Utah to Michigan Moving Guide
Updated June 21, 2025

Planning a 1,696 mile interstate move from Utah to Michigan? This moving guide will help you compare living in Utah vs Michigan across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high desert terrain vs lush forests), food & health (like Fry sauce vs Coney Island hot dog), real estate & housing (craftsman vs colonial), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Utah), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Fry sauce and Utah scones, but get your taste buds ready for Coney Island hot dog & Pasties
- Michigan housing costs are 54% less expensive than they are in Utah
- Rent in Michigan is 13.87% more affordable than in Utah
- Moving from Utah to Michigan will cost on average between $2,000 - $8,000
- Our top recommended Utah to Michigan movers is Pro-Low Moving
Utah to Michigan Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Utah to Michigan
- High desert terrain
- Limited water bodies
- Hot, dry summers
- Higher elevation
- Lush forests
- Great Lakes access
- Moderate summer climate
- Lower elevation
- Fewer skiing options
- Urban crime concerns
- Somewhat higher costs
- Higher humidity
- Ski resorts
- Low crime rate
- Affordable housing
- Arid climate
Pros of moving from Utah to Michigan
- Say goodbye to high desert terrain and hello to lush forests
- Look forward to moving away from limited water bodies and moving to Michigan with great Lakes access
- Swap the hot, dry summers of Utah for a moderate summer climate in Michigan
- Get ready for a lower elevation in Michigan
Cons of moving from Utah to Michigan
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from ski resorts in Utah to live with fewer skiing options in Michigan
- You'll lose out on the pro of a low crime rate and have to settle with the con of urban crime concerns
- Time to bid farewell to affordable housing and get used to somewhat higher costs in Michigan
- Swap an arid climate for higher humidity
Utah vs. Michigan: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Utah | Michigan |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Fry sauce | Coney Island hot dog |
Most popular meat dish | Utah scones | Pasties |
Most popular street food item | Navajo taco | Food truck tacos |
Most popular vegan food | Vegan burgers | Vegan chili |
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 Utah to Michigan, you will be trading the iconic Fry sauce of Utah for the equally delicious Coney Island hot dog of Michigan. And while the locals in Utah rave about their flavorful Utah scones and sumptuous Navajo taco, Michigan residents know they have tasty Pasties and food truck tacos to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the vegan burgers they've grown to love, they can get ready for the vegan chili of Michigan. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Utah eateries like Red Iguana, The Roof Restaurant, and HSL. After the boxes are unpacked in Michigan, don't wait too long before making your way to Michigan's acclaimed eateries like American Coney Island, Zingermanβs Delicatessen, and Slows Bar BQ.
When comparing lifestyles, Michigan shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Utah. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Michigan compared to what you are used to in Utah. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Michigan.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Utah and Michigan
Comparison | Utah | Michigan |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Craftsman | Colonial |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Mountain views, open floor plans | Lakeside properties, historic details |
- The Craftsman architecture that Utah is known for will be replaced with the Colonial architecture typical of Michigan.
- Compared to Utah's real estate listings that commonly reference mountain views and open floor plans, Michigan real estate listings often highlight features like lakeside properties and historic details.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away. Michigan is less walkable than Utah.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike. Michigan is less bike-friendly than Utah.
- Michigan has more of an urban feel than Utah.
- Michigan housing costs are 54% less expensive than they are in Utah, with a median home price of $239,770 compared to Utahβs $519,182.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Michigan have increased 45% compared to a 56% increase in Utah.
- Rent in Michigan is 13.87% more affordable than in Utah.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Utah and Michigan
Comparison | Utah | 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 | Earthquakes, Wildfires | Snowstorms, Tornadoes |
Air Quality | Good | Varies (Urban vs Rural) |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85Β°F / 60Β°F | 81Β°F / 59Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 37Β°F / 20Β°F | 31Β°F / 17Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 20" | 30-38" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 56" | 60-90" |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Utah to Michigan; Michigan gets 29% fewer sunshine days than Utah.
