Wyoming to California Moving Guide
Updated June 18, 2025

Planning a 1,191 mile interstate move from Wyoming to California? This moving guide will help you compare living in Wyoming vs California across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winters vs mild winters), food & health (like Bison Steak vs Sourdough Bread), real estate & housing (ranch vs spanish colonial/mid-century modern), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in California), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Bison Steak and Beef Jerky, but get your taste buds ready for Sourdough Bread & Fish Tacos
- California housing costs are 130% more expensive than they are in Wyoming
- Rent in California is 148.04% more expensive than in Wyoming
- Moving from Wyoming to California will cost on average between $2,000 - $6,500
- Our top recommended Wyoming to California movers is OCD Moving Services LLC
Wyoming to California Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Wyoming to California
- Harsh winters
- Limited entertainment
- Rural isolation
- Sparse shopping
- Job market growth
- Mild winters
- Vibrant culture
- Metropolitan life
- Retail variety
- Thriving industries
- Higher expenses
- Busy lifestyle
- Urban congestion
- Less intimate communities
- Heavy traffic
- Low cost of living
- Peaceful surroundings
- Open landscapes
- Cherished small towns
- Minimal traffic
Pros of moving from Wyoming to California
- Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to mild winters
- Look forward to moving away from limited entertainment and moving to California with vibrant culture
- Swap the rural isolation of Wyoming for metropolitan life in California
- Get ready for retail variety in California
Cons of moving from Wyoming to California
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the low cost of living in Wyoming to live with higher expenses in California
- You'll lose out on the pro of peaceful surroundings and have to settle for the con of a busy lifestyle
- Time to bid farewell to open landscapes and get used to urban congestion in California
- Swap cherished small towns for less intimate communities
Wyoming vs. California: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Wyoming | California |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Bison Steak | Sourdough Bread |
Most popular meat dish | Beef Jerky | Fish Tacos |
Most popular street food item | Indian Tacos | Street Tacos |
Most popular vegan food | Quinoa Salad | Avocado Toast |
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 Wyoming to California, you will be trading the iconic Bison Steak of Wyoming for the equally delicious Sourdough Bread of California. And while the locals in Wyoming rave about their flavorful Beef Jerky and sumptuous Indian Tacos, California residents know they have tasty Fish Tacos and Street Tacos 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 Avocado Toast of California. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Wyoming eateries like Kingβs Saddlery, Pitchfork Fondue Western Cookout, and The Busy Bee Cafe. After the boxes are unpacked in California, don't wait too long before making your way to California's acclaimed eateries like Chez Panisse, The French Laundry, and Gjelina.
When comparing lifestyles, California shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Wyoming. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in California, compared to what you are used to in Wyoming. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in California.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Wyoming and California
Comparison | Wyoming | California |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Ranch | Spanish Colonial/Mid-Century Modern |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious Land, Natural Beauty | Proximity to the Ocean, Tech Innovation Hubs |
- The Ranch architecture that Wyoming is known for will be replaced with the Spanish Colonial and Mid-Century Modern architecture typical of California.
- Compared to Wyoming's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious land and natural beauty, California real estate listings often highlight features like proximity to the ocean and tech innovation hubs.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. California is more walkable than Wyoming.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. California is more bike-friendly than Wyoming.
- California has more of an urban feel than Wyoming.
- California housing costs are 130% more expensive than they are in Wyoming, with a median home price of $783,666 compared to Wyomingβs $340,933.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in California have increased by 42% compared to a 40% increase in Wyoming.
- Rent in California is 148.04% more expensive than in Wyoming.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Wyoming and California
Comparison | Wyoming | California |
---|---|---|
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 | Snowstorms, Wildfires | Wildfires, Earthquakes |
Air Quality | Good | Varies widely |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85Β°F / 40Β°F | 85Β°F / 60Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 32Β°F / 15Β°F | 60Β°F / 45Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 12.5" | 22" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 60" | Varies |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Wyoming to California. California gets 35% more sunshine days than Wyoming.
- California has higher humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Wyoming.
- Say goodbye to the possible snowstorms and wildfires in Wyoming, but be on the lookout for potential wildfires and earthquakes in California.
