Arizona to Tennessee Moving Guide
Want help with the heavy lifting?
Updated August 20, 2025
Planning a 1,583 mile interstate move from Arizona to Tennessee? This moving guide will help you compare living in Arizona vs Tennessee across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like extreme summer heat vs milder summer temps), food & health (like Chimichanga vs Hot Chicken), real estate & housing (spanish colonial, pueblo revival vs colonial, victorian, traditional), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Arizona), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Chimichanga and Carne Asada, but get your taste buds ready for Hot Chicken & Memphis BBQ Pork Ribs
- Tennessee housing costs are 26% less expensive than they are in Arizona
- Rent in Tennessee is 12.15% more affordable than in Arizona
- Moving from Arizona to Tennessee will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,500
- Our top recommended Arizona to Tennessee movers is Sterling Interstate LLC

Top Arizona to Tennessee Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Arizona to Tennessee movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Sterling Interstate LLC
Best moving company overall for Arizona to Tennessee

AAA Soto's Moving

Alpha Moving & Storage LLC
Arizona to Tennessee Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Arizona to Tennessee
- Extreme summer heat
- Monsoon dust storms
- Water scarcity concerns
- Sparse tree cover
- High AC costs
- Limited seasonal change
- Harsh sun exposure
- Distant natural water
- Rocky, hard soils
- Wildfire smoke days
- Milder summer temps
- Fewer dust storms
- Abundant rainfall
- Lush greenery
- Lower cooling demand
- Four true seasons
- More natural shade
- Many lakes and rivers
- Fertile gardening soil
- Fewer smoke days
- More cloudy days
- Humid summer heat
- Colder, icy winters
- Seasonal trail closures
- More mosquitoes
- Higher tornado risk
- Occasional snow, ice
- Frequent thunderstorms
- High spring pollen
- Observes daylight saving
- Plentiful sunny days
- Dry heat climate
- Mild, warm winters
- Year-round hiking
- Fewer mosquitoes
- Lower tornado risk
- Low snowfall
- Clear desert skies
- Low spring allergies
- No daylight saving
Pros of moving from Arizona to Tennessee
- Say goodbye to extreme summer heat and hello to milder summer temps
- Look forward to moving away from monsoon dust storms and moving to Tennessee with fewer dust storms
- Swap the water scarcity concerns of Arizona for abundant rainfall in Tennessee
- Get ready for lush greenery in Tennessee
Cons of moving from Arizona to Tennessee
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from plentiful sunny days in Arizona to live with more cloudy days in Tennessee
- You'll lose out on the pro of a dry heat climate and have to settle with the con of humid summer heat
- Time to bid farewell to mild warm winters and get used to colder icy winters in Tennessee
- Swap year-round hiking for seasonal trail closures
Arizona vs. Tennessee: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
| Comparison | Arizona | Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Most iconic local food item | Chimichanga | Hot Chicken |
| Most popular meat dish | Carne Asada | Memphis BBQ Pork Ribs |
| Most popular street food item | Tacos | Pulled Pork Sandwich |
| Most popular vegan food | Vegetable Tamales | BBQ Jackfruit |
| 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 Arizona to Tennessee, you will be trading the iconic Chimichanga of Arizona for the equally delicious Hot Chicken of Tennessee. And while the locals in Arizona rave about their flavorful Carne Asada and sumptuous Tacos, Tennessee residents know they have tasty Memphis BBQ Pork Ribs and Pulled Pork Sandwich to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Vegetable Tamales they've grown to love, they can get ready for the BBQ Jackfruit of Tennessee. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Arizona eateries like Pizzeria Bianco, El Charro CafΓ©, and FnB. After the boxes are unpacked in Tennessee, don't wait too long before making your way to Tennessee's acclaimed eateries like Hattie B's Hot Chicken, Central BBQ, and Loveless Cafe.
When comparing lifestyles, Tennessee shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Arizona. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Tennessee compared to what you are used to in Arizona. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Tennessee.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Arizona and Tennessee
| Comparison | Arizona | Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Typical Architecture Style | Spanish Colonial, Pueblo Revival | Colonial, Victorian, Traditional |
| Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
| Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
| Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
| Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Swimming pools, patios | Large yards, garages |
- The Spanish Colonial and Pueblo Revival architecture that Arizona is known for will be replaced with the Colonial, Victorian, and Traditional architecture typical of Tennessee.
- Compared to Arizona's real estate listings that commonly reference swimming pools and patios, Tennessee real estate listings often highlight features like large yards and garages.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Tennessee is less walkable than Arizona.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike; Tennessee is less bike-friendly than Arizona.
- Tennessee has less of an urban feel than Arizona.
- Tennessee housing costs are 26% less expensive than they are in Arizona, with a median home price of $317,482 compared to Arizonaβs $430,827.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Tennessee have increased by 63% compared to a 63% increase in Arizona.
