Alabama to Kentucky Moving Guide
Updated June 16, 2025

Planning a 504 mile interstate move from Alabama to Kentucky? This moving guide will help you compare living in Alabama vs Kentucky across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high humidity vs milder climate), food & health (like Alabama BBQ vs Kentucky Hot Brown), real estate & housing (antebellum, craftsman vs colonial, cape cod), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Kentucky), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Alabama BBQ and Pulled pork, but get your taste buds ready for Kentucky Hot Brown & Fried chicken
- Kentucky housing costs are 11% less expensive than they are in Alabama
- Rent in Kentucky is 11.19% more affordable than in Alabama
- Moving from Alabama to Kentucky will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,500
- Our top recommended Alabama to Kentucky movers is MoveDaddy
Alabama to Kentucky Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Alabama to Kentucky
- High humidity
- Limited job market
- Few cultural events
- Rural isolation
- Milder climate
- Diverse opportunities
- Vibrant arts scene
- Urban conveniences
- Colder winters
- Different social norms
- Higher living expenses
- New environments
- Mild winters
- Southern hospitality
- Low cost of living
- Familiar surroundings
Pros of moving from Alabama to Kentucky
- Say goodbye to high humidity and hello to a milder climate
- Look forward to moving away from a limited job market and moving to Kentucky with diverse opportunities
- Swap the few cultural events of Alabama for a vibrant arts scene in Kentucky
- Get ready for urban conveniences in Kentucky
Cons of moving from Alabama to Kentucky
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from mild winters in Alabama to live with colder winters in Kentucky
- You'll lose out on the pro of southern hospitality and have to settle for the con of different social norms
- Time to bid farewell to a low cost of living and get used to higher living expenses in Kentucky
- Swap familiar surroundings for new environments
Alabama vs. Kentucky: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Alabama | Kentucky |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Alabama BBQ | Kentucky Hot Brown |
Most popular meat dish | Pulled pork | Fried chicken |
Most popular street food item | Conecuh sausage dog | Bourbon chicken |
Most popular vegan food | Okra stew | Vegan hot brown |
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 Kentucky, you will be trading the iconic Alabama BBQ of Alabama for the equally delicious Kentucky Hot Brown of Kentucky. And while the locals in Alabama rave about their flavorful pulled pork and sumptuous Conecuh sausage dog, Kentucky residents know they have tasty fried chicken and Bourbon chicken 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 Vegan Hot Brown of Kentucky. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Alabama eateries like Saw's BBQ, Highlands Bar and Grill, and Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q. After the boxes are unpacked in Kentucky, don't wait too long before making your way to Kentucky's acclaimed eateries like Cook's Corner, Mammy's Kitchen, and Beaumont Inn.
When comparing lifestyles, Kentucky shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Alabama. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Kentucky compared to what you are used to in Alabama. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Kentucky.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Alabama and Kentucky
Comparison | Alabama | Kentucky |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Antebellum, Craftsman | Colonial, Cape Cod |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Large yards, Porches | Garages, Fireplaces |
- The Antebellum and Craftsman architecture that Alabama is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Cape Cod architecture typical of Kentucky.
- Compared to Alabama's real estate listings that commonly reference large yards and porches, Kentucky real estate listings often highlight features like garages and fireplaces.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Kentucky is more walkable than Alabama.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Kentucky is more bike-friendly than Alabama.
- Kentucky has more of an urban feel than Alabama.
- Kentucky housing costs are 11% less expensive than they are in Alabama, with a median home price of $201,332 compared to Alabamaβs $226,045.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Kentucky have increased by 47% compared to a 45% increase in Alabama.
- Rent in Kentucky is 11.19% more affordable than in Alabama.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Alabama and Kentucky
Comparison | Alabama | Kentucky |
---|---|---|
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 | Tornadoes, Floods |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 90Β°F / 70Β°F | 87Β°F / 66Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 57Β°F / 36Β°F | 44Β°F / 28Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 58 | 48 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 2 | 22 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Alabama to Kentucky. Kentucky gets 8% fewer sunshine days than Alabama.
