Washington to Missouri Moving Guide
Updated June 11, 2025

Planning a 1,981 mile interstate move from Washington to Missouri? This moving guide will help you compare living in Washington vs Missouri across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs lower cost of living), food & health (like Salmon vs St. Louis-style Pizza), real estate & housing (craftsman, contemporary 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 Teriyaki Chicken, but get your taste buds ready for St. Louis-style Pizza & BBQ Ribs
- Missouri housing costs are 59% less expensive than they are in Washington
- Rent in Missouri is 32.30% more affordable than in Washington
- Moving from Washington to Missouri will cost on average between $2,500 - $8,500
- Our top recommended Washington to Missouri movers is Sunrise Moving and Packing, LLC
Washington to Missouri Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Washington to Missouri
- High cost of living
- Heavy rainfall
- Traffic congestion
- Earthquake risk
- High housing costs
- Lower cost of living
- More sunshine
- Smoother traffic
- Less seismic activity
- Affordable housing
- Fewer mountains
- Fewer tech jobs
- Fewer coffee boutiques
- Traditional culture
- Limited diversity
- Beautiful scenery
- Tech job opportunities
- Abundant coffee shops
- Progressive culture
- Diverse culinary scene
Pros of moving from Washington to Missouri
- Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to the lower cost of living
- Look forward to moving away from heavy rainfall and moving to Missouri with more sunshine
- Swap the traffic congestion of Washington for smoother traffic in Missouri
- Get ready for less seismic activity in Missouri
Cons of moving from Washington to Missouri
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the beautiful scenery in Washington to live with fewer mountains in Missouri
- You'll lose out on the pro of tech job opportunities and have to settle with the con of fewer tech jobs
- Time to bid farewell to abundant coffee shops and get used to fewer coffee boutiques in Missouri
- Swap progressive culture for traditional culture
Washington vs. Missouri: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Washington | Missouri |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Salmon | St. Louis-style Pizza |
Most popular meat dish | Teriyaki Chicken | BBQ Ribs |
Most popular street food item | Hot Dogs | Toasted Ravioli |
Most popular vegan food | Acai Bowl | BBQ Jackfruit Sandwich |
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 Missouri, you will be trading the iconic Salmon of Washington for the equally delicious St. Louis-style Pizza of Missouri. And while the locals in Washington rave about their flavorful Teriyaki Chicken and sumptuous Hot Dogs, Missouri residents know they have tasty BBQ Ribs and Toasted Ravioli to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Acai Bowl they've grown to love, they can get ready for the BBQ Jackfruit Sandwich of Missouri. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Washington eateries like Canlis, The Herb Farm, and Salumi. After the boxes are unpacked in Missouri, don't wait too long before making your way to Missouri's acclaimed eateries like Pappy's Smokehouse, Blueberry Hill, and Ted Drewes Frozen Custard.
When comparing lifestyles, Missouri shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Washington. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Missouri compared to what you are used to in Washington. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Missouri.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Washington and Missouri
Comparison | Washington | Missouri |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Craftsman, Contemporary | Colonial, Ranch |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Green spaces, Tech industry proximity | Family-friendly, Affordability |
- The Craftsman and Contemporary architecture that Washington is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Ranch architecture typical of Missouri.
- Compared to Washington's real estate listings that commonly reference green spaces and proximity to the tech industry, Missouri real estate listings often highlight features like family-friendly neighborhoods and affordability.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Missouri is less walkable than Washington.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike; Missouri is less bike-friendly than Washington.
- Missouri has less of an urban feel than Washington.
- Missouri housing costs are 59% less expensive than they are in Washington, with a median home price of $243,216 compared to Washingtonβs $591,148.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Missouri have increased by 49% compared to a 49% increase in Washington.
- Rent in Missouri is 32.30% more affordable than in Washington.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Washington and Missouri
Comparison | Washington | Missouri |
---|---|---|
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 | Tornadoes, Floods |
Air Quality | Good | Variable |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 75Β°F / 55Β°F | 89Β°F / 69Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 47Β°F / 37Β°F | 40Β°F / 20Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 38 | 42 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 5 | 18 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Washington to Missouri. Missouri gets 41% more sunshine days than Washington.
