Arkansas to Missouri Moving Guide
Updated June 4, 2025

Planning a 241 mile interstate move from Arkansas to Missouri? This moving guide will help you compare living in Arkansas vs Missouri across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high humidity vs temperate climate), food & health (like Fried Catfish vs St. Louis-style Pizza), real estate & housing (craftsman vs colonial revival), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Missouri), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Fried Catfish and Smoked Ribs, but get your taste buds ready for St. Louis-style Pizza & BBQ Brisket
- Missouri housing costs are 20% more expensive than they are in Arkansas
- Rent in Missouri is 1.42% more expensive than in Arkansas
- Moving from Arkansas to Missouri will cost on average between $1,500 - $4,500
- Our top recommended Arkansas to Missouri movers is Sunrise Moving and Packing, LLC
Arkansas to Missouri Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Arkansas to Missouri
- High humidity
- Lack of public transport
- Fewer cultural events
- Limited job market
- Less urban infrastructure
- Temperate climate
- Better public schools
- Diverse cultural scene
- Thriving economy
- Modern urban areas
- Higher housing costs
- Busy city life
- Limited rural amenities
- Urban sprawl
- More traffic congestion
- Lower cost of living
- Friendly communities
- Pleasant rural areas
- Quaint downtowns
- Easy commute times
Pros of moving from Arkansas to Missouri
- Say goodbye to high humidity and hello to a temperate climate
- Look forward to moving away from a lack of public transport and moving to Missouri with better public schools
- Swap the fewer cultural events of Arkansas for a diverse cultural scene in Missouri
- Get ready for a thriving economy in Missouri
Cons of moving from Arkansas to Missouri
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the lower cost of living in Arkansas to live with higher housing costs in Missouri
- You'll lose out on the pro of friendly communities and have to settle for the con of busy city life
- Time to bid farewell to pleasant rural areas and get used to limited rural amenities in Missouri
- Swap quaint downtowns for urban sprawl
Arkansas vs. Missouri: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Arkansas | Missouri |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Fried Catfish | St. Louis-style Pizza |
Most popular meat dish | Smoked Ribs | BBQ Brisket |
Most popular street food item | Tamales | Toasted Ravioli |
Most popular vegan food | BBQ Jackfruit | Seitan Steak |
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 Arkansas to Missouri, you will be trading the iconic Fried Catfish of Arkansas for the equally delicious St. Louis-style Pizza of Missouri. And while the locals in Arkansas rave about their flavorful Smoked Ribs and sumptuous Tamales, Missouri residents know they have tasty BBQ Brisket and Toasted Ravioli to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the BBQ Jackfruit they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Seitan Steak of Missouri. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Arkansas eateries like Sims Bar-B-Que, Joeβs Barbeque Company, and Lassis Inn. After the boxes are unpacked in Missouri, don't wait too long before making your way to Missouri's acclaimed eateries like Pappy's Smokehouse, Blueberry Hill, and Ted Drewes Frozen Custard.
When comparing lifestyles, Missouri shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Arkansas. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Missouri compared to what you are used to in Arkansas. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Missouri.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Arkansas and Missouri
Comparison | Arkansas | Missouri |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Craftsman | Colonial Revival |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Large yards, proximity to nature | Historic neighborhoods, urban amenities |
- The Craftsman architecture that Arkansas is known for will be replaced with the Colonial Revival architecture typical of Missouri.
- Compared to Arkansas's real estate listings that commonly reference large yards and proximity to nature, Missouri real estate listings often highlight features like historic neighborhoods and urban amenities.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes; Missouri is more walkable than Arkansas.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; Missouri is more bike-friendly than Arkansas.
- Missouri has more of an urban feel than Arkansas.
- Missouri housing costs are 20% more expensive than they are in Arkansas, with a median home price of $243,216 compared to Arkansas's $203,305.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Missouri have increased by 49% compared to a 41% increase in Arkansas.
