($1,481) Movers From Des Moines, IA to Olympia, WA

What to know before moving from Des Moines to Olympia

Moving from Des Moines to Olympia comes with exciting new opportunities — but also higher living costs. Since Olympia is generally more expensive than Des Moines, it’s important to plan ahead and budget carefully for the change.

Check out how the two cities compare so you know what to expect before you relocate:

• Rent prices in Olympia are 65% higher than in Des Moines, which means you’ll have less money in your pocket each month.
• In terms of homeownership, you’ll be able to get more for your money in Des Moines.
  Home prices in Olympia are 164.5% higher than in Des Moines.
• Income in Olympia is 13.7% higher than in Des Moines, so you could earn more for doing the same job. The top employers in Olympia include Washington State ESD, The Evergreen State College, and Employment Security Department.
• Be sure to budget for higher bills in Olympia, since the cost of living for a single person in Olympia is 30.8% higher than in Des Moines. This includes routine expenses like utilities, groceries, clothing, and transportation.
• If you’re moving your family to Olympia, keep in mind that your living expenses could increase. The cost of living for a family in Olympia is 23.1% higher than in Des Moines.
• The unemployment rate in Olympia is 5.08% lower than in Des Moines.
• You’ll spend more on retail and restaurants in Olympia, since the city’s sales taxes in Olympia are 34.29% higher than in Des Moines.
• One perk of moving to Olympia is paying less in state income taxes, which are 100.00% lower than in Des Moines.

To put this in perspective, you would need around $3,923.32 in Olympia to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with $3,000.00 in Des Moines.

How life is different in Des Moines vs. Olympia

• Olympia might offer you a slower pace of life, since the population is about 92% less than Des Moines.
• Your access to buses, shuttles, trams, or trains in Olympia will be about the same as it currently is in Des Moines. The cities share a similar public transportation score, which means their transit systems are comparable in terms of how connected they are, how often they provide service, and how close they are to jobs, housing, retail and food stores, and other important locations.
• Olympia neighborhoods and districts might not be as easy to navigate on foot as Des Moines. Based on its score of 39 out of 100, Olympia isn’t as walkable as Des Moines, which has a score of 45 out of 100. The higher the walkability score a city has, the easier it is to access amenities. The most walkable cities also tend to be more densely populated and have shorter block lengths.
• If cycling is your thing, Olympia is considered more bike-friendly than Des Moines in terms of designated lanes and connectivity and how many residents opt to commute on two wheels rather than by car. Olympia has a bike-friendliness score of 59 out of 100, while Des Moines is rated as 39 out of 100.
• The crime rate in Olympia is higher than in Des Moines, so you may want to exercise a little extra caution as you're acclimating to your new location. While the crime index is 27.95 in Olympia, it is 5.0 in Des Moines. With this index, the lower the score, the better, since it indicates a city’s crime levels.
• You might find more confidence in your overall safety in Olympia than in Des Moines, based on Olympia’s safety index of 62.25 versus 57.8 for Des Moines. With this index, higher scores indicate more safety, particularly around how comfortable residents feel walking alone during the day and at night.
• The air quality in Olympia and Des Moines is generally the same (Good). Cities with good to moderate ratings have clean or acceptable air quality, with the possibility of small pollutants affecting people with certain health conditions like asthma. Anything beyond the moderate rate means increased impact on residents.

Other things to consider for your Des Moines vs. Olympia move

• Weather: July, August and September are the driest months in Olympia, WA and so it would be best to plan moving during these months. Snow and rain might be a challenge deo relocation during the colder months, specially during December and January.
• HOA rules: Check ahead with any neighborhood or community rules on moving to ensure a smooth move.
• Elevator reservation: If your building has an elevator you'll want to check on how to reserve it for move day.
• Truck parking permits: Some cities require parking permits for large vehicles and moving trucks. Find out if you need any parking permits ahead of time.
• State licensing: Movers operating within Washington DC city limits are subject to regulation by the Utilities and Transportation Commission, which issues operating permits to household goods moving companies. Make sure the moving company you use has a license before hiring.
• State regulator: You can verify a Washington moving license and its status through the state's public utilities commission.
• Moving permits: Washington does not require any moving permits, but it is helpful to check local parking restrictions before moving into the state.
• Change of address: We recommend submitting your change of address form with USPS at least a week prior to your move. You can set an official move date on the form and this way all of your mail will get properly forwarded to Olympia. Get started here.
• Moving company insurance: Every state requires moving companies to carry different levels of insurance.When planning a move in Washington state, explore movers' insurance options for added peace of mind. Many moving companies offer Released Value Protection at no extra cost, covering items at 60 cents per pound. Enhance your protection by discussing Full Value Protection with the moving company or exploring personalized plans with third-party insurance providers. Understand coverage limits, potential extra costs, and read reviews to make an informed decision on your Washington state moving insurance.
• Moving checklist: Our moving checklist will help you have the peace of mind that you've got everything covered.

Where to live in Olympia

Now that you've decided to make the move to "Oly", these are the best neighborhoods to move to in Olympia.

Helpful moving resources