Moving from Phoenix, AZ, to Seattle, WA

“The Emerald City” Life

Moving northwest from Phoenix to Seattle, WA, is more than just a 1,415-mile journey; it’s a lifestyle adjustment.

Seattle is Washington State’s largest city, with around 737,000 residents and 4.02 million in the metro. Arizona’s capital and most populous city, Phoenix, is larger, with a population of 1.6 million in the city and 4.8 million in the metro.

However, despite being less populous, Seattle’s population density is three times higher than Phoenix’s, so “The Emerald City” might feel more crowded than your previous home in the “Valley of the Sun.

Embrace cooler weather in Seattle

Known for mild summers and cold winters, Seattle’s average temperatures range between 37 and 76 degrees. In contrast, Phoenix has a hot and dry desert climate, with average temperature ranging from 43 to 105 degrees.

Seattle is often considered a rainy city, but its rainfall aligns with the U.S. average, at 38 inches per year. It’s still much more rain than Phoenix, which receives less than 10 inches annually. Icy precipitation is extremely rare in Phoenix, but Seattle gets around 5 inches of snow per year.

Seattle trivia

Brush up on Seattle history and more with these interesting facts:

  • Pike Place Market is one of the oldest continually open farmers' markets and has operated since 1907.
  • Seattle is the birthplace of Starbucks Coffee, Jimi Hendrix and Grunge Music (Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden and Alice in Chains).
  • Seattle Underground exists because most of downtown was rebuilt one story higher after the Great Seattle Fire of 1889.
  • The city was founded in 1851.
  • The Fremont Troll public sculpture under the Aurora Bridge is among the city’s oddest attractions.

Finding work in the city

Technology and software development are significant industries in Seattle. The city is the headquarters of several major companies like Amazon, Apple, Google, Microsoft and Meta (Facebook).

Other key industries include aerospace, biotechnology, clean energy, education, manufacturing, retail and research.

While the cost of living is higher in Seattle than in Phoenix, unlike Arizona, Washington does not have a state income tax. Seattle's job market and economy are strong, and salaries are typically above national averages.

Move to Seattle with U-Pack

With our service centers near Phoenix and Seattle, U-Pack® can help with your long-distance move to Washington State. We’re a self-moving service, so you can save money by handling the packing, loading and unloading, and then we handle transporting your things. Find out your costs with a free online quote today or call us at 844-362-5303844-594-3077. We’re here to help!