Kentucky to Florida Moving Guide
Updated June 3, 2025

Planning a 861 mile interstate move from Kentucky to Florida? This moving guide will help you compare living in Kentucky vs Florida across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like limited beach access vs pristine beaches), food & health (like Fried Chicken vs Key Lime Pie), real estate & housing (federal, victorian vs mediterranean, modern), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Florida), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Fried Chicken and Hot Brown, but get your taste buds ready for Key Lime Pie & Cuban Sandwich
- Florida housing costs are 97% more expensive than they are in Kentucky
- Rent in Florida is 69.94% more expensive than in Kentucky
- Moving from Kentucky to Florida will cost on average between $1,500 - $6,000
- Our top recommended Kentucky to Florida movers is Sebastian Moving and More
Kentucky to Florida Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Kentucky to Florida
- Limited beach access
- Harsh winters
- Less diverse wildlife
- Fewer cultural events
- Small cities
- Pristine beaches
- Warmer climate
- Rich biodiversity
- Lively festivals
- Major urban areas
- High hurricane risk
- More expensive lifestyle
- Tourist crowds
- New construction
- Transient population
- Quaint countryside
- Lower cost of living
- Southern hospitality
- Historic charm
- Familiar community
Pros of moving from Kentucky to Florida
- Say goodbye to limited beach access and hello to pristine beaches
- Look forward to moving away from harsh winters and moving to Florida with a warmer climate
- Swap the less diverse wildlife of Kentucky for rich biodiversity in Florida
- Get ready for lively festivals in Florida
Cons of moving from Kentucky to Florida
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the quaint countryside in Kentucky to live with high hurricane risk in Florida
- You'll lose out on the pro of a lower cost of living and have to settle for the con of a more expensive lifestyle
- Time to bid farewell to southern hospitality and get used to the tourist crowds in Florida
- Swap historic charm for new construction
Kentucky vs. Florida: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Kentucky | Florida |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Fried Chicken | Key Lime Pie |
Most popular meat dish | Hot Brown | Cuban Sandwich |
Most popular street food item | Burgoo | Empanadas |
Most popular vegan food | Kentucky Beer Cheese | Acai Bowl |
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 Kentucky to Florida, you will be trading the iconic Fried Chicken of Kentucky for the equally delicious Key Lime Pie of Florida. And while the locals in Kentucky rave about their flavorful Hot Brown and sumptuous Burgoo, Florida residents know they have tasty Cuban Sandwich and Empanadas to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Kentucky Beer Cheese they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Acai Bowl of Florida. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Kentucky eateries like The Brown Hotel, Claudia Sanders Dinner House, and Mama's Kitchen. After the boxes are unpacked in Florida, don't wait too long before making your way to Florida's acclaimed eateries like Joe's Stone Crab, Bern's Steak House, and Versailles Restaurant.
When comparing lifestyles, Florida shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Kentucky. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Florida compared to what you are used to in Kentucky. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Florida.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Kentucky and Florida
Comparison | Kentucky | Florida |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Federal, Victorian | Mediterranean, Modern |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Large lots, scenic views | Waterfront, outdoor living |
- The Federal and Victorian architecture that Kentucky is known for will be replaced with the Mediterranean and Modern architecture typical of Florida.
- Compared to Kentucky's real estate listings that commonly reference large lots and scenic views, Florida real estate listings often highlight features like waterfront and outdoor living.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Florida is more walkable than Kentucky.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Florida is more bike-friendly than Kentucky.
- Florida has more of an urban feel than Kentucky.
- Florida housing costs are 97% more expensive than they are in Kentucky, with a median home price of $397,137 compared to Kentuckyβs $201,332.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Florida have increased by 66% compared to a 47% increase in Kentucky.
- Rent in Florida is 69.94% more expensive than in Kentucky.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Kentucky and Florida
Comparison | Kentucky | Florida |
---|---|---|
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, Storms | Hurricanes, Tropical Storms |
Air Quality | Good | Variable |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 87Β°F / 66Β°F | 91Β°F / 75Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 41Β°F / 23Β°F | 70Β°F / 55Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 48 | 54 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 22 | 0 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Kentucky to Florida. Florida gets 22% more sunshine days than Kentucky.
