Washington to Utah Moving Guide
Updated June 4, 2025

Planning a 960 mile interstate move from Washington to Utah? This moving guide will help you compare living in Washington vs Utah across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs affordable housing), food & health (like Salmon vs Funeral Potatoes), real estate & housing (craftsman, contemporary vs ranch, modern), 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 Funeral Potatoes & Green Jell-O with Carrots
- Utah housing costs are 12% less expensive than they are in Washington
- Rent in Utah is 14.58% more affordable than in Washington
- Moving from Washington to Utah will cost on average between $1,500 - $6,000
- Our top recommended Washington to Utah movers is Seattle Moves & More
Washington to Utah Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Washington to Utah
- High cost of living
- Rainy weather
- Traffic congestion
- Overcast skies
- Expensive utilities
- Affordable housing
- Sunny climate
- Less crowded roads
- Mountain views
- Lower energy costs
- Fewer cultural events
- Limited cuisine options
- Fewer transit options
- Drier landscapes
- Far from big cities
- Rich culture
- Diverse food scene
- Excellent public transport
- Green parks
- Proximity to Seattle
Pros of moving from Washington to Utah
- Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to affordable housing
- Look forward to moving away from rainy weather and moving to Utah with a sunny climate
- Swap the traffic congestion of Washington for less crowded roads in Utah
- Get ready for mountain views in Utah
Cons of moving from Washington to Utah
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the rich culture in Washington to live with fewer cultural events in Utah
- You'll lose out on the pro of a diverse food scene and have to settle for the con of limited cuisine options
- Time to bid farewell to excellent public transport and get used to fewer transit options in Utah
- Swap green parks for drier landscapes
Washington vs. Utah: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Washington | Utah |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Salmon | Funeral Potatoes |
Most popular meat dish | Pho | Green Jell-O with Carrots |
Most popular street food item | Tacos | Fry Sauce |
Most popular vegan food | Quinoa Salad | Vegan Casserole |
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 Utah, you will be trading the iconic Salmon of Washington for the equally delicious Funeral Potatoes of Utah. And while the locals in Washington rave about their flavorful Pho and sumptuous Tacos, Utah residents know they have tasty Green Jell-O with Carrots and Fry Sauce 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 Vegan Casserole of Utah. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Washington eateries like Canlis, The Pink Door, and Il Corvo. After the boxes are unpacked in Utah, don't wait too long before making your way to Utah's acclaimed eateries like Log Haven, HSL, and Red Iguana.
When comparing lifestyles, Utah shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Washington. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Utah compared to what you are used to in Washington. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Utah.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Washington and Utah
Comparison | Washington | Utah |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Craftsman, Contemporary | Ranch, Modern |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Green Spaces, Proximity to Water | Mountain Views, Spacious Yards |
- The Craftsman and Contemporary architecture that Washington is known for will be replaced with the Ranch and Modern architecture typical of Utah.
- Compared to Washington's real estate listings that commonly reference green spaces and proximity to water, Utah real estate listings often highlight features like mountain views and spacious yards.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away. Utah is less walkable than Washington.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike. Utah is less bike-friendly than Washington.
- Utah has less of an urban feel than Washington.
- Utah housing costs are 12% less expensive than they are in Washington, with a median home price of $519,182 compared to Washingtonβs $591,148.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Utah have increased by 56% compared to a 49% increase in Washington.
- Rent in Utah is 14.58% more affordable than in Washington.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Washington and Utah
Comparison | Washington | Utah |
---|---|---|
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 | Earthquakes, Floods |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 75Β°F / 55Β°F | 90Β°F / 68Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 47Β°F / 37Β°F | 37Β°F / 20Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 38 | 20 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 50 | 60 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Washington to Utah. Utah gets 46% more sunshine days than Washington.
- Utah 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 earthquakes and floods in Utah.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Utah is 15 degrees warmer than Washington.
- The average winter lows are 17 degrees colder than they are in Washington.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Utah. Utah receives 18 fewer inches of rain compared to Washington.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Washington and Utah
Comparison | Washington | Utah |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $91,306 | $89,168 |
Cost of Living Index | 104.1 | 95.75 |
State Income Tax | 0% | 4.95% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.03% | 0.58% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 8.92% | 7.19% |
Top 3 Industries | Tech, Aerospace, Agriculture | Tech, Mining, Tourism |
Affluence | High | Moderate |
Poverty | Moderate | Low |
Homelessness | Significant | Lower |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Utah tend to earn about 2% less than in Washington
- The COLI in Utah will be 8% lower than what you are used to living in Washington
- Bummer... By moving from WA to UT, you'll now have a state income tax of 4.95%
- The affluence in Utah is moderate compared to high in Washington
- The poverty level is low in Utah compared to moderate in Washington
- In terms of homelessness, it is significant in Washington and lower in Utah
Political and Religious Climate in Washington vs. Utah
Comparison | Washington | Utah |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Democratically leaning | Republically leaning |
Local Politics | Liberal in urban areas | Conservative statewide |
Religion | Less religiously affiliated | Highly affiliated, predominantly LDS (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) |
- Washington tends to lean democratically in its political climate
- Utah, on the other hand, is often described as republically leaning
- Utah's religious environment can be described as highly affiliated and predominantly LDS (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints)
- Washington's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as less religiously affiliated
Education Guide When Moving from Washington to Utah
Comparison | Washington | Utah |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Washington Washington State University Seattle University | University of Utah Utah State University Brigham Young University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Cascade Ridge Elementary (Issaquah) Challenge Elementary (Bellevue) Medina Elementary (Medina) | Edgemont Elementary School (Provo) Ensign Elementary School (Salt Lake City) Wasatch Elementary School (Provo) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | International School (Bellevue) Redmond Middle (Redmond) Washington Middle (Seattle) | Centennial Middle (Provo) Indian Hills Middle (Sandy) Fairfield Junior High (Kaysville) |
Top 3 High School Schools | International School (Bellevue) Newport High (Bellevue) Skyline High (Sammamish) | Academy for Math Engineering & Science (Salt Lake City) Itineris Early College High (West Jordan) Northern Utah Academy for Math Engineering & Science (Layton) |
Top 3 private high schools | The Overlake School (Redmond) Lakeside School (Seattle) Eastside Preparatory School (Kirkland) | Rowland Hall (Salt Lake City) The Waterford School (Sandy) Juan Diego Catholic High School (Draper) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Bush School (Seattle) Seattle Academy (Seattle) The Bear Creek School (Redmond) | Rowland Hall (Salt Lake City) The Waterford School (Sandy) Madeleine Choir School (Salt Lake City) |
Top 3 School Districts | Lake Washington School District Bellevue School District Issaquah School District | Park City School District Davis School District Canyons School District |
How Much Do Washington to Utah Movers Cost?
Moving 960 miles from Washington to Utah will typically cost between $2,500 and $6,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,500 - $6,000
- 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 | $1,747 | 300 ft3 | $5.82 |
1 Bedroom | $2,598 | 450 ft3 | $5.77 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,292 | 750 ft3 | $5.72 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,240 | 1100 ft3 | $5.67 |
4 Bedrooms | $8,996 | 1600 ft3 | $5.62 |
5+ Bedrooms | $10,030 | 1800 ft3 | $5.57 |
Top Washington to Utah Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Washington to Utah movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.
Seattle Moves & More
Best moving company overall for Washington to Utah