Alabama to Minnesota Moving Guide
Updated June 8, 2025

Planning a 1,336 mile interstate move from Alabama to Minnesota? This moving guide will help you compare living in Alabama vs Minnesota across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high humidity vs cooler summers), food & health (like Pulled Pork BBQ vs Hotdish), real estate & housing (antebellum, colonial vs craftsman, cape cod), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Minnesota), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Pulled Pork BBQ and Fried Catfish, but get your taste buds ready for Hotdish & Walleye
- Minnesota housing costs are 46% more expensive than they are in Alabama
- Rent in Minnesota is 13.05% more expensive than in Alabama
- Moving from Alabama to Minnesota will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,000
- Our top recommended Alabama to Minnesota movers is Metro Movers
Alabama to Minnesota Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Alabama to Minnesota
- High humidity
- Limited snow activities
- City sprawl
- Fewer public transit options
- Cooler summers
- Winter sports galore
- Plenty of green spaces
- Extensive public transit
- Harsh winters
- Less food variety
- Cold temperatures
- Higher cost of living
- Warmer winters
- Southern cuisine
- Mild temperatures
- Lower cost of living
Pros of moving from Alabama to Minnesota
- Say goodbye to high humidity and hello to cooler summers
- Look forward to moving away from limited snow activities and moving to Minnesota with winter sports galore
- Swap the city sprawl of Alabama for plenty of green spaces in Minnesota
- Get ready for extensive public transit in Minnesota
Cons of moving from Alabama to Minnesota
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from warmer winters in Alabama to live with harsh winters in Minnesota
- You'll lose out on the pro of southern cuisine and have to settle for the con of less food variety
- Time to bid farewell to mild temperatures and get used to cold temperatures in Minnesota
- Swap a lower cost of living for a higher cost of living
Alabama vs. Minnesota: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Alabama | Minnesota |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Pulled Pork BBQ | Hotdish |
Most popular meat dish | Fried Catfish | Walleye |
Most popular street food item | Conecuh Sausage | Mini Donuts |
Most popular vegan food | Grits | Wild Rice Soup |
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 Minnesota, you will be trading the iconic Pulled Pork BBQ of Alabama for the equally delicious Hotdish of Minnesota. And while the locals in Alabama rave about their flavorful Fried Catfish and sumptuous Conecuh Sausage, Minnesota residents know they have tasty Walleye and Mini Donuts to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Grits they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Wild Rice Soup of Minnesota. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Alabama eateries like Saw's Soul Kitchen, Highlands Bar and Grill, and Dreamland BBQ. After the boxes are unpacked in Minnesota, don't wait too long before making your way to Minnesota's acclaimed eateries like Spoon and Stable, Matt's Bar, and Smack Shack.
When comparing lifestyles, Minnesota shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Alabama. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Minnesota compared to what you are used to in Alabama. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Minnesota.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Alabama and Minnesota
Comparison | Alabama | Minnesota |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Antebellum, Colonial | Craftsman, Cape Cod |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Large yards, garages | Energy efficiency, natural light |
- The Antebellum and Colonial architecture that Alabama is known for will be replaced with the Craftsman and Cape Cod architecture typical of Minnesota.
- Compared to Alabama's real estate listings that commonly reference large yards and garages, Minnesota real estate listings often highlight features like energy efficiency and natural light.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Minnesota is more walkable than Alabama.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Minnesota is more bike-friendly than Alabama.
- Minnesota has more of an urban feel than Alabama.
- Minnesota housing costs are 46% more expensive than they are in Alabama, with a median home price of $331,117 compared to Alabamaβs $226,045.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Minnesota have increased by 33% compared to a 45% increase in Alabama.
- Rent in Minnesota is 13.05% more expensive than in Alabama.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Alabama and Minnesota
Comparison | Alabama | Minnesota |
---|---|---|
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 | Blizzards, Tornadoes |
Air Quality | Good | Very Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 90Β°F / 72Β°F | 83Β°F / 63Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 57Β°F / 36Β°F | 23Β°F / 7Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 58 | 32 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 1 | 54 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Alabama to Minnesota. Minnesota gets 7% fewer sunshine days than Alabama.