- Florida has higher humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Kentucky.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and storms in Kentucky, but be on the lookout for potential hurricanes and tropical storms in Florida.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Florida is 4 degrees warmer than in Kentucky.
- The average winter lows are 32 degrees warmer than they are in Kentucky.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Florida. Florida receives 6 more inches of rain compared to Kentucky.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Kentucky and Florida
Comparison | Kentucky | Florida |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $59,341 | $69,303 |
Cost of Living Index | 87.8 | 97.8 |
State Income Tax | 5% | 0% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.86% | 0.98% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6% | 7.05% |
Top 3 Industries | Manufacturing, Agriculture, Healthcare | Tourism, Agriculture, Aerospace |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Moderate | Low |
Homelessness | Moderate | High |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Florida tend to earn about 17% more than those in Kentucky
- The COLI in Florida will be 11% higher than what you are used to living in Kentucky
- Hooray, moving to FL means you'll no longer have state income taxes
- The affluence in Florida is high compared to moderate affluence in Kentucky
- The poverty level is low in Florida compared to moderate poverty in Kentucky
- In terms of homelessness, it is moderate in Kentucky and high in Florida
Political and Religious Climate in Kentucky vs. Florida
Comparison | Kentucky | Florida |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Conservative | Swing State |
Local Politics | Strong local governance, rural influence significant | Diverse local governance, significant urban and Latino influence |
Religion | Primarily Christian, with Baptist being predominant Kentucky Baptist Convention | Mixed religious landscape, with a significant Catholic population Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops |
- Kentucky tends to lean Conservative in its political climate
- Florida, on the other hand, is often described as a swing State
- Florida's religious environment can be described as a mixed religious landscape, with a significant Catholic population from the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops
- Kentucky's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as primarily Christian, with Baptist being predominant from the Kentucky Baptist Convention
Education Guide When Moving from Kentucky to Florida
Comparison | Kentucky | Florida |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Kentucky Lexington; University of Louisville Louisville; Western Kentucky University Bowling Green | University of Florida Gainesville; Florida State University Tallahassee; University of Central Florida Orlando |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Pikeville Elementary Pikeville; Anchorage Public School Anchorage; Rosa Parks Elementary Lexington | Pine View School Osprey; Doral Academy of Technology Doral; Somerset Academy Chapel Trail Pembroke Pines |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Barret Traditional Middle School Louisville; Boone County Schools Ignite Institute Florence; Glasgow Middle School Glasgow | Bak Middle School of the Arts West Palm Beach; Archimedean Middle Conservatory Miami; Pine View School Osprey |
Top 3 High Schools | DuPont Manual High Louisville; Highlands High Fort Thomas; Beechwood High Fort Mitchell | Pine View School Osprey; Stanton College Preparatory Jacksonville; Design and Architecture Senior High Miami |
Top 3 private high schools | Sacred Heart Academy Louisville; Kentucky Country Day School Louisville; The Lexington School Lexington | Pine Crest School Fort Lauderdale; Ransom Everglades School Coconut Grove; The Bolles School Jacksonville |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Lexington School Lexington; Kentucky Country Day School Louisville; Sayre School Lexington | Ransom Everglades School Coconut Grove; Pine Crest School Fort Lauderdale; North Broward Preparatory School Coconut Creek |
Top 3 School Districts | Fayette County Public Schools Lexington; Jefferson County Public Schools Louisville; Boone County Schools Florence | St. Johns County School District St. Johns; Sarasota County Schools Sarasota; Miami-Dade County Public Schools Miami |
How Much Do Kentucky to Florida Movers Cost?
Moving 861 miles from Kentucky to Florida will typically cost between $2,500 and $6,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,500 - $6,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 3-10 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Veteran Moving Group
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,691 | 300 ft3 | $5.64 |
1 Bedroom | $2,513 | 450 ft3 | $5.59 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,152 | 750 ft3 | $5.54 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,034 | 1100 ft3 | $5.49 |
4 Bedrooms | $8,697 | 1600 ft3 | $5.44 |
5+ Bedrooms | $9,694 | 1800 ft3 | $5.39 |
Top Kentucky to Florida Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Kentucky to Florida movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Sebastian Moving and More
Best moving company overall for Kentucky to Florida