- Michigan has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Utah.
- Say goodbye to the possible earthquakes and wildfires in Utah, but be on the lookout for potential snowstorms and tornadoes in Michigan.
- Get ready for colder summers; the average summer high temperature in Michigan is 4 degrees colder than in Utah.
- The average winter lows are 3 degrees colder than they are in Utah.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Michigan as it receives 10 more inches of rain compared to Utah.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Utah and Michigan
Comparison | Utah | Michigan |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $89,168 | $66,986 |
Cost of Living Index | 95.75 | 91.2 |
State Income Tax | 4.95% | 4.25% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.63% | 1.54% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.1% | 6.0% |
Top 3 Industries | Technology, Mining, Agriculture | Automotive, Health, Agriculture |
Affluence | Moderate | Average |
Poverty | Lower | Higher |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Michigan tend to earn about 25% less than in Utah
- The COLI in Michigan will be 5% lower than what you are used to living in Utah
- The state income tax in MI is 4.25% compared to 4.95% in UT
- The affluence in Michigan is average compared to moderate in Utah
- The poverty level is higher in Michigan compared to lower in Utah
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Utah and moderate in Michigan
Political and Religious Climate in Utah vs. Michigan
Comparison | Utah | Michigan |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Conservative/Republican | Moderate, leaning Democratic |
Local Politics | State policies often align with LDS Church views | Mix of urban liberal policies and rural conservative views |
Religion | Majority Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) | Diverse, with significant Catholic, Protestant, and Muslim communities |
- Utah tends to lean Conservative/Republican in its political climate
- Michigan, on the other hand, is often described as moderate, leaning Democratic
- Michigan's religious environment can be described as diverse, with significant Catholic, Protestant, and Muslim communities
- Utah's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as a majority of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church)
Education Guide When Moving from Utah to Michigan
Comparison | Utah | Michigan |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Utah Brigham Young University Utah State University | University of Michigan Michigan State University Wayne State University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Canyon View Elementary Alpine; Northridge Elementary Orem; Oakridge School Farmington | Bates Elementary Dexter; Cherry Hill School Ann Arbor; Winchester Elementary Northville |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Centennial Middle School Provo; Fort Herriman Middle School Herriman; North Star Academy Bluffdale | Clague Middle School Ann Arbor; East Middle School Grand Blanc; Warner Middle School Farmington Hills |
Top 3 High School Schools | Academy for Math Engineering & Science Salt Lake City; Timpview High School Provo; Davis High School Kaysville | International Academy Bloomfield Hills; Troy High School Troy; Pioneer High School Ann Arbor |
Top 3 private high schools | Rowland Hall Salt Lake City; Waterford School Sandy; Madeleine Choir School Salt Lake City | Cranbrook Schools Bloomfield Hills; Detroit Country Day School Beverly Hills; Greenhills School Ann Arbor |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Wasatch Academy Mt. Pleasant; Rowland Hall Salt Lake City; The Waterford School Sandy | Greenhills School Ann Arbor; Cranbrook Bloomfield Hills; Roeper School Birmingham |
Top 3 School Districts | Park City School District; Davis School District; Alpine School District | Novi Community School District; Ann Arbor Public Schools; East Grand Rapids Public Schools |
How Much Do Utah to Michigan Movers Cost?
Moving 1,696 miles from Utah to Michigan will typically cost between $3,000 and $8,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,000 - $8,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 4-10 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Pro-Low Moving
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,164 | 300 ft3 | $7.21 |
1 Bedroom | $3,223 | 450 ft3 | $7.16 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,335 | 750 ft3 | $7.11 |
3 Bedrooms | $7,770 | 1100 ft3 | $7.06 |
4 Bedrooms | $11,221 | 1600 ft3 | $7.01 |
5+ Bedrooms | $12,534 | 1800 ft3 | $6.96 |
Top Utah to Michigan Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Utah to Michigan movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.