Washington to Florida Moving Guide
Updated June 17, 2025

Planning a 3,060 mile interstate move from Washington to Florida? This moving guide will help you compare living in Washington vs Florida across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like rainy weather vs sunshine year-round), food & health (like Salmon vs Key Lime Pie), real estate & housing (northwest contemporary vs spanish revival), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Washington), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Salmon and Pho, but get your taste buds ready for Key Lime Pie & Cuban Sandwich
- Florida housing costs are 33% less expensive than they are in Washington
- Rent in Florida is 12.84% more expensive than in Washington
- Moving from Washington to Florida will cost on average between $3,000 - $10,500
- Our top recommended Washington to Florida movers is Sebastian Moving and More
Washington to Florida Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Washington to Florida
- Rainy weather
- High cost of living
- Traffic congestion
- Cooler temperatures
- Limited beaches
- Sunshine year-round
- Affordable housing
- Better road infrastructure
- Warmer climate
- Beautiful coastlines
- Hurricane risk
- Seasonal tourists
- High humidity
- Less tech-driven
- Fewer cultural venues
- Lush green landscapes
- Rich cultural history
- Varied seasons
- Tech industry hub
- Vibrant arts scene
Pros of moving from Washington to Florida
- Say goodbye to rainy weather and hello to sunshine year-round
- Look forward to moving away from the high cost of living and moving to Florida with affordable housing
- Swap the traffic congestion of Washington for better road infrastructure in Florida
- Get ready for a warmer climate in Florida
Cons of moving from Washington to Florida
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the lush green landscapes in Washington to live with the hurricane risk in Florida
- You'll lose out on the pro of a rich cultural history and have to settle with the con of seasonal tourists
- Time to bid farewell to varied seasons and get used to the high humidity in Florida
- Swap the tech industry hub for a less tech-driven environment
Washington vs. Florida: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Washington | Florida |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Salmon | Key Lime Pie |
Most popular meat dish | Pho | Cuban Sandwich |
Most popular street food item | Tacos | Empanadas |
Most popular vegan food | Quinoa Salad | Jackfruit Tacos |
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 Florida, you will be trading the iconic Salmon of Washington for the equally delicious Key Lime Pie of Florida. And while the locals in Washington rave about their flavorful Pho and sumptuous Tacos, Florida residents know they have tasty Cuban Sandwich and Empanadas 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 Jackfruit Tacos of Florida. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Washington eateries like Canlis, The Herb Farm, and Matt's in the Market. After the boxes are unpacked in Florida, don't wait too long before making your way to Florida's acclaimed eateries like Joe's Stone Crab, Versailles Restaurant, and Bern's Steak House.
When comparing lifestyles, Florida shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Washington. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Florida compared to what you are used to in Washington. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Florida.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Washington and Florida
Comparison | Washington | Florida |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Northwest Contemporary | Spanish Revival |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Energy efficiency, Green spaces | Waterfront, Outdoor living spaces |
- The Northwest Contemporary architecture that Washington is known for will be replaced with the Spanish Revival architecture typical of Florida.
- Compared to Washington's real estate listings that commonly reference energy efficiency and green spaces, Florida real estate listings often highlight features like waterfront and outdoor living spaces.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Florida is less walkable than Washington.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike; Florida is less bike-friendly than Washington.
- Florida has less of an urban feel than Washington.
- Florida housing costs are 33% less expensive than they are in Washington, with a median home price of $397,137 compared to Washingtonβs $591,148.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Florida have increased by 66% compared to a 49% increase in Washington.
- Rent in Florida is 12.84% more expensive than in Washington.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Washington and Florida
Comparison | Washington | Florida |
---|---|---|
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, Volcanoes | Hurricanes, Tropical Storms |
Air Quality | Good | Variable |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 75Β°F / 55Β°F | 90Β°F / 75Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 47Β°F / 37Β°F | 70Β°F / 48Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 38 | 54 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 5 | 0 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Washington to Florida. Florida gets 56% more sunshine days than Washington.
- Florida has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Washington.
- Say goodbye to the possible earthquakes and volcanoes in Washington, but be on the lookout for potential hurricanes and tropical storms in Florida.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Florida is 15 degrees warmer than in Washington.
- The average winter lows are 11 degrees warmer than they are in Washington.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Florida. Florida receives 16 more inches of rain compared to Washington.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Washington and Florida
Comparison | Washington | Florida |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $91,306 | $69,303 |
Cost of Living Index | 104.1 | 97.8 |
State Income Tax | 0% | 0% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.08% | 0.83% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.5% | 6.0% |
Top 3 Industries | Technology, Aerospace, Agriculture | Tourism, Agriculture, Aerospace |
Affluence | Prosperous | Moderate |
Poverty | Average | Higher |
Homelessness | Significant | Moderate |
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Political and Religious Climate in Washington vs. Florida
Comparison | Washington | Florida |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Democratic | Swing State |
Local Politics | Progressive in urban areas | Mixed, varies by region |
Religion | Less religiously affiliated | Higher religious affiliation |
- Washington tends to lean Democratic in its political climate
- Florida, on the other hand, is often described as a swing state
- Florida's religious environment can be described as having a higher religious affiliation
- Washington's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as less religiously affiliated
Education Guide When Moving from Washington to Florida
Comparison | Washington | Florida |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Washington Washington State University Seattle University | University of Florida Florida State University University of Miami |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Cascade Ridge Elementary (Issaquah) Medina Elementary (Medina) Discovery Elementary (Gig Harbor) | Pine View School (Osprey) Doral Academy of Technology (Doral) Somerset Academy (Miramar) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | International School (Bellevue) Odle Middle School (Bellevue) Washington Middle School (Seattle) | Bak Middle School of the Arts (West Palm Beach) Archimedean Middle Conservatory (Miami) Alice M. B. Landrum Middle School (Ponte Vedra Beach) |
Top 3 High School Schools | International School (Bellevue) Tesla STEM High School (Redmond) Newport High School (Bellevue) | Pine View School (Osprey) School for Advanced Studies (Miami) Stanton College Preparatory School (Jacksonville) |
Top 3 private high schools | Lakeside School (Seattle) The Overlake School (Redmond) Seattle Academy (Seattle) | Pine Crest School (Fort Lauderdale) Ransom Everglades School (Coconut Grove) The Bolles School (Jacksonville) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Bush School (Seattle) Seattle Country Day School (Seattle) The Bear Creek School (Redmond) | Pine View School (Osprey) American Heritage School (Plantation) Shorecrest Preparatory School (St. Petersburg) |
Top 3 School Districts | Bellevue School District Issaquah School District Mercer Island School District | St. Johns County School District Sarasota County Schools Okaloosa County Schools |
How Much Do Washington to Florida Movers Cost?
Moving 3,060 miles from Washington to Florida will typically cost between $4,500 and $10,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $4,500 - $10,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 3-10 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Veteran Moving Group
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,937 | 300 ft3 | $9.79 |
1 Bedroom | $4,383 | 450 ft3 | $9.74 |
2 Bedrooms | $7,268 | 750 ft3 | $9.69 |
3 Bedrooms | $10,605 | 1100 ft3 | $9.64 |
4 Bedrooms | $15,346 | 1600 ft3 | $9.59 |
5+ Bedrooms | $17,174 | 1800 ft3 | $9.54 |
Top Washington to Florida Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Washington to Florida movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Sebastian Moving and More
Best moving company overall for Washington to Florida