Washington to Alabama Moving Guide
Updated June 23, 2025

Planning a 2,608 mile interstate move from Washington to Alabama? This moving guide will help you compare living in Washington vs Alabama across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs lower cost of living), food & health (like Salmon vs Barbecue Ribs), real estate & housing (contemporary, craftsman vs antebellum, colonial), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Washington), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Salmon and Applewood Smoked Salmon, but get your taste buds ready for Barbecue Ribs & Pulled Pork
- Alabama housing costs are 62% less expensive than they are in Washington
- Rent in Alabama is 25.24% more affordable than in Washington
- Moving from Washington to Alabama will cost on average between $2,500 - $9,500
- Our top recommended Washington to Alabama movers is Seattle Moves & More
Washington to Alabama Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Washington to Alabama
- High cost of living
- Rainy weather
- Dense traffic
- Lower cost of living
- More sunny days
- Less congestion
- Fewer national parks
- Fewer tech jobs
- Smaller cities
- Outdoor recreation
- Vibrant tech industry
- Rich cultural scene
Pros of moving from Washington to Alabama
- Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to the lower cost of living
- Look forward to moving away from the rainy weather and moving to Alabama with more sunny days
- Swap the dense traffic of Washington for less congestion in Alabama
Cons of moving from Washington to Alabama
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the outdoor recreation in Washington to live with fewer national parks in Alabama
- You'll lose out on the pro of a vibrant tech industry and have to settle for the con of fewer tech jobs
- Time to bid farewell to the rich cultural scene and get used to smaller cities in Alabama
Washington vs. Alabama: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Washington | Alabama |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Salmon | Barbecue Ribs |
Most popular meat dish | Applewood Smoked Salmon | Pulled Pork |
Most popular street food item | Hot Dogs | Fried Green Tomatoes |
Most popular vegan food | Quinoa Salad | Black-eyed Peas and Greens |
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 Washington to Alabama, you will be trading the iconic Salmon of Washington for the equally delicious Barbecue Ribs of Alabama. And while the locals in Washington rave about their flavorful Applewood Smoked Salmon and sumptuous Hot Dogs, Alabama residents know they have tasty Pulled Pork and Fried Green Tomatoes to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Quinoa Salad they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Black-eyed Peas and Greens of Alabama. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Washington eateries like Canlis, Mamnoon, and The Herbfarm. After the boxes are unpacked in Alabama, don't wait too long before making your way to Alabama's acclaimed eateries like Dreamland Bar-B-Que, Highlands Bar and Grill, and SAWβs BBQ.
When comparing lifestyles, Alabama shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Washington. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Alabama, compared to what you are used to in Washington. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Alabama.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Washington and Alabama
Comparison | Washington | Alabama |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Contemporary, Craftsman | Antebellum, Colonial |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Energy efficiency, Natural light | Historic details, Large plots |
- The Contemporary and Craftsman architecture that Washington is known for will be replaced with the Antebellum and Colonial architecture typical of Alabama.
- Compared to Washington's real estate listings that commonly reference energy efficiency and natural light, Alabama real estate listings often highlight features like historic details and large plots.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away. Alabama is less walkable than Washington.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike. Alabama is less bike-friendly than Washington.
- Alabama has less of an urban feel than Washington.
- Alabama housing costs are 62% less expensive than they are in Washington, with a median home price of $226,045 compared to Washingtonβs $591,148.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Alabama have increased by 45% compared to a 49% increase in Washington.
- Rent in Alabama is 25.24% more affordable than in Washington.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Washington and Alabama
Comparison | Washington | Alabama |
---|---|---|
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 | Volcanoes, Earthquakes | Hurricanes, Tornadoes |
Air Quality | Good | Variable |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 75Β°F/55Β°F | 91Β°F/71Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 47Β°F/37Β°F | 57Β°F/36Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 38 | 56 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 5 | 2 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Washington to Alabama. Alabama gets 40% more sunshine days than Washington.
- Alabama has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Washington.
