Moving to Michigan from Washington
What to Expect
Considering a move from Washington to Michigan? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Washington to Michigan, you would find that Michigan is 17.4% cheaper than Washington. A $75,000 salary in Washington would need to be roughly $62,371 in Michigan to maintain the same lifestyle. A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Washington and Michigan. What does your salary buy? $75,000 → $62,371 To maintain the same standard of living in Michigan How key spending categories compare Restaurants pay 13.0% less Groceries pay 11.9% less Transportation pay 15.9% less Housing pay 19.0% less Childcare pay 30.4% less Entertainment and Sports pay 21.3% less Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources. The numbers behind daily life in Michigan compared to Washington. incidents per 100,000 people per year incidents per 100,000 people per year Washington generally does better on safety, though Michigan leads in property crime rate. share of people without health insurance share of adults with obesity share of adults with diabetes share of adults who smoke Washington generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Michigan leads in uninsured rate. typical price of a home typical monthly gross rent share of homes that are owner-occupied Michigan performs significantly better than Washington across all what about housing? metrics. share of households with internet minutes each way to work Washington generally does better on infrastructure, though Michigan leads in average commute. percentage of the labour force without work a broad measure of economic output per person typical annual income of a household share of people below the poverty line Washington generally does better on employment & economy, though Michigan leads in unemployment rate. average years of life at birth share of adults with a 4-year college degree Washington performs better than Michigan across all family life metrics. Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), FBI Uniform Crime Reporting, OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey) Monthly averages — select a city to compare. Avg. annual high / low Avg. annual high / low Data: On average Michigan is about 17% less expensive than Washington, with major cities narrowing the gap. Budget about $15,593 for 3 months in Michigan (based on a $75,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: movers, a truck rental, and a rental deposit. Washington generally does better on safety, though Michigan leads in property crime rate. Washington generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Michigan leads in uninsured rate. The average high temperature in Lansing is 58°F, compared to 60°F in Olympia. Lansing receives around 32.2 in of rainfall per year, while Olympia gets 50.0 in. How Far Will Your Money Go?
Key Indicator Comparison
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What's the Climate Like?
Months Olympia Lansing Jan–Mar 50°/34°F (10°/1°C) 36°/21°F (2°/-6°C) Apr–Jun 65°/43°F (18°/6°C) 68°/48°F (20°/9°C) Jul–Sep 76°/49°F (24°/10°C) 79°/57°F (26°/14°C) Oct–Dec 51°/36°F (11°/2°C) 47°/32°F (9°/0°C) View all months
Month Olympia Lansing Jan 46°/34°F (7.7°/0.9°C) 31°/17°F (-0.8°/-8.3°C) Feb 49°/33°F (9.6°/0.4°C) 34°/19°F (0.9°/-7.4°C) Mar 54°/35°F (12.2°/1.7°C) 44°/27°F (6.7°/-2.8°C) Apr 59°/38°F (14.9°/3.2°C) 58°/38°F (14.2°/3.3°C) May 65°/43°F (18.5°/6.2°C) 69°/48°F (20.5°/8.9°C) Jun 71°/48°F (21.4°/8.7°C) 78°/58°F (25.8°/14.2°C) Jul 77°/51°F (24.9°/10.4°C) 82°/61°F (27.9°/16.2°C) Aug 78°/51°F (25.4°/10.3°C) 81°/60°F (27.0°/15.5°C) Sep 72°/46°F (22.1°/7.8°C) 74°/51°F (23.1°/10.8°C) Oct 60°/40°F (15.7°/4.7°C) 60°/41°F (15.8°/5.1°C) Nov 50°/36°F (10.1°/2.4°C) 47°/33°F (8.6°/0.5°C) Dec 44°/33°F (6.8°/0.3°C) 35°/22°F (1.6°/-5.3°C) 
National Weather Service Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Michigan than Washington?
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Is Michigan safe?
How is healthcare in Michigan compared to Washington?
What's the weather like in Michigan compared to Washington?