- The average summer high temperature in California is the same as Wyoming.
- The average winter lows are 30 degrees warmer than they are in Wyoming.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in California. California receives 9.5 more inches of rain compared to Wyoming.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Wyoming and California
Comparison | Wyoming | California |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $70,042 | $91,551 |
Cost of Living Index | 98.75 | 136.4 |
State Income Tax | 0.0 | 1.0-13.3 |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.61 | 0.76 |
Avg. Sales Tax | 5.34 | 8.68 |
Top 3 Industries | Energy, Agriculture, Tourism | Technology, Entertainment, Agriculture |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Low | Moderate |
Homelessness | Low | High |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in California tend to earn about 31% more than in Wyoming
- The COLI in California is 38% higher than what you are used to living in Wyoming
- Bummer... By moving from WY to CA, you'll now have a state income tax of 1.0-13.3
- The affluence in California is high compared to moderate affluence in Wyoming
- The poverty level is moderate in California compared to low poverty in Wyoming
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Wyoming and high in California
Political and Religious Climate in Wyoming vs. California
Comparison | Wyoming | California |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Conservative, with strong Republican leanings | Liberal, predominantly Democratic |
Local Politics | Less urban, with politics focused on rural and local business interests | Highly urban, with an emphasis on technology, environmental issues, and social diversity |
Religion | More uniformly Christian, with a high rate of church attendance | Diverse, with higher rates of unaffiliated individuals and a wide variety of religions practiced |
- Wyoming tends to lean conservative with strong Republican leanings in its political climate
- California, on the other hand, is often described as liberal and predominantly Democratic
- California's religious environment can be described as diverse with higher rates of unaffiliated individuals and a wide variety of religions practiced
- Wyoming's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as more uniformly Christian with a high rate of church attendance
Education Guide When Moving from Wyoming to California
Comparison | Wyoming | California |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Wyoming Laramie; Laramie County Community College Cheyenne; Casper College Casper | University of California Los Angeles; University of Southern California Los Angeles; California State University Northridge |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Cloud Peak Elementary School Sheridan; Meadowlark Elementary School Gillette; Sagewood Elementary School Casper | Amelia Earhart Elementary School Alameda; Mill Valley Middle School Mill Valley; Hawthorne Elementary School Beverly Hills |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Cody Middle School Cody; Laramie Junior High School Laramie; Jackson Hole Middle School Jackson | Henry M. Gunn High School Palo Alto; California Academy of Mathematics and Science Carson; The Nueva School Hillsborough |
Top 3 High School Schools | Laramie High School Laramie; Cheyenne East High School Cheyenne; Jackson Hole High School Jackson | Whitney High School Cerritos; Oxford Academy Cypress; University High School Irvine |
Top 3 private high schools | Jackson Hole Community School Jackson; Wyoming Catholic College Lander; Sender School Sheridan | Harvard-Westlake School Los Angeles; The Harker School San Jose; Phillips Academy Andover |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Snake River Montessori School Ammon; Casper Classical Academy Casper; St. Mary's Catholic School Cheyenne | The Athenian School Danville; Crossroads School for Arts & Sciences Santa Monica; The Thacher School Ojai |
Top 3 School Districts | Sheridan County School District #2 Sheridan; Teton County School District #1 Jackson; Albany County School District #1 Laramie | Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union High School District Los Gatos; Palo Alto Unified School District Palo Alto; San Marino Unified School District San Marino |
How Much Do Wyoming to California Movers Cost?
Moving 1,191 miles from Wyoming to California will typically cost between $3,000 and $6,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,000 - $6,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-8 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: CC Relocation, Inc.
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,878 | 300 ft3 | $6.26 |
1 Bedroom | $2,794 | 450 ft3 | $6.21 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,619 | 750 ft3 | $6.16 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,720 | 1100 ft3 | $6.11 |
4 Bedrooms | $9,694 | 1600 ft3 | $6.06 |
5+ Bedrooms | $10,816 | 1800 ft3 | $6.01 |
Top Wyoming to California Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Wyoming to California movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

OCD Moving Services LLC
Best moving company overall for Wyoming to California
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