Los Angeles to Spokane
Thinking of moving to Spokane? This page will break down the similarities, differences, and what you can expect if you consider moving here from the LA area.
Are you thinking about moving to Spokane? We moved from LA & have some insights for you below.
Before you visit Spokane to look into moving here let us help you with your plans. Our team can create a free travel guide for your stay. We can point you in the right direction of places to eat, where to stay, and what to do while you are here.
.png)
No Traffic
When we lived in LA, we drove for hours each week: 55 min to school, 26 min to the sisters house, 50 min to grandmas, 90 min to a meeting, 35 min to dinner...you get it.
In Spokane, almost everything you need for daily life is 15-20 minutes away. There are 70+ lakes within one hour, three ski mountains in less than an hour, and rush hour traffic in Spokane adds about 8 minutes to your commute...let that sink in.
Great Food
From fine dining to casual bites, Spokane has a surprisingly good food scene. Obviously, there are more options in LA, but for the size of the town, the food is impressive. It can be challenging to find authentic Asian food, and Mexican food, it is not the same here. There are a few good spots for both, but LA has some of the best Asian and Mexican food in the world. Everything else is solid. Great steak, delicious vegan options, tasty pizza, gourmet burgers, fusion food, brunch, you name it, Spokane has got it.
Entertainment
The Spokane Opera House brings in all the traveling Broadway shows, symphony, ballet, and more. Multiple music festivals throughout the region and the Gorge Amphitheater are within driving distance. Top-level comedians visit the comedy club. Live music and DJs at the many venues downtown. Movie night at the park and major city events happen all summer. There is a lot to do in this town to keep you having fun year-round.
Good Schools
Spokane public schools boast a 14:1 student-to-teach ratio. There are several private school options as well. Saint George's is an award-winning IB K12 school. Liberty Launch Academy is an innovative school that teaches proficiency-based learning. Montessori, got that. Waldorf, that too. For religious schools, there are several Christian Schools and several Catholic school options.
Spokane Bound co-founders are former K12 educators, and we can tell you that the schools in Spokane are great no matter what option is best for your family. If you want to talk about k12 education, give us a call.
Cost of Living
Housing is not the only thing that is less expensive, but let's start here. Cute smaller (<1,400 sqft) houses range from $275K - $325k. Nice medium size (2,300 - 3,700 sqft) range from $410K - $600K. Baller large (4,500+ sqft) houses can be purchased for less than $900K.
We live in a 2,900 sqft house with a nice yard, here is what we pay:
Electricity is 1/3 the cost of LA
Our water bill, for a family of four with a yard $59/mo
No tolls anywhere
Gas is about 29% cheaper
Internet is 50% cheaper
Home Insurance 60% cheaper
Basically, everything here is WAY less than in LA.
The Outdoors
In the summertime, we have 76 lakes that range from resorts to private cabins to camping. Enjoy hikes in the mountains, all within an hour's drive. In the winter, we have skiing / snowboarding at top-tier mountains and plenty of sledding in town. The options for outdoor activities are enormous, with a little something for everyone. You can also enjoy walking, running, and biking in town. As you will learn, the drivers here are a lot more chill than in LA, making the road safer.