Kentucky to Missouri Moving Guide
Updated June 21, 2025

Planning a 466 mile interstate move from Kentucky to Missouri? This moving guide will help you compare living in Kentucky vs Missouri across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like limited job opportunities vs thriving job market), food & health (like Fried Chicken vs St. Louis-style Pizza), real estate & housing (colonial, craftsman vs ranch, tudor), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Kentucky), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Fried Chicken and Hot Brown, but get your taste buds ready for St. Louis-style Pizza & St. Louis Ribs
- Missouri housing costs are 21% more expensive than they are in Kentucky
- Rent in Missouri is 1.95% more expensive than in Kentucky
- Moving from Kentucky to Missouri will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,000
- Our top recommended Kentucky to Missouri movers is Sunrise Moving and Packing, LLC
Kentucky to Missouri Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Kentucky to Missouri
- Limited job opportunities
- Higher state taxes
- Fewer cultural events
- Harsh winters
- Poor public transport
- Thriving job market
- Lower state taxes
- Rich cultural scene
- Milder winters
- Better public transport
- Urban sprawl
- Higher living costs
- Busy cities
- Less community feel
- Adjustment period
- Charming countryside
- Lower living costs
- Smaller towns
- Friendly communities
- Familiar surroundings
Pros of moving from Kentucky to Missouri
- Say goodbye to limited job opportunities and hello to a thriving job market
- Look forward to moving away from higher state taxes and moving to Missouri with lower state taxes
- Swap the fewer cultural events of Kentucky for a rich cultural scene in Missouri
- Get ready for milder winters in Missouri
Cons of moving from Kentucky to Missouri
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the charming countryside in Kentucky to live with urban sprawl in Missouri
- You'll lose out on the pro of lower living costs and have to settle for the con of higher living costs
- Time to bid farewell to smaller towns and get used to busy cities in Missouri
- Swap friendly communities for a less community feel
Kentucky vs. Missouri: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Kentucky | Missouri |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Fried Chicken | St. Louis-style Pizza |
Most popular meat dish | Hot Brown | St. Louis Ribs |
Most popular street food item | Burgoo | Toasted Ravioli |
Most popular vegan food | Kentucky Bibb Salad | Jackfruit BBQ |
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 Missouri, you will be trading the iconic Fried Chicken of Kentucky for the equally delicious St. Louis-style Pizza of Missouri. And while the locals in Kentucky rave about their flavorful Hot Brown and sumptuous Burgoo, Missouri residents know they have tasty St. Louis Ribs and Toasted Ravioli to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Kentucky Bibb Salad they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Jackfruit BBQ of Missouri. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Kentucky eateries like The Brown Hotel, Ramsey's Diner, and Holly Hill Inn. After the boxes are unpacked in Missouri, don't wait too long before making your way to Missouri's acclaimed eateries like Pi Pizzeria, Sugarfire Smoke House, and Pappy's Smokehouse.
When comparing lifestyles, Missouri shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Kentucky. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Missouri, compared to what you are used to in Kentucky. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Missouri.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Kentucky and Missouri
Comparison | Kentucky | Missouri |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Craftsman | Ranch, Tudor |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | βLarge yardβ, βspacious roomsβ | βModern amenitiesβ, βopen floor plansβ |
- The Colonial and Craftsman architecture that Kentucky is known for will be replaced with the Ranch and Tudor architecture typical of Missouri.
- Compared to Kentucky's real estate listings that commonly reference 'large yards' and 'spacious rooms', Missouri real estate listings often highlight features like 'modern amenities' and 'open floor plans'.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Missouri is more walkable than Kentucky.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Missouri is more bike-friendly than Kentucky.
- Missouri has more of an urban feel than Kentucky.
- Missouri housing costs are 21% more expensive than they are in Kentucky, with a median home price of $243,216 compared to Kentuckyβs $201,332.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Missouri have increased by 49% compared to a 47% increase in Kentucky.
- Rent in Missouri is 1.95% more expensive than in Kentucky.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Kentucky and Missouri
Comparison | Kentucky | Missouri |
---|---|---|
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 | Floods, Tornadoes | Tornadoes, Severe Storms |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 87Β°F / 66Β°F | 89Β°F / 67Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 41Β°F / 23Β°F | 40Β°F / 21Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 47" | 42" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 11" | 18" |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Kentucky to Missouri. Missouri gets 5% more sunshine days than Kentucky.
