Iowa to Georgia Moving Guide
Updated June 23, 2025

Planning a 1,061 mile interstate move from Iowa to Georgia? This moving guide will help you compare living in Iowa vs Georgia across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winters vs mild climate), food & health (like Pork Tenderloin Sandwich vs Peach Cobbler), real estate & housing (prairie, craftsman vs colonial, craftsman), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Georgia), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Pork Tenderloin Sandwich and Grilled Pork Chops, but get your taste buds ready for Peach Cobbler & Fried Chicken
- Georgia housing costs are 53% more expensive than they are in Iowa
- Rent in Georgia is 68.03% more expensive than in Iowa
- Moving from Iowa to Georgia will cost on average between $2,000 - $6,500
- Our top recommended Iowa to Georgia movers is Adamantine Spine Moving
Iowa to Georgia Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Iowa to Georgia
- Harsh winters
- Limited job market
- Flat landscape
- Fewer entertainment venues
- Mild climate
- Diverse job opportunities
- Scenic mountains
- Vibrant nightlife
- Higher living expenses
- Heavier traffic
- Urban sprawl
- Dense population
- Low cost of living
- Friendly communities
- Rural charm
- Ample farmland
Pros of moving from Iowa to Georgia
- Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to a mild climate
- Look forward to moving away from a limited job market and moving to Georgia with diverse job opportunities
- Swap the flat landscape of Iowa for scenic mountains in Georgia
- Get ready for a vibrant nightlife in Georgia
Cons of moving from Iowa to Georgia
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from a low cost of living in Iowa to live with higher living expenses in Georgia
- You'll lose out on the pro of friendly communities and have to settle with the con of heavier traffic
- Time to bid farewell to rural charm and get used to urban sprawl in Georgia
- Swap ample farmland for a dense population
Iowa vs. Georgia: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Iowa | Georgia |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Pork Tenderloin Sandwich | Peach Cobbler |
Most popular meat dish | Grilled Pork Chops | Fried Chicken |
Most popular street food item | Sweet Corn | Boiled Peanuts |
Most popular vegan food | BBQ Jackfruit | Collard Greens |
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 Iowa to Georgia, you will be trading the iconic Pork Tenderloin Sandwich of Iowa for the equally delicious Peach Cobbler of Georgia. And while the locals in Iowa rave about their flavorful Grilled Pork Chops and sumptuous Sweet Corn, Georgia residents know they have tasty Fried Chicken and Boiled Peanuts 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 Collard Greens of Georgia. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Iowa eateries like Zombie Burger, American Grill, and The Summit. After the boxes are unpacked in Georgia, don't wait too long before making your way to Georgia's acclaimed eateries like The Varsity, Mary Mac's Tea Room, and Holman and Finch.
When comparing lifestyles, Georgia shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Iowa. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Georgia, compared to what you are used to in Iowa. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Georgia.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Iowa and Georgia
Comparison | Iowa | Georgia |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Prairie, Craftsman | Colonial, Craftsman |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious backyards, energy efficiency | Stainless steel appliances, hardwood floors |
- The Prairie and Craftsman architecture that Iowa is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Craftsman architecture typical of Georgia.
- Compared to Iowa's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious backyards and energy efficiency, Georgia real estate listings often highlight features like stainless steel appliances and hardwood floors.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes; Georgia is more walkable than Iowa.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike; Georgia is less bike-friendly than Iowa.
- Georgia has more of an urban feel than Iowa.
- Georgia housing costs are 53% more expensive than they are in Iowa, with a median home price of $327,174 compared to Iowaβs $214,151.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Georgia have increased by 64% compared to a 36% increase in Iowa.
- Rent in Georgia is 68.03% more expensive than in Iowa.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Iowa and Georgia
Comparison | Iowa | Georgia |
---|---|---|
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 | Tornadoes, Severe Storms | Hurricanes, Tornadoes |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 82Β°F / 63Β°F | 89Β°F / 71Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 31Β°F / 14Β°F | 55Β°F / 33Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 36" | 50" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 32" | 1" |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Iowa to Georgia. Georgia gets 6% more sunshine days than Iowa.