- Rent in Missouri is 1.42% more expensive than in Arkansas.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Arkansas and Missouri
Comparison | Arkansas | Missouri |
---|---|---|
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 | Tornados, Floods | Tornados, Floods |
Air Quality | Good to Moderate | Good to Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 92Β°F / 72Β°F | 89Β°F / 68Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 51Β°F / 32Β°F | 43Β°F / 26Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 50" | 42" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 5" | 18" |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Arkansas to Missouri. Missouri gets 6% fewer sunshine days than Arkansas.
- Missouri has lower humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Arkansas.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and floods in Arkansas, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and floods in Missouri.
- The average summer high temperature in Missouri is 3 degrees colder than in Arkansas.
- The average winter lows are 6 degrees colder than they are in Arkansas.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Missouri. Missouri receives 8 fewer inches of rain compared to Arkansas.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Arkansas and Missouri
Comparison | Arkansas | Missouri |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $55,432 | $64,811 |
Cost of Living Index | 90.5 | 91.8 |
State Income Tax | 5.9% | 5.7% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.63% | 0.97% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 9.43% | 8.25% |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Manufacturing, Retail | Healthcare, Retail, Manufacturing |
Affluence | Moderate | Moderate |
Poverty | Concerning | Concerning |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Missouri tend to earn about 17% more than in Arkansas
- The COLI in Missouri is 1% higher than what you are used to living in Arkansas
- The state income tax in MO is 5.7% compared to 5.9% in AR
- The affluence in Missouri is moderate compared to moderate in Arkansas
- The poverty level is concerning in Missouri compared to concerning in Arkansas
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Arkansas and moderate in Missouri
Political and Religious Climate in Arkansas vs. Missouri
Comparison | Arkansas | Missouri |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Leans Republican | Leans Republican |
Local Politics | Moderately Conservative | Moderately Conservative to Conservative |
Religion | Highly Religious | Highly Religious |
- Arkansas tends to lean Republican in its political climate
- Missouri, on the other hand, is often described as leaning Republican
- Missouri's religious environment can be described as highly religious
- Arkansas' residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as highly religious
Education Guide When Moving from Arkansas to Missouri
Comparison | Arkansas | Missouri |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Arkansas Arkansas State University University of Central Arkansas | University of Missouri Missouri State University Washington University in St. Louis |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Baker Interdistrict Elementary Little Rock; Forest Park Elementary Little Rock; Vandergriff Elementary Fayetteville | Conway Elementary Ladue; Wild Horse Elementary Chesterfield; Mason Ridge Elementary Town and Country |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Haas Hall Academy Bentonville; Woodland Junior High School Fayetteville; Thaden School Bentonville | Ladue Middle School Ladue; John Burroughs School Ladue; Pembroke Hill School Kansas City |
Top 3 High Schools | Haas Hall Academy Fayetteville; Bentonville High School Bentonville; Central High School Little Rock | Clayton High School Clayton; Ladue Horton Watkins High Ladue; John Burroughs School St. Louis |
Top 3 private high schools | Pulaski Academy Little Rock; Little Rock Christian Academy Little Rock; Shiloh Christian School Springdale | John Burroughs School St. Louis; Mary Institute and St. Louis Country Day School St. Louis; Pembroke Hill School Kansas City |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Shiloh Christian School Springdale; Little Rock Christian Academy Little Rock; Subiaco Academy Subiaco | Pembroke Hill School Kansas City; John Burroughs School St. Louis; The Barstow School Kansas City |
Top 3 School Districts | Bentonville School District Rogers School District Fayetteville School District | Ladue School District Clayton School District Park Hill School District |
How Much Do Arkansas to Missouri Movers Cost?
Moving 241 miles from Arkansas to Missouri will typically cost between $2,000 and $4,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,000 - $4,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 3-8 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Sunrise Moving and Packing, LLC
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,339 | 300 ft3 | $4.46 |
1 Bedroom | $1,986 | 450 ft3 | $4.41 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,273 | 750 ft3 | $4.36 |
3 Bedrooms | $4,745 | 1100 ft3 | $4.31 |
4 Bedrooms | $6,822 | 1600 ft3 | $4.26 |
5+ Bedrooms | $7,585 | 1800 ft3 | $4.21 |
Top Arkansas to Missouri Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Arkansas to Missouri movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Sunrise Moving and Packing, LLC
Best moving company overall for Arkansas to Missouri