Mississippi to Arizona Moving Guide
Updated June 15, 2025

Planning a 1,430 mile interstate move from Mississippi to Arizona? This moving guide will help you compare living in Mississippi vs Arizona across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high humidity vs dry heat), food & health (like Catfish vs Sonoran Hot Dog), real estate & housing (colonial, victorian vs spanish colonial, pueblo revival), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Arizona), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Catfish and Pulled Pork BBQ, but get your taste buds ready for Sonoran Hot Dog & Carne Asada
- Arizona housing costs are 141% more expensive than they are in Mississippi
- Rent in Arizona is 39.78% more expensive than in Mississippi
- Moving from Mississippi to Arizona will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,000
- Our top recommended Mississippi to Arizona movers is Sterling Interstate LLC
Mississippi to Arizona Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Mississippi to Arizona
- High humidity
- Limited job opportunities
- Frequent storms
- Dry heat
- Diverse economy
- Sunny climate
- Cultural adjustment
- Higher living costs
- Desert landscapes
- Southern culture charm
- Lower cost of living
- Green landscapes
Pros of moving from Mississippi to Arizona
- Say goodbye to high humidity and hello to dry heat
- Look forward to moving away from limited job opportunities and moving to Arizona with a diverse economy
- Swap the frequent storms of Mississippi for a sunny climate in Arizona
Cons of moving from Mississippi to Arizona
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the charm of Southern culture in Mississippi to live with cultural adjustment in Arizona
- You'll lose out on the pro of a lower cost of living and have to settle for the con of higher living costs
- Time to bid farewell to green landscapes and get used to desert landscapes in Arizona
Mississippi vs. Arizona: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Mississippi | Arizona |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Catfish | Sonoran Hot Dog |
Most popular meat dish | Pulled Pork BBQ | Carne Asada |
Most popular street food item | Tamales | Tacos |
Most popular vegan food | Okra Gumbo | Cactus Salad |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
|
|
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 Mississippi to Arizona, you will be trading the iconic Catfish of Mississippi for the equally delicious Sonoran Hot Dog of Arizona. And while the locals in Mississippi rave about their flavorful Pulled Pork BBQ and sumptuous Tamales, Arizona residents know they have tasty Carne Asada and Tacos to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Okra Gumbo they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Cactus Salad of Arizona. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Mississippi eateries like The Mayflower Cafe, City Grocery, and Leatha's Bar-B-Que Inn. After the boxes are unpacked in Arizona, don't wait too long before making your way to Arizona's acclaimed eateries like Pizzeria Bianco, El Charro CafΓ©, and FnB Restaurant.
When comparing lifestyles, Arizona shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Mississippi. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Arizona compared to what you are used to in Mississippi. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Arizona.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Mississippi and Arizona
Comparison | Mississippi | Arizona |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Victorian | Spanish Colonial, Pueblo Revival |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Large lots, quiet neighborhoods | Energy-efficient homes, desert landscapes |
- The Colonial and Victorian architecture that Mississippi is known for will be replaced with the Spanish Colonial and Pueblo Revival architecture typical of Arizona.
- Compared to Mississippi's real estate listings that commonly reference large lots and quiet neighborhoods, Arizona real estate listings often highlight features like energy-efficient homes and desert landscapes.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Arizona is more walkable than Mississippi.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Arizona is more bike-friendly than Mississippi.
- Arizona has more of an urban feel than Mississippi.
- Arizona housing costs are 141% more expensive than they are in Mississippi with a median home price of $430,827 compared to Mississippiβs $178,490.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Arizona have increased by 63% compared to a 31% increase in Mississippi.
- Rent in Arizona is 39.78% more expensive than in Mississippi.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Mississippi and Arizona
Comparison | Mississippi | Arizona |
---|---|---|
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 | Hurricanes, Floods | Wildfires, Heatwaves |
Air Quality | Good | Varies; urban areas may have poor |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 91Β°F / 70Β°F | 104Β°F / 81Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 55Β°F / 34Β°F | 67Β°F / 46Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 59" | 13" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 1" | 0-100"+ (highly elevation dependent) |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Mississippi to Arizona. Arizona gets 36% more sunshine days than Mississippi.
- Arizona has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Mississippi.
- Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and floods in Mississippi, but be on the lookout for potential wildfires and heatwaves in Arizona.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Arizona is 13 degrees warmer than in Mississippi.
- The average winter lows are 12 degrees warmer than they are in Mississippi.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Arizona. Arizona receives 46 fewer inches of rain compared to Mississippi.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Mississippi and Arizona
Comparison | Mississippi | Arizona |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $52,719 | $74,568 |
Cost of Living Index | 92.1 | 101.2 |
State Income Tax | 5% | 2.59%-4.50% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.79% | 0.72% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 7.07% | 8.40% |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Manufacturing, Healthcare | Tourism, Technology, Healthcare |
Affluence | Varied | Moderate |
Poverty | Higher | Moderate |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Arizona tend to earn about 41% more than in Mississippi
- The COLI in Arizona will be 10% higher than what you are used to living in Mississippi
- The state income tax in AZ is 2.59%β4.50% compared to 5% in MS
- The affluence in Arizona is moderate compared to varied affluence in Mississippi
- The poverty level is moderate in Arizona compared to higher poverty levels in Mississippi
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Mississippi and moderate in Arizona
Political and Religious Climate in Mississippi vs. Arizona
Comparison | Mississippi | Arizona |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Traditionally leans Republican | Swing state, recently leaning Democrat |
Local Politics | Conservative dominance | Mixed, with both conservative and liberal areas |
Religion | Highly religious, predominantly Christian | Diverse religious landscape, less religious overall |
- Mississippi tends to lean traditionally Republican in its political climate
- Arizona, on the other hand, is often described as a swing state, recently leaning Democrat
- Arizona's religious environment can be described as a diverse religious landscape, less religious overall
- Mississippi's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as highly religious and predominantly Christian
Education Guide When Moving from Mississippi to Arizona
Comparison | Mississippi | Arizona |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Mississippi Mississippi State University University of Southern Mississippi | Arizona State University University of Arizona Northern Arizona University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Mannsdale Upper Elementary (Madison) Northshore Elementary (Brandon) Madison Station Elementary (Madison) | Basis Scottsdale Primary - West Campus (Scottsdale) Knox Gifted Academy (Chandler) Chandler Traditional Academy - Freedom (Gilbert) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Madison Middle School (Madison) Northwest Rankin Middle School (Flowood) Lewisburg Middle School (Olive Branch) | Basis Chandler (Chandler) Basis Peoria (Peoria) Basis Oro Valley (Oro Valley) |
Top 3 High School Schools | Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science (Columbus) Lewisburg High School (Olive Branch) Ocean Springs High School (Ocean Springs) | Basis Scottsdale (Scottsdale) Basis Oro Valley (Oro Valley) University High School (Tucson) |
Top 3 private high schools | Jackson Preparatory School (Jackson) Madison-Ridgeland Academy (Madison) St. Andrew's Episcopal School (Ridgeland) | Brophy College Preparatory (Phoenix) Xavier College Preparatory (Phoenix) The Gregory School (Tucson) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | St. Andrew's Episcopal School (Ridgeland) Jackson Academy (Jackson) Madison-Ridgeland Academy (Madison) | The Gregory School (Tucson) Rancho Solano Preparatory School (Scottsdale) Phoenix Country Day School (Paradise Valley) |
Top 3 School Districts | Madison County School District Clinton Public School District Ocean Springs School District | Scottsdale Unified School District Catalina Foothills School District Chandler Unified School District |
How Much Do Mississippi to Arizona Movers Cost?
Moving 1,430 miles from Mississippi to Arizona will typically cost between $3,000 and $7,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,000 - $7,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 3-9 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Sterling Interstate LLC
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,013 | 300 ft3 | $6.71 |
1 Bedroom | $2,997 | 450 ft3 | $6.66 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,958 | 750 ft3 | $6.61 |
3 Bedrooms | $7,217 | 1100 ft3 | $6.56 |
4 Bedrooms | $10,417 | 1600 ft3 | $6.51 |
5+ Bedrooms | $11,629 | 1800 ft3 | $6.46 |
Top Mississippi to Arizona Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Mississippi to Arizona movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Sterling Interstate LLC
Best moving company overall for Mississippi to Arizona