- Say goodbye to the possible volcanoes and earthquakes in Washington, but be on the lookout for potential hurricanes and tornadoes in Alabama.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Alabama is 16 degrees warmer than in Washington.
- The average winter lows are 1 degree colder than they are in Washington.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Alabama. Alabama receives 18 more inches of rain compared to Washington.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Washington and Alabama
Comparison | Washington | Alabama |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $91,306 | $59,674 |
Cost of Living Index | 104.1 | 91.2 |
State Income Tax | 0% | 2-5% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.92% | 0.40% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 9.23% | 8.91% |
Top 3 Industries | Tech, Aerospace, Agriculture | Agriculture, Manufacturing, Mining |
Affluence | Prosperous | Moderate |
Poverty | Manageable | Higher |
Homelessness | Significant | Modest |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Alabama tend to earn about 35% less than in Washington
- The COLI in Alabama will be 12% lower than what you are used to living in Washington
- Bummer... By moving from WA to AL, you'll now have a state income tax of 2-5%
- The affluence in Alabama is moderate compared to prosperous in Washington
- The poverty level is higher in Alabama compared to manageable in Washington
- In terms of homelessness, it is significant in Washington and modest in Alabama
Political and Religious Climate in Washington vs. Alabama
Comparison | Washington | Alabama |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Liberal/Democratic | Conservative/Republican |
Local Politics | Progressive policies; strong environmental focus | Traditional values; focus on states' rights |
Religion | Less religiously affiliated | Highly religious; predominantly Christian |
- Washington tends to lean Liberal/Democratic in its political climate
- Alabama, on the other hand, is often described as Conservative/Republican
- Alabama's religious environment can be described as highly religious and predominantly Christian
- Washington's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as less religiously affiliated
Education Guide When Moving from Washington to Alabama
Comparison | Washington | Alabama |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Washington Washington State University Western Washington University | University of Alabama Auburn University University of Alabama at Birmingham |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Cascade Ridge Elementary (Issaquah) Challenge Elementary (Bellevue) Discovery Primary School (Gig Harbor) | Mountain Brook Elementary (Mountain Brook) Vestavia Hills Elementary West (Vestavia Hills) Brookwood Forest Elementary (Mountain Brook) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | International School (Bellevue) Pacific Cascade Middle School (Issaquah) Redmond Middle School (Redmond) | Mountain Brook Junior High (Mountain Brook) Louis Pizitz Middle School (Vestavia Hills) Berry Middle School (Hoover) |
Top 3 High School Schools | International Community School (Kirkland) Newport High School (Bellevue) Tesla STEM High School (Redmond) | Mountain Brook High School (Mountain Brook) Vestavia Hills High School (Vestavia Hills) Homewood High School (Homewood) |
Top 3 private high schools | The Overlake School (Redmond) Lakeside School (Seattle) The Bush School (Seattle) | The Altamont School (Birmingham) Indian Springs School (Indian Springs) Randolph School (Huntsville) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Seattle Academy The Bear Creek School (Redmond) Charles Wright Academy (Tacoma) | Madison Academy (Madison) The Donoho School (Anniston) Tuscaloosa Academy (Tuscaloosa) |
Top 3 School Districts | Lake Washington School District Bellevue School District Issaquah School District | Mountain Brook City Schools Vestavia Hills City Schools Madison City Schools |
How Much Do Washington to Alabama Movers Cost?
Moving 2,608 miles from Washington to Alabama 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: 2.5-6.5 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: John Volken Academy Movers
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,681 | 300 ft3 | $8.94 |
1 Bedroom | $3,999 | 450 ft3 | $8.89 |
2 Bedrooms | $6,628 | 750 ft3 | $8.84 |
3 Bedrooms | $9,665 | 1100 ft3 | $8.79 |
4 Bedrooms | $13,979 | 1600 ft3 | $8.74 |
5+ Bedrooms | $15,636 | 1800 ft3 | $8.69 |
Top Washington to Alabama Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Washington to Alabama movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.
Seattle Moves & More
Best moving company overall for Washington to Alabama