Virginia to Louisiana Moving Guide
Updated June 21, 2025

Planning a 1,015 mile interstate move from Virginia to Louisiana? This moving guide will help you compare living in Virginia vs Louisiana across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons, food & health (like Ham vs Gumbo), real estate & housing (colonial, cape cod vs french creole, plantation), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Virginia), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Ham and Barbecue, but get your taste buds ready for Gumbo & Jambalaya
- Louisiana housing costs are 48% less expensive than they are in Virginia
- Rent in Louisiana is 28.10% more affordable than in Virginia
- Moving from Virginia to Louisiana will cost on average between $2,000 - $6,500
- Our top recommended Virginia to Louisiana movers is ARS Movers
Virginia vs. Louisiana: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Virginia | Louisiana |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Ham | Gumbo |
Most popular meat dish | Barbecue | Jambalaya |
Most popular street food item | Oysters | Po'boys |
Most popular vegan food | Kale salad | Okra gumbo (vegan) |
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 Virginia to Louisiana, you will be trading the iconic Ham of Virginia for the equally delicious Gumbo of Louisiana. And while the locals in Virginia rave about their flavorful Barbecue and sumptuous Oysters, Louisiana residents know they have tasty Jambalaya and Po'boys to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Kale salad they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Okra gumbo (vegan) of Louisiana. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Virginia eateries like The Inn at Little Washington, Leaping Lizard CafΓ©, and La Madeleine. After the boxes are unpacked in Louisiana, don't wait too long before making your way to Louisiana's acclaimed eateries like Commander's Palace, Dooky Chase's Restaurant, and Willie Mae's Scotch House.
When comparing lifestyles, Louisiana shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Virginia. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Louisiana compared to what you are used to in Virginia. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Louisiana.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Virginia and Louisiana
Comparison | Virginia | Louisiana |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Cape Cod | French Creole, Plantation |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Hardwood floors, Granite countertops | Large yards, Outdoor living spaces |
- The Colonial and Cape Cod architecture that Virginia is known for will be replaced with the French Creole and Plantation architecture typical of Louisiana.
- Compared to Virginia's real estate listings that commonly reference hardwood floors and granite countertops, Louisiana real estate listings often highlight features like large yards and outdoor living spaces.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Louisiana is more walkable than Virginia.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Louisiana is more bike-friendly than Virginia.
- Louisiana has more of an urban feel than Virginia.
- Louisiana housing costs are 48% less expensive than they are in Virginia, with a median home price of $199,091 compared to Virginiaβs $385,780.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Louisiana have increased by 13% compared to a 42% increase in Virginia.
- Rent in Louisiana is 28.10% more affordable than in Virginia.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Virginia and Louisiana
Comparison | Virginia | 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 | Hurricanes, Winter Storms | Hurricanes, Floods |
Air Quality | Good to Moderate | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85Β°F / 65Β°F | 91Β°F / 74Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 48Β°F / 29Β°F | 62Β°F / 42Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 44" | 60" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 10" | <1" |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Virginia to Louisiana. Louisiana gets 5% more sunshine days than Virginia.
- Louisiana has higher humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Virginia.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and winter storms in Virginia, 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 Virginia.
- The average winter lows are 13 degrees warmer than they are in Virginia.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Louisiana. Louisiana receives 16 more inches of rain compared to Virginia.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Virginia and Louisiana
Comparison | Virginia | Louisiana |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $85,873 | $55,416 |
Cost of Living Index | 96.6 | 96 |
State Income Tax | 5.75 | 6 |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.82 | 0.52 |
Avg. Sales Tax | 5.3 | 9.45 |
Top 3 Industries | Technology, Government, Agriculture | Energy, Chemicals, Agriculture |
Affluence | Moderate | Low |
Poverty | Low | High |
Homelessness | Moderate | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Louisiana tend to earn about 35% less than in Virginia
- The COLI in Louisiana will be 1% lower than what you are used to living in Virginia
- The state income tax in LA is 6 compared to 5.75 in VA
- The affluence in Louisiana is low compared to moderate in Virginia
- The poverty level is high in Louisiana compared to low in Virginia
- In terms of homelessness, it is moderate in Virginia and low in Louisiana
Political and Religious Climate in Virginia vs. Louisiana
Comparison | Virginia | Louisiana |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Swing State, recently leaning Democratic | Strongly Republican |
Local Politics | Mix of liberal urban areas and conservative rural regions | Conservative across most areas, with some liberal pockets in cities like <a href="https://nola.gov/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">New Orleans</a> |
Religion | Christianity predominant, diverse religious communities in urban areas | Primarily Christian, with a significant Catholic population |
- Virginia tends to lean swing state, recently leaning Democratic in its political climate
- Louisiana, on the other hand, is often described as strongly Republican
- Louisiana's religious environment can be described as primarily Christian, with a significant Catholic population
- Virginia's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as predominantly Christianity, with diverse religious communities in urban areas
Education Guide When Moving from Virginia to Louisiana
Comparison | Virginia | Louisiana |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Virginia Virginia Tech William & Mary | Louisiana State University Tulane University University of Louisiana |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Nuckols Farm Elementary - Henrico Arlington Science Focus School - Arlington Nottingham Elementary - Arlington | Lusher Charter School - New Orleans Haynes Academy School for Advanced Studies - Metairie Edward Hynes Charter School - New Orleans |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Longfellow Middle School - Falls Church Henley Middle School - Crozet Frost Middle School - Fairfax | Haynes Academy School for Advanced Studies - Metairie Lusher Charter School - New Orleans Thomas Jefferson High School for Advanced Studies - Gretna |
Top 3 High Schools | Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology - Alexandria McLean High School - McLean Langley High School - McLean | Benjamin Franklin High School - New Orleans Patrick F. Taylor Science & Technology Academy - Jefferson Haynes Academy School for Advanced Studies - Metairie |
Top 3 private high schools | The Madeira School - McLean St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School - Alexandria The Potomac School - McLean | 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 Potomac School - McLean Flint Hill School - Oakton Norfolk Academy - Norfolk | Isidore Newman School - New Orleans Metairie Park Country Day School - Metairie Episcopal School of Baton Rouge - Baton Rouge |
Top 3 School Districts | Falls Church City Public Schools Henrico County Public Schools Loudoun County Public Schools | Orleans Parish School District Jefferson Parish Public School System East Baton Rouge Parish School System |
How Much Do Virginia to Louisiana Movers Cost?
Moving 1,015 miles from Virginia to Louisiana will typically cost between $2,500 and $6,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,500 - $6,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-2 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Estes SureMove
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,778 | 300 ft3 | $5.93 |
1 Bedroom | $2,644 | 450 ft3 | $5.88 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,370 | 750 ft3 | $5.83 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,354 | 1100 ft3 | $5.78 |
4 Bedrooms | $9,162 | 1600 ft3 | $5.73 |
5+ Bedrooms | $10,217 | 1800 ft3 | $5.68 |
Top Virginia to Louisiana Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Virginia to Louisiana movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.