($1,491) Movers From St. George, UT to Olympia, WA

What to know before moving from St. George to Olympia

Moving from St. George to Olympia comes with exciting new opportunities — but also higher living costs. Since Olympia is generally more expensive than St. George, 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 7% higher than in St. George, 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 St. George.
  Home prices in Olympia are 1.4% higher than in St. George.
• Income in Olympia is 13.6% higher than in St. George, 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 14.9% higher than in St. George. 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 17.8% higher than in St. George.
• The unemployment rate in Olympia is 93.10% higher than in St. George.
• You’ll spend more on retail and restaurants in Olympia, since the city’s sales taxes in Olympia are 39.26% higher than in St. George.
• One perk of moving to Olympia is paying less in state income taxes, which are 100.00% lower than in St. George.

To put this in perspective, you would need around $3,447.49 in Olympia to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with $3,000.00 in St. George.

How life is different in St. George vs. Olympia

• Olympia might offer you a slower pace of life, since the population is about 69% less than St. George.
• Olympia offers better access to buses and trains than St. George, based on public transportation ratings. Olympia has a transit score of 5 out of 10 compared to 2 in St. George. The higher the score, the more public transportation pickup and dropoff locations a city provides.
• Living in Olympia means you’ll likely be within closer walking distance to restaurants, shops, parks, and entertainment than you are in St. George. Olympia is considered more walkable than St. George, with a score of 39 out of 100 versus 27 out of 100 in St. George. A city’s walkability score indicates how pedestrian-friendly it is in terms of proximity of neighborhoods to amenities.
• If cycling is your thing, Olympia is considered more bike-friendly than St. George 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 St. George is rated as 45 out of 100.
• You can anticipate the same crime rate in Olympia as St. George. With the crime index, lower scores are better because they indicate less crime. Cities with scores of 20 or below, for example, have much fewer instances of crime than those with scores of 80–100.
• You may want to exercise more caution as you’re getting used to your new surroundings in Olympia. With a crime index of 62.25, Olympia ranks lower in overall safety than St. George, whose index is St. George's 70.98. The safety index measures how safe people in a city feel about walking alone, both during the day and at night, as well as data on muggings, theft, vandalism, and other instances of petty crime.
• The air quality in Olympia and St. George 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 St. George 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: It’s a good idea to look into your HOA or community regulations before moving day arrives.
• Elevator reservation: If your building has an elevator, it’s a good idea to secure a reservation before your moving day.
• Truck parking permits: To avoid fines or delays, check whether a parking permit is needed for your moving truck.
• 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. Before booking, ensure the moving company is officially licensed to handle your move.
• State regulator: To confirm a moving company’s license in Washington, visit the state's public utilities commission
• Moving permits: While Washington doesn’t mandate moving permits, checking local parking guidelines before your move-in day is still a good idea.
• Change of address: We recommend submitting your USPS change of address form at least one week before your move to ensure your mail gets forwarded to Olympia without delay. You can select your official move date when completing the form. Start the process here.
• Moving company insurance: Every state sets its own rules for what insurance moving companies need to maintain. 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 gives you the peace of mind that comes with being fully prepared.

Where to live in Olympia

With your sights set on "Oly", these are some of the most popular neighborhoods to consider in Olympia.

Helpful moving resources