Washington to Michigan Moving Guide
Updated June 19, 2025

Planning a 2,030 mile interstate move from Washington to Michigan? This moving guide will help you compare living in Washington vs Michigan across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs lower housing expenses), food & health (like Salmon vs Cherry Pie), real estate & housing (modern & craftsman vs colonial & ranch), 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 Cherry Pie & Coney Dog
- Michigan housing costs are 59% less expensive than they are in Washington
- Rent in Michigan is 26.43% more affordable than in Washington
- Moving from Washington to Michigan will cost on average between $2,500 - $8,500
- Our top recommended Washington to Michigan movers is Pro-Low Moving
Washington to Michigan Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Washington to Michigan
- High cost of living
- Heavy traffic congestion
- Rainy climate
- Limited sports culture
- High state taxes
- Lower housing expenses
- Easier commuting
- More sunny days
- Rich sports scene
- Tax-friendly environment
- Fewer lush vistas
- Limited tech opportunities
- Less public transport
- Fewer dining options
- Fewer renowned universities
- Stunning landscapes
- Thriving tech industry
- Robust public transit
- Diverse culinary scene
- Strong educational institutions
Pros of moving from Washington to Michigan
- Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to lower housing expenses
- Look forward to moving away from heavy traffic congestion and moving to Michigan with easier commuting
- Swap the rainy climate of Washington for more sunny days in Michigan
- Get ready for a rich sports scene in Michigan
Cons of moving from Washington to Michigan
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from stunning landscapes in Washington to live with fewer lush vistas in Michigan
- You'll lose out on the pro of a thriving tech industry and have to settle for the con of limited tech opportunities
- Time to bid farewell to robust public transit and get used to less public transport in Michigan
- Swap a diverse culinary scene for fewer dining options
Washington vs. Michigan: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Washington | Michigan |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Salmon | Cherry Pie |
Most popular meat dish | Pho | Coney Dog |
Most popular street food item | Taco Trucks | Pasty |
Most popular vegan food | Quinoa Salad | Lentil Burger |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
|
|
Fitness/Health Conscientiousness | 💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪 | 💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪 |
Abundance of Food Trucks | 🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚 | 🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚 |
Foodie Scene | 🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴 | 🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴 |
Vegan Friendly | 🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱 | 🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱 |
If you're moving from Washington to Michigan, you will be trading the iconic Salmon of Washington for the equally delicious Cherry Pie of Michigan. And while the locals in Washington rave about their flavorful Pho and sumptuous Taco Trucks, Michigan residents know they have tasty Coney Dog and Pasty 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 Lentil Burger of Michigan. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Washington eateries like Canlis, Salumi, and Pike Place Chowder. After the boxes are unpacked in Michigan, don't wait too long before making your way to Michigan's acclaimed eateries like Zingerman's Deli, Slows Bar BQ, and Bell's Eccentric Cafe.
When comparing lifestyles, Michigan shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Washington. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Michigan compared to what you are used to in Washington. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Michigan.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Washington and Michigan
Comparison | Washington | Michigan |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Modern & Craftsman | Colonial & Ranch |
Walkability | 👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟 | 👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟 |
Bikeability | 🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲 | 🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲 |
Urban Lifestyle | 🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️ | 🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Open-concept, eco-friendly | Lake access, spacious backyards |
- The Modern & Craftsman architecture that Washington is known for will be replaced with the Colonial & Ranch architecture typical of Michigan.
- Compared to Washington's real estate listings that commonly reference open-concept and eco-friendly features, Michigan real estate listings often highlight features like lake access and spacious backyards.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Michigan is less walkable than Washington.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike; Michigan is less bike-friendly than Washington.
- Michigan has less of an urban feel than Washington.
- Michigan housing costs are 59% less expensive than they are in Washington, with a median home price of $239,770 compared to Washington's $591,148.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Michigan have increased by 45% compared to a 49% increase in Washington.
- Rent in Michigan is 26.43% more affordable than in Washington.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Washington and Michigan
Comparison | Washington | Michigan |
---|---|---|
Days of Sunshine per Year | ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️ | ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️ |
Avg. Annual Humidity | 💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦 | 💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦💦 |
Avg. UV Index | 🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️ | 🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️🕶️ |
Natural Disasters | Floods, Earthquakes | Snowstorms, Tornadoes |
Air Quality | Good | Variable |
Average Summer High/Low (°F) | 75°F/55°F | 81°F/62°F |
Average Winter High/Low (°F) | 47°F/37°F | 31°F/18°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 38 | 32 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 5 | 60 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Washington to Michigan. Michigan gets 12% more sunshine days than Washington.
