Kentucky to Utah Moving Guide
Updated June 19, 2025

Planning a 1,637 mile interstate move from Kentucky to Utah? This moving guide will help you compare living in Kentucky vs Utah across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high humidity vs dry climate), food & health (like Fried Chicken vs Jell-O), real estate & housing (colonial, craftsman vs modern, craftsman), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Utah), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Fried Chicken and Bourbon BBQ Pork, but get your taste buds ready for Jell-O & Utah Scones with Honey Butter
- Utah housing costs are 158% more expensive than they are in Kentucky
- Rent in Utah is 28.64% more expensive than in Kentucky
- Moving from Kentucky to Utah will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,500
- Our top recommended Kentucky to Utah movers is 801 Moving Company
Kentucky to Utah Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Kentucky to Utah
- High humidity
- Limited skiing
- Fewer national parks
- More insects
- Longer commutes
- Dry climate
- World-class skiing
- Stunning national parks
- Fewer insects
- Cities close together
- Arid landscapes
- Less diversity
- Fewer historic sites
- Stricter alcohol laws
- Higher cost of living
- Lush greenery
- Warm community
- Rich history
- Famous bourbon
- Lower cost of living
Pros of moving from Kentucky to Utah
- Say goodbye to high humidity and hello to dry climate
- Look forward to moving away from limited skiing and moving to Utah with world-class skiing
- Swap the fewer national parks of Kentucky for stunning national parks in Utah
- Get ready for fewer insects in Utah
Cons of moving from Kentucky to Utah
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from lush greenery in Kentucky to live with arid landscapes in Utah
- You'll lose out on the pro of a warm community and have to settle for the con of less diversity
- Time to bid farewell to rich history and get used to fewer historic sites in Utah
- Swap famous bourbon for stricter alcohol laws
Kentucky vs. Utah: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Kentucky | Utah |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Fried Chicken | Jell-O |
Most popular meat dish | Bourbon BBQ Pork | Utah Scones with Honey Butter |
Most popular street food item | Hot Brown Sandwich | Fry Sauce with anything fried |
Most popular vegan food | BBQ Jackfruit Sandwich | Vegan "Cheese" Jell-O Salad |
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 Utah, you will be trading the iconic Fried Chicken of Kentucky for the equally delicious Jell-O of Utah. And while the locals in Kentucky rave about their flavorful Bourbon BBQ Pork and sumptuous Hot Brown Sandwich, Utah residents know they have tasty Utah Scones with Honey Butter and Fry Sauce with anything fried to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the BBQ Jackfruit Sandwich they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Vegan 'Cheese' Jell-O Salad of Utah. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Kentucky eateries like Mammy's Kitchen, Jack Fry's, and The Local Taco. After the boxes are unpacked in Utah, don't wait too long before making your way to Utah's acclaimed eateries like Log Haven, Red Iguana, and Hire's Big H.
When comparing lifestyles, Utah shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Kentucky. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Utah compared to what you are used to in Kentucky. Also, the overall foodie scene is similarly bustling in Utah.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Kentucky and Utah
Comparison | Kentucky | Utah |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Craftsman | Modern, Craftsman |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Large yards, privacy | Mountain views, access to nature |
- The Colonial and Craftsman architecture that Kentucky is known for will be replaced with the Modern and Craftsman architecture typical of Utah.
- Compared to Kentucky's real estate listings that commonly reference large yards and privacy, Utah real estate listings often highlight features like mountain views and access to nature.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Utah is more walkable than Kentucky.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Utah is more bike-friendly than Kentucky.
- Utah has more of an urban feel than Kentucky.
- Utah housing costs are 158% more expensive than they are in Kentucky, with a median home price of $519,182 compared to Kentuckyβs $201,332.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Utah have increased by 56% compared to a 47% increase in Kentucky.
- Rent in Utah is 28.64% more expensive than in Kentucky.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Kentucky and Utah
Comparison | Kentucky | Utah |
---|---|---|
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 | Earthquakes, Wildfires |
Air Quality | Good | Variable |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 87/66 | 90/62 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 41/24 | 37/20 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 48 | 20 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 11 | 56 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Kentucky to Utah. Utah gets 22% more sunshine days than Kentucky.
