Kentucky to Michigan Moving Guide
Updated June 8, 2025

Planning a 554 mile interstate move from Kentucky to Michigan? This moving guide will help you compare living in Kentucky vs Michigan across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like humidity in summer vs mild summer temperatures), food & health (like Fried Chicken vs Cherry Pie), real estate & housing (colonial, craftsman vs cape cod, ranch), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Michigan), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Fried Chicken and Burgoo, but get your taste buds ready for Cherry Pie & Coney Dog
- Michigan housing costs are 19% more expensive than they are in Kentucky
- Rent in Michigan is 10.79% more expensive than in Kentucky
- Moving from Kentucky to Michigan will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,500
- Our top recommended Kentucky to Michigan movers is Pro-Low Moving
Kentucky to Michigan Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Kentucky to Michigan
- Humidity in summer
- Limited job market
- Frequent severe weather
- Lack of sports culture
- Smaller city amenities
- Mild summer temperatures
- Diversified economy
- More stable climate
- Rich sports heritage
- Vibrant urban life
- Higher costs
- Harsher winters
- More urbanized areas
- Less horse culture
- Busier cities
- Low cost of living
- Southern charm
- Outdoor recreation
- Derby tradition
- Cozy small towns
Pros of moving from Kentucky to Michigan
- Say goodbye to humidity in summer and hello to mild summer temperatures
- Look forward to moving away from a limited job market and moving to Michigan with a diversified economy
- Swap the frequent severe weather of Kentucky for a more stable climate in Michigan
- Get ready for a rich sports heritage in Michigan
Cons of moving from Kentucky to Michigan
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from a low cost of living in Kentucky to live with higher costs in Michigan
- You'll lose out on the pro of southern charm and have to settle for the con of harsher winters
- Time to bid farewell to outdoor recreation and get used to more urbanized areas in Michigan
- Swap derby tradition for less horse culture
Kentucky vs. Michigan: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Kentucky | Michigan |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Fried Chicken | Cherry Pie |
Most popular meat dish | Burgoo | Coney Dog |
Most popular street food item | Hot Brown Sandwich | Pasty |
Most popular vegan food | Kentucky Beer Cheese | Tempeh Reuben Sandwich |
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 Michigan, you will be trading the iconic Fried Chicken of Kentucky for the equally delicious Cherry Pie of Michigan. And while the locals in Kentucky rave about their flavorful Burgoo and sumptuous Hot Brown Sandwich, Michigan residents know they have tasty Coney Dog and Pasty 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 Tempeh Reuben Sandwich of Michigan. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Kentucky eateries like Claudia Sanders Dinner House, Moonlite Bar-B-Q Inn, and The Brown Hotel. After the boxes are unpacked in Michigan, don't wait too long before making your way to Michigan's acclaimed eateries like Zingerman's Delicatessen, American Coney Island, and Frita Batidos.
When comparing lifestyles, Michigan shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Kentucky. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Michigan, compared to what you are used to in Kentucky. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Michigan.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Kentucky and Michigan
Comparison | Kentucky | Michigan |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Craftsman | Cape Cod, Ranch |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Large yards, Garages | Lake access, Energy efficiency |
- The Colonial and Craftsman architecture that Kentucky is known for will be replaced with the Cape Cod and Ranch architecture typical of Michigan.
- Compared to Kentucky's real estate listings that commonly reference large yards and garages, Michigan real estate listings often highlight features like lake access and energy efficiency.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Michigan is more walkable than Kentucky.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Michigan is more bike-friendly than Kentucky.
- Michigan has more of an urban feel than Kentucky.
- Michigan housing costs are 19% more expensive than they are in Kentucky, with a median home price of $239,770 compared to Kentuckyβs $201,332.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Michigan have increased by 45% compared to a 47% increase in Kentucky.
- Rent in Michigan is 10.79% more expensive than in Kentucky.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Kentucky and Michigan
Comparison | Kentucky | Michigan |
---|---|---|
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, Floods | Snowstorms, Tornadoes |
Air Quality | Good to Moderate | Good to Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 87Β°F/66Β°F | 81Β°F/59Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 44Β°F/27Β°F | 31Β°F/18Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 49" | 32.8" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 22" | 60.7" |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Kentucky to Michigan. Michigan gets 13% fewer sunshine days than Kentucky.
- Michigan has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Kentucky.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and floods in Kentucky, but be on the lookout for potential snowstorms and tornadoes in Michigan.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Michigan is 6 degrees colder than in Kentucky.
- The average winter lows are 9 degrees colder than they are in Kentucky.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Michigan. Michigan receives 16.2 fewer inches of rain compared to Kentucky.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Kentucky and Michigan
Comparison | Kentucky | Michigan |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $59,341 | $66,986 |
Cost of Living Index | 87.8 | 91.2 |
State Income Tax | 5% | 4.25% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.83% | 1.64% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6% | 6% |
Top 3 Industries | Manufacturing, Agriculture, Healthcare | Automotive, Healthcare, Manufacturing |
Affluence | Moderate | Moderate |
Poverty | Higher | Lower |
Homelessness | Moderate | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Michigan tend to earn about 13% more than in Kentucky
- The COLI in Michigan is 4% higher than what you are used to living in Kentucky
- The state income tax in MI is 4.25% compared to 5% in KY
- The affluence in Michigan is moderate compared to moderate in Kentucky
- The poverty level is lower in Michigan compared to higher in Kentucky
- In terms of homelessness, it is moderate in Kentucky and moderate in Michigan
Political and Religious Climate in Kentucky vs. Michigan
Comparison | Kentucky | Michigan |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Traditionally leans conservative | Tends to be swing state with mix of conservative and liberal regions |
Local Politics | Strong grassroots movements | Diverse political engagement across regions |
Religion | Highly religious, predominantly Christian | Moderately religious with diverse faith communities |
- Kentucky tends to lean traditionally conservative in its political climate
- Michigan, on the other hand, is often described as a swing state with a mix of conservative and liberal regions
- Michigan's religious environment can be described as moderately religious with diverse faith communities
- Kentucky's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as highly religious and predominantly Christian
Education Guide When Moving from Kentucky to Michigan
Comparison | Kentucky | Michigan |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Kentucky University of Louisville Western Kentucky University | University of Michigan Michigan State University Wayne State University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Pikeville Elementary Fort Thomas Ashland | Bloomfield Hills Okemos East Grand Rapids |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Beechwood Highlands Fort Thomas | East Grand Rapids Novi Okemos |
Top 3 High Schools | DuPont Manual Highlands Beechwood | International Academy Troy High Okemos |
Top 3 private high schools | St. Xavier Sacred Heart Academy Lexington Catholic | Cranbrook Detroit Country Day Greenhills |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Lexington School Sayre Louisville Collegiate | Roeper Detroit Country Day Cranbrook |
Top 3 School Districts | Fort Thomas Independent Beechwood Independent Pikeville Independent | Okemos East Grand Rapids Bloomfield Hills |
How Much Do Kentucky to Michigan Movers Cost?
Moving 554 miles from Kentucky to Michigan will typically cost between $2,500 and $5,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,500 - $5,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-10 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Smooth Move Relocation Services
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,517 | 300 ft3 | $5.06 |
1 Bedroom | $2,252 | 450 ft3 | $5.01 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,716 | 750 ft3 | $4.96 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,396 | 1100 ft3 | $4.91 |
4 Bedrooms | $7,768 | 1600 ft3 | $4.86 |
5+ Bedrooms | $8,649 | 1800 ft3 | $4.81 |
Top Kentucky to Michigan Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Kentucky to Michigan movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.