Washington to DC Moving Guide
Updated June 20, 2025

Planning a 2,687 mile interstate move from Washington to DC? This moving guide will help you compare living in Washington vs DC across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high rain fall vs mild winters), food & health (like Salmon vs Half-smoke), real estate & housing (craftsman, northwest contemporary vs victorian, federal), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes, politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Salmon and Grilled salmon, but get your taste buds ready for Half-smoke & Ben's Chili Bowl Chili
- DC housing costs are 5% more expensive than they are in Washington
- Rent in DC is 21.70% more expensive than in Washington
- Moving from Washington to DC will cost on average between $2,500 - $10,000
- Our top recommended Washington to DC movers is Bookstore Movers
Washington to DC Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Washington to DC
- High rain fall
- Limited nightlife
- Spread-out cities
- Higher gas prices
- Mild winters
- Vibrant culture scene
- Convenient public transport
- Walkable neighborhoods
- Urban density
- Traffic congestion
- Higher cost of living
- Busy urban lifestyle
- Natural landscapes
- Less traffic congestion
- Lower cost of living
- Local wineries
Pros of moving from Washington to DC
- Say goodbye to high rainfall and hello to mild winters
- Look forward to moving away from limited nightlife and moving to DC with a vibrant cultural scene
- Swap the spread-out cities of Washington for convenient public transport in DC
- Get ready for walkable neighborhoods in DC
Cons of moving from Washington to DC
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from natural landscapes in Washington to live with urban density in DC
- You'll lose out on the pro of less traffic congestion and have to settle for the con of traffic congestion
- Time to bid farewell to a lower cost of living and get used to a higher cost of living in DC
- Swap local wineries for a busy urban lifestyle
Washington vs. DC: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Washington | DC |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Salmon | Half-smoke |
Most popular meat dish | Grilled salmon | Ben's Chili Bowl Chili |
Most popular street food item | Hot Dogs | Falafel |
Most popular vegan food | Vegan Pho | Impossible Burger |
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 DC, you will be trading the iconic Salmon of Washington for the equally delicious Half-smoke of DC. And while the locals in Washington rave about their flavorful Grilled Salmon and sumptuous Hot Dogs, DC residents know they have tasty Ben's Chili Bowl Chili and Falafel to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Vegan Pho they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Impossible Burger of DC. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Washington eateries like Canlis, Wild Ginger, and Matt's Rotisserie & Oyster Lounge. After the boxes are unpacked in DC, don't wait too long before making your way to DC's acclaimed eateries like Ben's Chili Bowl, Zaytinya, and Rose's Luxury.
When comparing lifestyles, DC shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Washington. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in DC compared to what you are used to in Washington. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in DC.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Washington and DC
Comparison | Washington | DC |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Craftsman, Northwest Contemporary | Victorian, Federal |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Green spaces, Views | Proximity to metro, Historic charm |
- The Craftsman and Northwest Contemporary architecture that Washington is known for will be replaced with the Victorian and Federal architecture typical of DC.
- Compared to Washington's real estate listings that commonly reference green spaces and views, DC real estate listings often highlight features like proximity to the metro and historic charm.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. DC is more walkable than Washington.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. DC is more bike-friendly than Washington.
- DC has more of an urban feel than Washington.
- DC housing costs are 5% more expensive than they are in Washington, with a median home price of $619,320 compared to Washingtonβs $591,148.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in DC have increased by 8% compared to a 49% increase in Washington.
- Rent in DC is 21.70% more expensive than in Washington.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Washington and DC
Comparison | Washington | DC |
---|---|---|
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, Flooding |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 75/55 | 89/71 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 47/36 | 47/30 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 38 | 40 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 5 | 15.4 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Washington to DC. DC gets 34% more sunshine days than Washington.
- DC 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 flooding in DC.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in DC is 14 degrees warmer than in Washington.
- The average winter lows are 6 degrees colder than they are in Washington.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in DC. DC receives 2 more inches of rain compared to Washington.
Political and Religious Climate in Washington vs. DC
Comparison | Washington | DC |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Democratic | Strongly Democratic |
Local Politics | Progressive policies on environment and social issues | Focus on home rule and statehood issues |
Religion | Less religiously affiliated | Diverse religious landscape with Christianity being predominant |
- Washington tends to lean Democratic in its political climate
- DC, on the other hand, is often described as strongly Democratic
- DC's religious environment can be described as a diverse religious landscape with Christianity being predominant
- Washington's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as less religiously affiliated
Education Guide When Moving from Washington to DC
Comparison | Washington | DC |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Washington Washington State University Gonzaga University | Georgetown University Howard University American University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Cascade Ridge Elementary (Issaquah) Medina Elementary (Medina) Bertschi School (Seattle) | Lafayette Elementary School (Washington) Mann Elementary School (Washington) Janney Elementary School (Washington) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | International School (Bellevue) Odle Middle School (Bellevue) Washington Middle School (Seattle) | Deal Middle School (Washington) Hardy Middle School (Washington) Stuart-Hobson Middle School (Washington) |
Top 3 High Schools | Lakeside School (Seattle) Newport High School (Bellevue) Garfield High School (Seattle) | School Without Walls High School (Washington) Banneker High School (Washington) Wilson High School (Washington) |
Top 3 private high schools | The Overlake School (Redmond) Seattle Academy (Seattle) The Bush School (Seattle) | Georgetown Prep (North Bethesda) Sidwell Friends (Washington) National Cathedral School (Washington) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Bear Creek School (Redmond) Seattle Country Day School (Seattle) Eastside Preparatory School (Kirkland) | Maret School (Washington) St. Albans School (Washington) Georgetown Day School (Washington) |
Top 3 School Districts | Lake Washington School District Bellevue School District Mercer Island School District | DC Public Schools |
How Much Do Washington to DC Movers Cost?
Moving 2,687 miles from Washington to DC will typically cost between $4,000 and $10,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $4,000 - $10,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-4 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: John Volken Academy Movers
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,726 | 300 ft3 | $9.09 |
1 Bedroom | $4,066 | 450 ft3 | $9.04 |
2 Bedrooms | $6,740 | 750 ft3 | $8.99 |
3 Bedrooms | $9,830 | 1100 ft3 | $8.94 |
4 Bedrooms | $14,218 | 1600 ft3 | $8.89 |
5+ Bedrooms | $15,905 | 1800 ft3 | $8.84 |
Top Washington to DC Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Washington to DC movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.