- Missouri has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Kentucky.
- Say goodbye to the possible floods and tornadoes in Kentucky, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and severe storms in Missouri.
- The average summer high temperature in Missouri is 2 degrees warmer than in Kentucky.
- The average winter lows are 2 degrees colder than they are in Kentucky.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Missouri. Missouri receives 5 fewer inches of rain compared to Kentucky.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Kentucky and Missouri
Comparison | Kentucky | Missouri |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $59,341 | $64,811 |
Cost of Living Index | 87.8 | 91.8 |
State Income Tax | 5% | 5.4% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.83% | 0.97% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6% | 8.3% |
Top 3 Industries | Manufacturing, Healthcare, Agriculture | Healthcare, Retail, Manufacturing |
Affluence | Moderate | Moderate |
Poverty | Noticeable | Significant |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Missouri tend to earn about 9% more than those in Kentucky
- The COLI in Missouri will be 5% higher than what you are used to living in Kentucky
- The state income tax in MO is 5.4% compared to 5% in KY
- The affluence in Missouri is moderate compared to moderate affluence in Kentucky
- The poverty level is significant in Missouri compared to noticeable poverty in Kentucky
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Kentucky and moderate in Missouri
Political and Religious Climate in Kentucky vs. Missouri
Comparison | Kentucky | Missouri |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Traditionally leans Republican, with rural areas showing strong GOP support | Swing state tendencies, with urban areas like St. Louis and Kansas City leaning Democratic |
Local Politics | Local governance often mirrors state-level Republican dominance | Mixed local governance, with Democratic leadership in major cities |
Religion | Highly religious state, with a strong evangelical Christian presence | Diverse religious landscape, but with a significant evangelical Christian constituency |
- Kentucky tends to lean traditionally Republican, with rural areas showing strong GOP support in its political climate
- Missouri, on the other hand, is often described as having swing state tendencies, with urban areas like St. Louis and Kansas City leaning Democratic
- Missouri's religious environment can be described as having a diverse religious landscape, but with a significant evangelical Christian constituency
- Kentucky's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as those of a highly religious state, with a strong evangelical Christian presence
Education Guide When Moving from Kentucky to Missouri
Comparison | Kentucky | Missouri |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Kentucky University of Louisville Western Kentucky University | University of Missouri Missouri State University Washington University in St. Louis |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Poe Elementary (Louisville) Glendover Elementary (Lexington) Stopher Elementary (Louisville) | New City School (St. Louis) Wilson's Creek 5-6 School (Springfield) Conway Elementary (Ladue) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Barret Traditional Middle (Louisville) Beaumont Middle (Lexington) Crosby Middle (Louisville) | Ladue Middle (Ladue) Wydown Middle (Clayton) Wildwood Middle (Wildwood) |
Top 3 High School Schools | DuPont Manual High (Louisville) Highlands High (Fort Thomas) Beechwood High (Fort Mitchell) | Clayton High (Clayton) Ladue Horton Watkins High (Ladue) Parkway West High (Ballwin) |
Top 3 private high schools | St. Xavier High (Louisville) Sacred Heart Academy (Louisville) Trinity High (Louisville) | John Burroughs School (St. Louis) Thomas Jefferson School (St. Louis) Mary Institute and St. Louis Country Day School (St. Louis) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Sayre School (Lexington) Louisville Collegiate School (Louisville) Lexington Christian Academy (Lexington) | MICDS - Mary Institute and St. Louis Country Day School (St. Louis) The Pembroke Hill School (Kansas City) The Barstow School (Kansas City) |
Top 3 School Districts | Fort Thomas Independent Schools Beechwood Independent School District Bowling Green Independent School District | Clayton School District Kirkwood R-VII School District Ladue School District |
How Much Do Kentucky to Missouri Movers Cost?
Moving 466 miles from Kentucky to Missouri 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: 2.5-7.5 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Smooth Move Relocation Services
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,467 | 300 ft3 | $4.89 |
1 Bedroom | $2,178 | 450 ft3 | $4.84 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,592 | 750 ft3 | $4.79 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,213 | 1100 ft3 | $4.74 |
4 Bedrooms | $7,502 | 1600 ft3 | $4.69 |
5+ Bedrooms | $8,350 | 1800 ft3 | $4.64 |
Top Kentucky to Missouri Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Kentucky to Missouri movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Sunrise Moving and Packing, LLC
Best moving company overall for Kentucky to Missouri