Georgia to Alabama Moving Guide
Updated June 4, 2025

Planning a 273 mile interstate move from Georgia to Alabama? This moving guide will help you compare living in Georgia vs Alabama across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like traffic congestion vs lesser traffic), food & health (like Peach cobbler vs Barbecue ribs), real estate & housing (colonial and craftsman vs craftsman and ranch), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Georgia), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Peach cobbler and Fried chicken, but get your taste buds ready for Barbecue ribs & Pulled pork
- Alabama housing costs are 31% less expensive than they are in Georgia
- Rent in Alabama is 18.81% more affordable than in Georgia
- Moving from Georgia to Alabama will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,000
- Our top recommended Georgia to Alabama movers is Moving Etc
Georgia to Alabama Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Georgia to Alabama
- Traffic congestion
- Higher cost of living
- Hot summer days
- Stormy weather
- Lesser traffic
- Affordable housing
- Milder summers
- Fewer storms
- Fewer tech jobs
- Less diverse
- Quieter evenings
- Limited arts venues
- Job opportunities
- Cultural diversity
- Vibrant nightlife
- Thriving arts scene
Pros of moving from Georgia to Alabama
- Say goodbye to traffic congestion and hello to lesser traffic
- Look forward to moving away from a higher cost of living and moving to Alabama with affordable housing
- Swap the hot summer days of Georgia for milder summers in Alabama
- Get ready for fewer storms in Alabama
Cons of moving from Georgia to Alabama
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from job opportunities in Georgia to live with fewer tech jobs in Alabama
- You'll lose out on the pro of cultural diversity and have to settle for the con of less diversity
- Time to bid farewell to vibrant nightlife and get used to quieter evenings in Alabama
- Swap a thriving arts scene for limited arts venues
Georgia vs. Alabama: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Georgia | Alabama |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Peach cobbler | Barbecue ribs |
Most popular meat dish | Fried chicken | Pulled pork |
Most popular street food item | Boiled peanuts | Shrimp po'boy |
Most popular vegan food | Cauliflower wings | Black-eyed pea hummus |
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 Georgia to Alabama, you will be trading the iconic peach cobbler of Georgia for the equally delicious barbecue ribs of Alabama. And while the locals in Georgia rave about their flavorful fried chicken and sumptuous boiled peanuts, Alabama residents know they have tasty pulled pork and shrimp po'boy to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the cauliflower wings they've grown to love, they can get ready for the black-eyed pea hummus of Alabama. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Georgia eateries like The Varsity, Southern Kitchen and Bar, and Mary Mac's Tea Room. After the boxes are unpacked in Alabama, don't wait too long before making your way to Alabama's acclaimed eateries like Sawβs BBQ, Highland's Bar and Grill, and The Bright Star.
When comparing lifestyles, Alabama shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Georgia. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Alabama compared to what you are used to in Georgia. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Alabama.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Georgia and Alabama
Comparison | Georgia | Alabama |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial and Craftsman | Craftsman and Ranch |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Hardwood floors, Granite countertops | Large yards, Spacious garages |
- The Colonial and Craftsman architecture that Georgia is known for will be replaced with the Craftsman and Ranch architecture typical of Alabama.
- Compared to Georgia's real estate listings that commonly reference hardwood floors and granite countertops, Alabama real estate listings often highlight features like large yards and spacious garages.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away. Alabama is less walkable than Georgia.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike. Alabama is less bike-friendly than Georgia.
- Alabama has less of an urban feel than Georgia.
- Alabama housing costs are 31% less expensive than they are in Georgia, with a median home price of $226,045 compared to Georgiaβs $327,174.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Alabama have increased 45% compared to a 64% increase in Georgia.
- Rent in Alabama is 18.81% more affordable than in Georgia.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Georgia and Alabama
Comparison | Georgia | Alabama |
---|---|---|
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, Hurricanes |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 89/70 | 91/72 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 52/34 | 57/36 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 50 | 56 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 2 | 1 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Georgia to Alabama. Alabama gets 2% fewer sunshine days than Georgia.
