Alabama to Idaho Moving Guide
Updated June 19, 2025

Planning a 2,218 mile interstate move from Alabama to Idaho? This moving guide will help you compare living in Alabama vs Idaho across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high humidity vs dry climate), food & health (like Barbecue vs Idaho Potatoes), real estate & housing (antebellum, cottage vs craftsman, ranch), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Idaho), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Barbecue and Pulled Pork, but get your taste buds ready for Idaho Potatoes & Trout
- Idaho housing costs are 100% more expensive than they are in Alabama
- Rent in Idaho is 9.59% more expensive than in Alabama
- Moving from Alabama to Idaho will cost on average between $2,500 - $9,000
- Our top recommended Alabama to Idaho movers is 208 Moving Company
Alabama to Idaho Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Alabama to Idaho
- High humidity
- Severe storms
- Traffic congestion
- Flat landscapes
- Dry climate
- Mild weather
- Less traffic
- Mountain views
- Limited dining options
- Higher living costs
- Cold winters
- Less historical context
- Southern cuisine
- Low cost of living
- Warm winters
- Rich history
Pros of moving from Alabama to Idaho
- Say goodbye to high humidity and hello to dry climate
- Look forward to moving away from severe storms and moving to Idaho with mild weather
- Swap the traffic congestion of Alabama for less traffic in Idaho
- Get ready for mountain views in Idaho
Cons of moving from Alabama to Idaho
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from southern cuisine in Alabama to live with limited dining options in Idaho
- You'll lose out on the pro of low cost of living and have to settle for the con of higher living costs
- Time to bid farewell to warm winters and get used to cold winters in Idaho
- Swap rich history for less historical context
Alabama vs. Idaho: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Alabama | Idaho |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Barbecue | Idaho Potatoes |
Most popular meat dish | Pulled Pork | Trout |
Most popular street food item | Gourmet Hot Dogs | Fry Bread |
Most popular vegan food | Okra Stew | Quinoa Salad |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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Fitness/Health Conscientiousness | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ |
Abundance of Food Trucks | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Foodie Scene | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ |
Vegan Friendly | π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π± | π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π± |
If you're moving from Alabama to Idaho, you will be trading the iconic barbecue of Alabama for the equally delicious Idaho potatoes of Idaho. And while the locals in Alabama rave about their flavorful pulled pork and sumptuous gourmet hot dogs, Idaho residents know they have tasty trout and fry bread to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the okra stew they've grown to love, they can get ready for the quinoa salad of Idaho. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Alabama eateries like Highlands Bar and Grill, Saw's BBQ, and Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q. After the boxes are unpacked in Idaho, don't wait too long before making your way to Idaho's acclaimed eateries like Boise Fry Company, Trillium, and The Pantry.
When comparing lifestyles, Idaho shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Alabama. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Idaho compared to what you are used to in Alabama. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Idaho.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Alabama and Idaho
Comparison | Alabama | Idaho |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Antebellum, Cottage | Craftsman, Ranch |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Large Yards, Porches | Mountain Views, Open Spaces |
- The Antebellum and Cottage architecture that Alabama is known for will be replaced with the Craftsman and Ranch architecture typical of Idaho.
- Compared to Alabama's real estate listings that commonly reference large yards and porches, Idaho real estate listings often highlight features like mountain views and open spaces.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Idaho is more walkable than Alabama.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Idaho is more bike-friendly than Alabama.
- Idaho has more of an urban feel than Alabama.
- Idaho housing costs are 100% more expensive than they are in Alabama, with a median home price of $451,298 compared to Alabamaβs $226,045.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Idaho have increased by 69% compared to a 45% increase in Alabama.
- Rent in Idaho is 9.59% more expensive than in Alabama.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Alabama and Idaho
Comparison | Alabama | Idaho |
---|---|---|
Days of Sunshine per Year | βοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈ | βοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈ |
Avg. Annual Humidity | π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦ | π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦ |
Avg. UV Index | πΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈ | πΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈ |
Natural Disasters | Hurricanes, Tornadoes | Wildfires, Earthquakes |
Air Quality | Good to Moderate | Good to Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 90Β°F / 72Β°F | 85Β°F / 55Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 57Β°F / 36Β°F | 34Β°F / 15Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 58 inches | 20 inches |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 0.2 inches | 60 inches |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Alabama to Idaho. Idaho gets 4% fewer sunshine days than Alabama.
