($1,113) Movers From Eugene, OR to Olympia, WA

What to know before moving from Eugene to Olympia

Moving from Eugene to Olympia comes with exciting new opportunities — but also higher living costs. Since Olympia is generally more expensive than Eugene, 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 19% higher than in Eugene, 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 Eugene.
  Home prices in Olympia are 10.7% higher than in Eugene.
• Income in Olympia is 6.5% higher than in Eugene, 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 36.3% higher than in Eugene. 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 Eugene.
• The unemployment rate in Olympia is 11.11% lower than in Eugene.
• You’ll spend more on retail and restaurants in Olympia, since the city’s sales taxes in Olympia are 9.40% higher than in Eugene.
• One perk of moving to Olympia is paying less in state income taxes, which are 100.00% lower than in Eugene.

To put this in perspective, you would need around $4,089.86 in Olympia to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with $3,000.00 in Eugene.

How life is different in Eugene vs. Olympia

• Olympia might offer you a slower pace of life, since the population is about 69% less than Eugene.
• Your access to buses, shuttles, trams, or trains in Olympia will be about the same as it currently is in Eugene. 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 Eugene. Based on its score of 39 out of 100, Olympia isn’t as walkable as Eugene, which has a score of 46 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.
• You probably won’t see as many cycling lanes or off-road trails in Olympia, which is ranked as less bike-friendly than Eugene. While Eugene has a bike-friendliness score of 72 out of 100, Olympia earned a 59. Scores are based on factors like whether a city accommodates cyclists on major roadways, how often people bike to work, and how many steep hills it has.
• The crime rate in Olympia is higher than in Eugene, 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 6.0 in Eugene. 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 Eugene, based on Olympia’s safety index of 62.25 versus 54.24 for Eugene. 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 Eugene 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 Eugene 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: To keep things running smoothly, make sure you're familiar with any HOA or community moving policies before the big day.
• Elevator reservation: Make sure to arrange elevator access in advance if your building requires reservations for moving.
• Truck parking permits: Make sure to look into local parking regulations—some areas require permits for large moving trucks.
• 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. Ensure the company you choose is licensed to handle your move.
• State regulator: You can verify a Washington moving company\’s license by visiting the state'spublic utilities commission
• Moving permits: You won’t need a moving permit in Washington, though it\’s smart to double-check any local parking restrictions ahead of your move.
• Change of address: To avoid missing any mail, we recommend submitting your USPS change of address form at least a week before your move. You can choose your official move date to make sure everything gets forwarded properly toOlympia Start the process here.
• Moving company insurance: The amount and type of insurance movers must have depends on state regulations.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: Let our moving checklist guide you through the process and help ensure nothing slips through the cracks.

Where to live in Olympia

Now that you’ve chosen "Oly" as your next home, here are a few of the best neighborhoods in Olympia to check out.

Helpful moving resources