- Michigan has lower humidity and a similar average UV index compared to Washington.
- Say goodbye to the possible floods and earthquakes in Washington, but be on the lookout for potential snowstorms and tornadoes in Michigan.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Michigan is 6 degrees warmer than in Washington.
- The average winter lows in Michigan are 19 degrees colder than they are in Washington.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Michigan. Michigan receives 6 fewer inches of rain compared to Washington.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Washington and Michigan
Comparison | Washington | Michigan |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $91,306 | $66,986 |
Cost of Living Index | 104.1 | 91.2 |
State Income Tax | 0% | 4.25% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.03% | 1.54% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 9.17% | 6% |
Top 3 Industries | Technology, Aerospace, E-commerce | Automotive, Manufacturing, Healthcare |
Affluence | High | Moderate |
Poverty | Moderate | High |
Homelessness | High | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Michigan tend to earn about 27% less than in Washington
- The COLI in Michigan will be 12% lower than what you are used to living in Washington
- Bummer... By moving from WA to MI, you'll now have a state income tax of 4.25%
- The affluence in Michigan is moderate compared to high in Washington
- The poverty level is high in Michigan compared to moderate in Washington
- In terms of homelessness, it is high in Washington and moderate in Michigan
Political and Religious Climate in Washington vs. Michigan
Comparison | Washington | Michigan |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Liberal | Moderate/Mixed |
Local Politics | Progressive city policies | Diversified across regions |
Religion | Less religiously affiliated | Higher religious affiliation |
- Washington tends to lean Liberal in its political climate
- Michigan, on the other hand, is often described as Moderate/Mixed
- Michigan's religious environment can be described as having a higher religious affiliation
- Washington's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as being less religiously affiliated
Education Guide When Moving from Washington to Michigan
Comparison | Washington | Michigan |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Washington Washington State University Seattle University | University of Michigan Michigan State University Wayne State University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Cascadia Elementary (Seattle) Medina Elementary (Medina) Enatai Elementary School (Bellevue) | Rochester Adams High School (Rochester Hills) Frankenmuth High School (Frankenmuth) Northville High School (Northville) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | International School (Bellevue) Odle Middle School (Bellevue) Redmond Middle School (Redmond) | West Middle School (Rochester Hills) East Middle School (Farmington Hills) Boulan Park Middle School (Troy) |
Top 3 High Schools | International School (Bellevue) Newport High School (Bellevue) Lakeside School (Seattle) | International Academy (Bloomfield Hills) Troy High School (Troy) Novi High School (Novi) |
Top 3 private high schools | Lakeside School (Seattle) The Overlake School (Redmond) The Bush School (Seattle) | Detroit Country Day School (Beverly Hills) Cranbrook Schools (Bloomfield Hills) Roeper School (Birmingham) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Bush School (Seattle) The Overlake School (Redmond) Eastside Preparatory School (Kirkland) | Greenhills School (Ann Arbor) Detroit Country Day School (Beverly Hills) Cranbrook Schools (Bloomfield Hills) |
Top 3 School Districts | Bellevue School District Lake Washington School District Mercer Island School District | Okemos Public Schools Birmingham Public Schools Bloomfield Hills Schools |
How Much Do Washington to Michigan Movers Cost?
Moving 2,030 miles from Washington to Michigan will typically cost between $3,500 and $8,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,500 - $8,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 3-7 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Pro-Low Moving
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,353 | 300 ft3 | $7.84 |
1 Bedroom | $3,508 | 450 ft3 | $7.79 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,808 | 750 ft3 | $7.74 |
3 Bedrooms | $8,464 | 1100 ft3 | $7.69 |
4 Bedrooms | $12,231 | 1600 ft3 | $7.64 |
5+ Bedrooms | $13,670 | 1800 ft3 | $7.59 |
Top Washington to Michigan Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Washington to Michigan movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.