- Idaho has lower humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Alabama.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and tornadoes in Alabama, but be on the lookout for potential wildfires and earthquakes in Idaho.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Idaho is 5 degrees colder than in Alabama.
- The average winter lows are 21 degrees colder than they are in Alabama.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Idaho. Idaho receives 38 fewer inches of rain compared to Alabama.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Alabama and Idaho
Comparison | Alabama | Idaho |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $59,674 | $72,785 |
Cost of Living Index | 91.2 | 91.5 |
State Income Tax | 5% | 6.5% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.40% | 0.69% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 9.22% | 6% |
Top 3 Industries | Automotive, Agriculture, Aerospace | Technology, Agriculture, Tourism |
Affluence | Moderate | Moderate |
Poverty | Relatively High | Moderate |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Idaho tend to earn about 22% more than in Alabama
- The COLI in Idaho is 0% higher than what you are used to living in Alabama
- The state income tax in ID is 6.5% compared to 5% in AL
- The affluence in Idaho is moderate compared to moderate affluence in Alabama
- The poverty level is moderate in Idaho compared to relatively high poverty in Alabama
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Alabama and moderate in Idaho
Political and Religious Climate in Alabama vs. Idaho
Comparison | Alabama | Idaho |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Conservatively inclined, with strong Republican support | Heavily Republican, particularly in rural areas |
Local Politics | Significant emphasis on local governance and state rights | Local governance has a key role, with a libertarian streak |
Religion | Highly religious, predominantly Christian | Religious, with a large Christian populace |
- Alabama tends to lean conservatively in its political climate
- Idaho, on the other hand, is often described as heavily Republican, particularly in rural areas
- Idaho's religious environment can be described as religious, with a large Christian populace
- Alabama's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as highly religious and predominantly Christian
Education Guide When Moving from Alabama to Idaho
Comparison | Alabama | Idaho |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Alabama Auburn University University of Alabama at Birmingham | Boise State University University of Idaho Idaho State University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Mountain Brook Elementary (Mountain Brook) Vestavia Hills Elementary West (Vestavia Hills) Cherokee Bend Elementary (Mountain Brook) | White Pine Elementary (Boise) Anser Charter School (Garden City) Cecil D Andrus Elementary (Boise) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Mountain Brook Junior High (Mountain Brook) Berry Middle School (Hoover) Liberty Park Middle School (Vestavia Hills) | North Star Charter (Eagle) Galileo STEM Academy (Eagle) Heritage Middle School (Meridian) |
Top 3 High School Schools | Loveless Academic Magnet Program High (Montgomery) Mountain Brook High (Mountain Brook) Bob Jones High (Madison) | Boise High (Boise) Renaissance High (Meridian) McCall-Donnelly High (McCall) |
Top 3 private high schools | The Altamont School (Birmingham) Randolph School (Huntsville) Indian Springs School (Indian Springs) | Bishop Kelly High School (Boise) The Ambrose School (Meridian) Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy (Coeur d'Alene) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Advent Episcopal School (Birmingham) Houston Academy (Dothan) Cottage Hill Christian Academy (Mobile) | Riverstone International School (Boise) The Ambrose School (Meridian) Coeur dβAlene Charter Academy (Coeur dβAlene) |
Top 3 School Districts | Mountain Brook City Schools Homewood City Schools Vestavia Hills City Schools | Boise School District Blaine County School District Moscow School District |
How Much Do Alabama to Idaho Movers Cost?
Moving 2,218 miles from Alabama to Idaho will typically cost between $3,500 and $9,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,500 - $9,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 16-24 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Valley Custom Moving
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,460 | 300 ft3 | $8.20 |
1 Bedroom | $3,667 | 450 ft3 | $8.15 |
2 Bedrooms | $6,075 | 750 ft3 | $8.10 |
3 Bedrooms | $8,855 | 1100 ft3 | $8.05 |
4 Bedrooms | $12,800 | 1600 ft3 | $8.00 |
5+ Bedrooms | $14,310 | 1800 ft3 | $7.95 |
Top Alabama to Idaho Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Alabama to Idaho movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.