- Utah has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Kentucky.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and floods in Kentucky, but be on the lookout for potential earthquakes and wildfires in Utah.
- The average summer high temperature in Utah is 3 degrees warmer than in Kentucky.
- The average winter lows in Utah are 4 degrees colder than they are in Kentucky.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Utah. Utah receives 28 fewer inches of rain compared to Kentucky.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Kentucky and Utah
Comparison | Kentucky | Utah |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $59,341 | $89,168 |
Cost of Living Index | 87.8 | 95.75 |
State Income Tax | 5% | 4.95% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.86% | 0.60% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6% | 7% |
Top 3 Industries | Manufacturing, Agriculture, Automotive | Technology, Mining, Tourism |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Moderate | Low |
Homelessness | Moderate | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Utah tend to earn about 50% more than in Kentucky
- The COLI in Utah is 9% higher than what you are used to living in Kentucky
- The state income tax in UT is 4.95% compared to 5% in KY
- The affluence in Utah is high compared to moderate affluence in Kentucky
- The poverty level is low in Utah compared to moderate poverty in Kentucky
- In terms of homelessness, it is moderate in Kentucky and low in Utah
Political and Religious Climate in Kentucky vs. Utah
Comparison | Kentucky | Utah |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Traditionally leans Republican, with pockets of Democratic support | Strongly Republican, with significant conservative influence |
Local Politics | Mixed, with urban areas favoring Democrats and rural areas favoring Republicans | Conservatively aligned, with some moderate-liberal areas in larger cities |
Religion | Christianity predominates, with a mix of Protestant and Catholic adherents | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) is highly influential |
- Kentucky tends to lean traditionally Republican with pockets of Democratic support in its political climate.
- Utah, on the other hand, is often described as strongly Republican with significant conservative influence.
- Utah's religious environment can be described as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) being highly influential.
- Kentucky's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as Christianity predominating with a mix of Protestant and Catholic adherents.
Education Guide When Moving from Kentucky to Utah
Comparison | Kentucky | Utah |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Kentucky University of Louisville Western Kentucky University | University of Utah Brigham Young University Utah State University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Poe Classical School - Louisville Barret Traditional Middle - Louisville Anchorage Independent Public School - Anchorage | McMillan Elementary School - Murray Hawthorne Elementary School - Salt Lake City Ensign Elementary School - Salt Lake City |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Dupont Manual High - Louisville Barret Traditional Middle - Louisville Glasgow Middle School - Glasgow | Mountain Ridge Junior High - Highland Centennial Middle School - Provo Draper Park Middle School - Draper |
Top 3 High School Schools | Dupont Manual High - Louisville Highlands High School - Fort Thomas North Oldham High School - Goshen | Academy for Math Engineering & Science (AMES) - Salt Lake City Northern Utah Academy for Math Engineering & Science (NUAMES) - Layton Skyline High School - Salt Lake City |
Top 3 private high schools | Sacred Heart Academy - Louisville St. Xavier High School - Louisville Kentucky Country Day School - Louisville | Rowland Hall - Salt Lake City Waterford School - Sandy The Madeleine Choir School - Salt Lake City |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Lexington School - Lexington Kentucky Country Day School - Louisville Sayre School - Lexington | Waterford School - Sandy Rowland Hall - Salt Lake City The Madeleine Choir School - Salt Lake City |
Top 3 School Districts | Fayette County Public Schools Jefferson County Public Schools Oldham County Schools | Park City School District Davis School District Grand School District |
How Much Do Kentucky to Utah Movers Cost?
Moving 1,637 miles from Kentucky to Utah will typically cost between $3,000 and $7,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,000 - $7,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-4 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Smooth Move Relocation Services
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,131 | 300 ft3 | $7.10 |
1 Bedroom | $3,173 | 450 ft3 | $7.05 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,251 | 750 ft3 | $7.00 |
3 Bedrooms | $7,647 | 1100 ft3 | $6.95 |
4 Bedrooms | $11,043 | 1600 ft3 | $6.90 |
5+ Bedrooms | $12,333 | 1800 ft3 | $6.85 |
Top Kentucky to Utah Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Kentucky to Utah movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.