- Missouri has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Washington.
- Say goodbye to the possible earthquakes and volcanoes in Washington and be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and floods in Missouri.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Missouri is 14 degrees warmer than in Washington.
- The average winter lows are 17 degrees colder than they are in Washington.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Missouri. Missouri receives 4 more inches of rain compared to Washington.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Washington and Missouri
Comparison | Washington | Missouri |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $91,306 | $64,811 |
Cost of Living Index | 104.1 | 91.8 |
State Income Tax | 0% | 0% to 5.3% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.03% | 0.93% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.5% | 4.225% |
Top 3 Industries | Technology, Aerospace, Agriculture | Agriculture, Manufacturing, Health Services |
Affluence | High | Moderate |
Poverty | Low | Moderate |
Homelessness | Higher | Lower |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Missouri tend to earn about 29% less than those in Washington
- The COLI in Missouri will be 12% lower than what you are used to living in Washington
- Bummer... By moving from WA to MO, you'll now have a state income tax of 0% to 5.3%
- The affluence in Missouri is moderate compared to high in Washington
- The poverty level is moderate in Missouri compared to low in Washington
- In terms of homelessness, it is higher in Washington and lower in Missouri
Political and Religious Climate in Washington vs. Missouri
Comparison | Washington | Missouri |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Democratic | Lean Republican |
Local Politics | Progressive urban centers | Mix of conservative rural areas & progressive cities |
Religion | Less religiously affiliated | Higher percentage of Christian affiliation |
- Washington tends to lean Democratic in its political climate
- Missouri, on the other hand, is often described as leaning Republican
- Missouri's religious environment can be described as having a higher percentage of Christian affiliation
- Washington's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as less religiously affiliated
Education Guide When Moving from Washington to Missouri
Comparison | Washington | Missouri |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Washington (Seattle) Washington State University (Pullman) Seattle University (Seattle) | University of Missouri (Columbia) Missouri State University (Springfield) Washington University in St. Louis (St. Louis) |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Cascade Ridge Elementary (Issaquah) Rosa Parks Elementary (Redmond) Samantha Smith Elementary (Sammamish) | Conway Elementary (Ladue) Lincoln Elementary (Clayton) Wilson School (Clayton) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | International School (Bellevue) Pacific Cascade Middle School (Issaquah) Lakeside Middle School (Seattle) | John Burroughs School (St. Louis) Ladue Middle School (Ladue) Whitfield School (St. Louis) |
Top 3 High Schools | International School (Bellevue) Newport High School (Bellevue) Tesla STEM High School (Redmond) | Clayton High School (Clayton) Ladue Horton Watkins High School (Ladue) Metro Academic and Classical High School (St. Louis) |
Top 3 private high schools | Lakeside School (Seattle) The Overlake School (Redmond) Seattle Academy (Seattle) | John Burroughs School (St. Louis) Mary Institute and St. Louis Country Day School (St. Louis) Thomas Jefferson School (St. Louis) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Bear Creek School (Redmond) The Bush School (Seattle) Eastside Preparatory School (Kirkland) | Pembroke Hill School (Kansas City) The Barstow School (Kansas City) Crossroads College Preparatory School (St. Louis) |
Top 3 School Districts | Lake Washington School District (Redmond) Issaquah School District (Issaquah) Bellevue School District (Bellevue) | Clayton School District (Clayton) Kirkwood School District (Kirkwood) Ladue School District (Ladue) |
How Much Do Washington to Missouri Movers Cost?
Moving 1,981 miles from Washington to Missouri 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: John Volken Academy Movers
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,326 | 300 ft3 | $7.75 |
1 Bedroom | $3,466 | 450 ft3 | $7.70 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,739 | 750 ft3 | $7.65 |
3 Bedrooms | $8,362 | 1100 ft3 | $7.60 |
4 Bedrooms | $12,083 | 1600 ft3 | $7.55 |
5+ Bedrooms | $13,503 | 1800 ft3 | $7.50 |
Top Washington to Missouri Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Washington to Missouri movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Sunrise Moving and Packing, LLC
Best moving company overall for Washington to Missouri