- Kentucky 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 tornadoes and floods in Kentucky.
- The average summer high temperature in Kentucky is 3 degrees colder than in Alabama.
- The average winter lows in Kentucky are 8 degrees colder than they are in Alabama.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Kentucky. Kentucky receives 10 fewer inches of rain compared to Alabama.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Alabama and Kentucky
Comparison | Alabama | Kentucky |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $59,674 | $59,341 |
Cost of Living Index | 91.2 | 87.8 |
State Income Tax | 5% | 5% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.4% | 0.8% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 9% | 6% |
Top 3 Industries | Manufacturing, Healthcare, Agriculture | Manufacturing, Healthcare, Education |
Affluence | Moderate | Moderate |
Poverty | Moderate | Moderate |
Homelessness | Low | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Kentucky tend to earn about 1% less than in Alabama
- The COLI in Kentucky will be 4% lower than what you are used to living in Alabama
- There's no change in state income tax between Alabama and Kentucky
- The affluence in Kentucky is moderate compared to moderate in Alabama
- The poverty level is moderate in Kentucky compared to moderate in Alabama
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Alabama and low in Kentucky
Political and Religious Climate in Alabama vs. Kentucky
Comparison | Alabama | Kentucky |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Traditionally Conservative | Leans Conservative, with liberal spots |
Local Politics | Strong GOP presence in local governance | Mix of GOP and Democratic influence in local governance |
Religion | Highly religious, predominantly Christian | Religious, with a high number of Christians |
- Alabama tends to lean traditionally Conservative in its political climate
- Kentucky, on the other hand, is often described as leaning Conservative with liberal spots
- Kentucky's religious environment can be described as religious with a high number of Christians
- Alabama's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as highly religious and predominantly Christian
Education Guide When Moving from Alabama to Kentucky
Comparison | Alabama | Kentucky |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | The University of Alabama Auburn University University of South Alabama | University of Kentucky University of Louisville Western Kentucky University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Mountain Brook Elementary (Mountain Brook) Vestavia Hills Elementary West (Vestavia Hills) Brookwood Forest Elementary (Mountain Brook) | Greathouse/Shryock Traditional (Louisville) Brandeis Elementary (Louisville) Rosa Parks Elementary (Lexington) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Mountain Brook Junior High (Mountain Brook) Liberty Park Middle School (Vestavia Hills) Berry Middle School (Hoover) | Barret Traditional Middle School (Louisville) Morton Middle School (Lexington) Beaumont Middle School (Lexington) |
Top 3 High Schools | Loveless Academic Magnet Program High School (Montgomery) Mountain Brook High School (Mountain Brook) Homewood High School (Homewood) | DuPont Manual High School (Louisville) Highlands High School (Fort Thomas) Gatton Academy (Bowling Green) |
Top 3 private high schools | The Altamont School (Birmingham) Indian Springs School (Indian Springs) Randolph School (Huntsville) | Sacred Heart Academy (Louisville) Trinity High School (Louisville) Lexington Catholic High School (Lexington) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Montgomery Academy (Montgomery) Tuscaloosa Academy (Tuscaloosa) Randolph School (Huntsville) | Sayre School (Lexington) Kentucky Country Day School (Louisville) The Lexington School (Lexington) |
Top 3 School Districts | Mountain Brook City Schools Vestavia Hills City Schools Homewood City Schools | Fayette County Public Schools Jefferson County Public Schools Oldham County Schools |
How Much Do Alabama to Kentucky Movers Cost?
Moving 504 miles from Alabama to Kentucky will typically cost between $2,000 and $5,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,000 - $5,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-16 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Smooth Move Relocation Services
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,488 | 300 ft3 | $4.96 |
1 Bedroom | $2,210 | 450 ft3 | $4.91 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,646 | 750 ft3 | $4.86 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,292 | 1100 ft3 | $4.81 |
4 Bedrooms | $7,617 | 1600 ft3 | $4.76 |
5+ Bedrooms | $8,479 | 1800 ft3 | $4.71 |
Top Alabama to Kentucky Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Alabama to Kentucky movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.