- Alabama has higher humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Georgia.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and tornadoes in Georgia, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and hurricanes in Alabama.
- The average summer high temperature in Alabama is 2 degrees warmer than in Georgia.
- The average winter lows are 2 degrees warmer than they are in Georgia.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Alabama. Alabama receives 6 more inches of rain compared to Georgia.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Georgia and Alabama
Comparison | Georgia | Alabama |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $72,837 | $59,674 |
Cost of Living Index | 93.35 | 91.2 |
State Income Tax | 5.75% | 5% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.87% | 0.41% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 7% | 8% |
Top 3 Industries | Transportation, Agriculture, Film | Automotive, Metals, Technology |
Affluence | Moderate | Low |
Poverty | High | High |
Homelessness | Moderate | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Alabama tend to earn about 18% less than in Georgia
- The COLI in Alabama will be 2% lower than what you are used to living in Georgia
- The state income tax in AL is 5% compared to 5.75% in GA
- The affluence in Alabama is low compared to moderate affluence in Georgia
- The poverty level is high in Alabama compared to high poverty in Georgia
- In terms of homelessness, it is moderate in Georgia and moderate in Alabama
Political and Religious Climate in Georgia vs. Alabama
Comparison | Georgia | Alabama |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Mix of Democratic and Republican | Strongly Republican |
Local Politics | Varies widely by city and county | Conservative, with local variations |
Religion | Primarily Protestant, diverse religious communities | Primarily Protestant, with a similar level of religious diversity |
- Georgia tends to lean a mix of Democratic and Republican in its political climate
- Alabama, on the other hand, is often described as strongly Republican
- Alabama's religious environment can be described as primarily Protestant, with a similar level of religious diversity
- Georgia's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as primarily Protestant with diverse religious communities
Education Guide When Moving from Georgia to Alabama
Comparison | Georgia | Alabama |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Georgia Georgia State University Georgia Institute of Technology | University of Alabama Auburn University University of Alabama at Birmingham |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Brandon Elementary (Atlanta) Morningside Elementary (Atlanta) Britt David Elementary (Columbus) | Mountain Brook Elementary (Mountain Brook) Vestavia Hills Elementary West (Vestavia Hills) Madison Elementary (Madison) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Davidson Magnet School (Augusta) Dodgen Middle School (Marietta) Riverwatch Middle School (Suwanee) | Mountain Brook Junior High (Mountain Brook) Discovery Middle School (Madison) Simmons Middle School (Hoover) |
Top 3 High Schools | Northview High School (Johns Creek) Walton High School (Marietta) Columbus High School (Columbus) | Mountain Brook High School (Mountain Brook) Loveless Academic Magnet Program High School (Montgomery) Bob Jones High School (Madison) |
Top 3 private high schools | The Westminster Schools (Atlanta) Pace Academy (Atlanta) The Lovett School (Atlanta) | The Altamont School (Birmingham) Indian Springs School (Indian Springs Village) Randolph School (Huntsville) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Westminster Schools (Atlanta) Pace Academy (Atlanta) The Walker School (Marietta) | Indian Springs School (Indian Springs Village) Randolph School (Huntsville) The Altamont School (Birmingham) |
Top 3 School Districts | Forsyth County Schools Buford City Schools Decatur City Schools | Mountain Brook City Schools Homewood City Schools Vestavia Hills City Schools |
How Much Do Georgia to Alabama Movers Cost?
Moving 273 miles from Georgia to Alabama will typically cost between $2,000 and $5,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,000 - $5,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-3 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Atlanta Home Movers
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,357 | 300 ft3 | $4.52 |
1 Bedroom | $2,013 | 450 ft3 | $4.47 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,318 | 750 ft3 | $4.42 |
3 Bedrooms | $4,812 | 1100 ft3 | $4.37 |
4 Bedrooms | $6,919 | 1600 ft3 | $4.32 |
5+ Bedrooms | $7,694 | 1800 ft3 | $4.27 |
Top Georgia to Alabama Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Georgia to Alabama movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.
Moving Etc
Best moving company overall for Georgia to Alabama