Transportation |
Affluence | Moderate | Variable |
Poverty | Moderate | Higher |
Homelessness | Prevalent | Less Common |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Missouri tend to earn about 21% less than in Rhode Island
- The COLI in Missouri will be 26% lower than what you are used to living in Rhode Island
- The state income tax in MO is 0% - 5.4% compared to 3.75% - 5.99% in RI
- The affluence in Missouri is variable compared to moderate affluence in Rhode Island
- The poverty level is higher in Missouri compared to moderate poverty in Rhode Island
- In terms of homelessness, it is prevalent in Rhode Island and less common in Missouri
Political and Religious Climate in Rhode Island vs. Missouri
Comparison | Rhode Island | Missouri |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Leans Democratic | Leans Republican |
Local Politics | Progressive Policies | Conservative Policies |
Religion | Catholic Majority | Protestant Majority |
- Rhode Island tends to lean Democratic in its political climate
- Missouri, on the other hand, is often described as leaning Republican
- Missouri's religious environment can be described as a Protestant majority
- Rhode Island's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as a Catholic majority
Education Guide When Moving from Rhode Island to Missouri
Comparison | Rhode Island | Missouri |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Rhode Island Brown University Rhode Island College | University of Missouri Missouri State University Washington University in St. Louis |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Rockwell Elementary (Bristol) Nayatt School (Barrington) Community School (Cumberland) | Conway Elementary (Ladue) Lincoln Elementary (St. Charles) Wild Horse Elementary (Chesterfield) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Barrington Middle School (Barrington) Wickford Middle School (North Kingstown) Portsmouth Middle School (Portsmouth) | Ladue Middle School (Ladue) Wildwood Middle School (Wildwood) Lasalle Springs Middle (Wildwood) |
Top 3 High Schools | Classical High School (Providence) Barrington High School (Barrington) East Greenwich High (East Greenwich) | Ladue Horton Watkins High (Ladue) Clayton High School (Clayton) Marquette High School (Chesterfield) |
Top 3 private high schools | Moses Brown School (Providence) St. Georgeβs School (Middletown) Wheeler School (Providence) | Thomas Jefferson School (St. Louis) John Burroughs School (St. Louis) MICDS (St. Louis) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Wheeler School (Providence) Lincoln School (Providence) Moses Brown School (Providence) | MICDS (St. Louis) Pembroke Hill School (Kansas City) The Barstow School (Kansas City) |
Top 3 School Districts | Barrington Schools East Greenwich Public Schools Portsmouth Schools | Clayton School District Ladue School District Park Hill School District |
How Much Do Rhode Island to Missouri Movers Cost?
Moving 1,225 miles from Rhode Island to Missouri 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: 3-9 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Sunrise Moving and Packing, LLC
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,897 | 300 ft3 | $6.32 |
1 Bedroom | $2,823 | 450 ft3 | $6.27 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,667 | 750 ft3 | $6.22 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,791 | 1100 ft3 | $6.17 |
4 Bedrooms | $9,797 | 1600 ft3 | $6.12 |
5+ Bedrooms | $10,932 | 1800 ft3 | $6.07 |