- Rent in Tennessee is 12.15% more affordable than in Arizona.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Arizona and Tennessee
| Comparison | Arizona | Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Wildfires, Heatwaves | Tornados, Floods |
| Air Quality | Good | Variable |
| Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 104Β°F / 75Β°F | 89Β°F / 68Β°F |
| Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 67Β°F / 46Β°F | 49Β°F / 30Β°F |
| Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 13 | 53 |
| Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 0.3 | 6 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Arizona to Tennessee. Tennessee gets 28% fewer sunshine days than Arizona.
- Tennessee has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Arizona.
- Say goodbye to the possible wildfires and heatwaves in Arizona, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and floods in Tennessee.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Tennessee is 15 degrees cooler than in Arizona.
- The average winter lows are 16 degrees colder than they are in Arizona.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Tennessee. Tennessee receives 40 more inches of rain compared to Arizona.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Arizona and Tennessee
| Comparison | Arizona | Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Avg. Household Income | $74,568 | $65,254 |
| Cost of Living Index | 101.2 | 88.9 |
| State Income Tax | 2.59% - 4.50% | 0% |
| Avg. Property Tax | 0.66% | 0.64% |
| Avg. Sales Tax | 8.37% | 9.55% |
| Top 3 Industries | Healthcare, Retail, Manufacturing | Healthcare, Automotive, Agriculture |
| Affluence | Moderate | Modest |
| Poverty | Moderate | High |
| Homelessness | Concerning | Noticeable |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Tennessee tend to earn about 12% less than in Arizona
- The COLI in Tennessee will be 12% lower than what you are used to living in Arizona
- Hooray, moving to TN means you'll no longer have state income taxes
- The affluence in Tennessee is modest compared to moderate in Arizona
- The poverty level is high in Tennessee compared to moderate in Arizona
- In terms of homelessness, it is concerning in Arizona and noticeable in Tennessee
Political and Religious Climate in Arizona vs. Tennessee
| Comparison | Arizona | Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Political Make-up | Swing State, leaning towards purple with a slight Democratic tilt in recent elections | Strongly Republican, especially in statewide and federal elections |
| Local Politics | Mix of liberal cities such as Tucson and conservative areas like Mesa | Conservative in rural areas with some liberal pockets in cities like Nashville and Memphis |
| Religion | Diverse, with Christianity being predominant. Notable presence of other faiths. | Heavily Christian, particularly Evangelical Protestant. Smaller presence of other religions. |
- Arizona tends to lean swing State, leaning towards purple with a slight Democratic tilt in its political climate
- Tennessee, on the other hand, is often described as strongly Republican, especially in statewide and federal elections
- Tennessee's religious environment can be described as heavily Christian, particularly Evangelical Protestant with a smaller presence of other religions
- Arizona's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as diverse, with Christianity being predominant and a notable presence of other faiths
Education Guide When Moving from Arizona to Tennessee
| Comparison | Arizona | Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | Arizona State University - Tempe University of Arizona - Tucson Northern Arizona University - Flagstaff | University of Tennessee - Knoxville Vanderbilt University - Nashville Middle Tennessee State University - Murfreesboro |
| Top 3 Elementary Schools | Kyrene de la Sierra Elementary School - Phoenix Copper Ridge School - Scottsdale Basis Scottsdale Primary - Scottsdale | Julia Green Elementary School - Nashville Clifton Hills Elementary - Chattanooga West Hills Elementary - Knoxville |
| Top 3 Middle Schools | Basis Chandler - Chandler Arizona College Preparatory - Erie - Chandler Horizon Honors Secondary School - Phoenix | White Station Middle School - Memphis West End Middle School - Nashville Farragut Middle School - Knoxville |
| Top 3 High School Schools | BASIS Scottsdale - Scottsdale University High School - Tucson Chaparral High School - Scottsdale | Hume-Fogg Academic Magnet School - Nashville Brentwood High School - Brentwood Ravenwood High School - Brentwood |
| Top 3 private high schools | Phoenix Country Day School - Paradise Valley Brophy College Preparatory - Phoenix Xavier College Preparatory - Phoenix | McCallie School - Chattanooga Harpeth Hall School - Nashville Baylor School - Chattanooga |
| Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Gregory School - Tucson Scottsdale Christian Academy - Phoenix Verde Valley School - Sedona | Baylor School - Chattanooga Briarcrest Christian School - Memphis Lausanne Collegiate School - Memphis |
| Top 3 School Districts | Scottsdale Unified School District Catalina Foothills Unified District Chandler Unified School District | Williamson County Schools Maryville City Schools Collierville Schools |
How Much Do Arizona to Tennessee Movers Cost?
Moving 1,583 miles from Arizona to Tennessee will typically cost between $3,000 and $7,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,000 - $7,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-7 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Mr.Buff Personal Mover
| HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $2,100 | 300 ft3 | $7.00 |
| 1 Bedroom | $3,127 | 450 ft3 | $6.95 |
| 2 Bedrooms | $5,175 | 750 ft3 | $6.90 |
| 3 Bedrooms | $7,535 | 1100 ft3 | $6.85 |
| 4 Bedrooms | $10,880 | 1600 ft3 | $6.80 |
| 5+ Bedrooms | $12,150 | 1800 ft3 | $6.75 |