- Georgia has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Iowa.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and severe storms in Iowa, but be on the lookout for potential hurricanes and tornadoes in Georgia.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Georgia is 7 degrees warmer than in Iowa.
- The average winter lows are 19 degrees warmer than they are in Iowa.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Georgia. Georgia receives 14 more inches of rain compared to Iowa.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Iowa and Georgia
Comparison | Iowa | Georgia |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $69,588 | $72,837 |
Cost of Living Index | 95.9 | 93.35 |
State Income Tax | 8.5 | 5.75 |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.50 | 0.93 |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.94 | 7.31 |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Manufacturing, Insurance | Real Estate, Retail, Film Production |
Affluence | Moderate | Moderate |
Poverty | Low | Higher |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Georgia tend to earn about 5% more than in Iowa
- The COLI in Georgia will be 3% lower than what you are used to living in Iowa
- The state income tax in GA is 5.75 compared to 8.5 in IA
- The affluence in Georgia is moderate compared to moderate in Iowa
- The poverty level is higher in Georgia compared to low in Iowa
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Iowa and moderate in Georgia
Political and Religious Climate in Iowa vs. Georgia
Comparison | Iowa | Georgia |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Battleground state, mixed political views | Trending Democratic in recent elections |
Local Politics | Varies significantly between urban and rural areas | Urban areas lean Democratic, rural areas lean Republican |
Religion | Christianity dominates, with a significant Protestant presence | Christianity is predominant, with a notable Baptist influence |
- Iowa tends to lean as a battleground state with mixed political views in its political climate
- Georgia, on the other hand, is often described as trending Democratic in recent elections
- Georgia's religious environment can be described as Christianity being predominant with a notable Baptist influence
- Iowa's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as Christianity dominating with a significant Protestant presence
Education Guide When Moving from Iowa to Georgia
Comparison | Iowa | Georgia |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Iowa Iowa State University University of Northern Iowa | University of Georgia Georgia Institute of Technology Georgia State University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Wickham Elementary (Coralville) Lincoln Elementary (Mount Vernon) Roosevelt Elementary (Mason City) | Brandywine Elementary (Alpharetta) Britt David Elementary (Columbus) Austin Elementary (Dunwoody) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | North Central Junior High (North Liberty) Ames Middle School (Ames) South East Junior High (Iowa City) | South Forsyth Middle (Cumming) Davidson Fine Arts (Augusta) Riverwatch Middle (Suwanee) |
Top 3 High School Schools | Ames High School (Ames) West High School (Iowa City) Decorah High School (Decorah) | Northview High School (Johns Creek) Walton High School (Marietta) Columbus High School (Columbus) |
Top 3 private high schools | Phillips Academy (Exeter) St. George's School (Newport) Choate Rosemary Hall (Wallingford) | Westminster Schools (Atlanta) Lovett School (Atlanta) Pace Academy (Atlanta) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Scattergood Friends School (West Branch) Maharishi School (Fairfield) Cedar Valley Christian School (Cedar Rapids) | Atlanta International School (Atlanta) Woodward Academy (College Park) Paideia School (Atlanta) |
Top 3 School Districts | Iowa City Community School District Ames Community School District Cedar Falls Community School District | Fayette County Public Schools Buford City Schools Decatur City Schools |
How Much Do Iowa to Georgia Movers Cost?
Moving 1,061 miles from Iowa to Georgia will typically cost between $2,500 and $6,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,500 - $6,500
- 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 | $1,804 | 300 ft3 | $6.01 |
1 Bedroom | $2,683 | 450 ft3 | $5.96 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,435 | 750 ft3 | $5.91 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,450 | 1100 ft3 | $5.86 |
4 Bedrooms | $9,301 | 1600 ft3 | $5.81 |
5+ Bedrooms | $10,374 | 1800 ft3 | $5.76 |
Top Iowa to Georgia Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Iowa to Georgia movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Adamantine Spine Moving
Best moving company overall for Iowa to Georgia