- Minnesota 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 blizzards and tornadoes in Minnesota.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Minnesota is 7 degrees colder than in Alabama.
- The average winter lows are 29 degrees colder than they are in Alabama.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Minnesota. Minnesota receives 26 fewer inches of rain compared to Alabama.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Alabama and Minnesota
Comparison | Alabama | Minnesota |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $59,674 | $82,338 |
Cost of Living Index | 91.2 | 98.75 |
State Income Tax | 5% | 9.85% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.41% | 1.11% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 9.22% | 7.49% |
Top 3 Industries | Manufacturing, Agriculture, Aerospace | Healthcare, Tech, Education |
Affluence | Moderate | Above Average |
Poverty | Significant | Moderate |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Minnesota tend to earn about 38% more than in Alabama
- The COLI in Minnesota will be 8% higher than what you are used to living in Alabama
- The state income tax in MN is 9.85% compared to 5% in AL
- The affluence in Minnesota is above average compared to moderate in Alabama
- The poverty level is moderate in Minnesota compared to significant in Alabama
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Alabama and moderate in Minnesota
Political and Religious Climate in Alabama vs. Minnesota
Comparison | Alabama | Minnesota |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Conservative | Liberal |
Local Politics | Republican dominance in state and local elections | Democratic influence, especially in urban areas |
Religion | Evangelical Protestant | Lutheran, Catholic |
- Alabama tends to lean conservative in its political climate
- Minnesota, on the other hand, is often described as liberal
- Minnesota's religious environment can be described as Lutheran and Catholic
- Alabama's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as evangelical Protestant
Education Guide When Moving from Alabama to Minnesota
Comparison | Alabama | Minnesota |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Alabama Auburn University University of Alabama at Birmingham | University of Minnesota Minnesota State University University of St. Thomas |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Greystone Elementary School (Hoover) Vestavia Hills Elementary East (Vestavia Hills) Rock Quarry Elementary School (Tuscaloosa) | Scenic Heights Elementary School (Minnetonka) Deephaven Elementary (Deephaven) Greenwood Elementary (Plymouth) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Liberty Park Middle School (Vestavia Hills) Simmons Middle School (Hoover) Berry Middle School (Hoover) | Wayzata Central Middle School (Plymouth) Minnetonka Middle School East (Minnetonka) Murray Middle School (St. Paul) |
Top 3 High Schools | Loveless Academic Magnet Program High School (Montgomery) Mountain Brook High School (Mountain Brook) Bob Jones High School (Madison) | Minnetonka High School (Minnetonka) Wayzata High School (Plymouth) Eden Prairie High School (Eden Prairie) |
Top 3 private high schools | The Altamont School (Birmingham) Randolph School (Huntsville) Indian Springs School (Indian Springs) | Breck School (Golden Valley) Blake School (Minneapolis) St. Paul Academy and Summit School (St. Paul) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Advent Episcopal School (Birmingham) Houston Academy (Dothan) Westminster School at Oak Mountain (Birmingham) | Breck School (Golden Valley) The Blake School (Minneapolis) Minnehaha Academy (Minneapolis) |
Top 3 School Districts | Mountain Brook City Schools Vestavia Hills City Schools Madison City Schools | Minnetonka Public School District Wayzata Public School District Eden Prairie School District |
How Much Do Alabama to Minnesota Movers Cost?
Moving 1,336 miles from Alabama to Minnesota will typically cost between $3,000 and $7,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,000 - $7,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 5-16 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Metro Movers
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,960 | 300 ft3 | $6.53 |
1 Bedroom | $2,917 | 450 ft3 | $6.48 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,825 | 750 ft3 | $6.43 |
3 Bedrooms | $7,021 | 1100 ft3 | $6.38 |
4 Bedrooms | $10,133 | 1600 ft3 | $6.33 |
5+ Bedrooms | $11,309 | 1800 ft3 | $6.28 |
Top Alabama to Minnesota Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Alabama to Minnesota movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.