Nebraska to Arizona Moving Guide
Updated June 16, 2025

Planning a 1,100 mile interstate move from Nebraska to Arizona? This moving guide will help you compare living in Nebraska vs Arizona across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winters vs milder climate), food & health (like Runza vs Sonoran Hot Dog), real estate & housing (ranch, craftsman vs pueblo, spanish revival), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Arizona), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Runza and Beef steak, but get your taste buds ready for Sonoran Hot Dog & Carne asada
- Arizona housing costs are 68% more expensive than they are in Nebraska
- Rent in Arizona is 49.88% more expensive than in Nebraska
- Moving from Nebraska to Arizona will cost on average between $2,000 - $6,500
- Our top recommended Nebraska to Arizona movers is Sterling Interstate LLC
Nebraska to Arizona Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Nebraska to Arizona
- Harsh winters
- Limited job market
- Low mountain access
- Limited cultural events
- Rural living
- Milder climate
- Growing tech industry
- Proximity to hiking
- Vibrant arts scene
- Urban lifestyle
- Higher living expenses
- Busy urban centers
- Less personal connections
- Limited winter activities
- Desert landscape
- Lower cost of living
- Tranquil countryside
- Close-knit communities
- Winter sports
- Rich agricultural life
Pros of moving from Nebraska to Arizona
- Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to a milder climate
- Look forward to moving away from a limited job market and moving to Arizona with a growing tech industry
- Swap the low mountain access of Nebraska for proximity to hiking in Arizona
- Get ready for a vibrant arts scene in Arizona
Cons of moving from Nebraska to Arizona
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from a lower cost of living in Nebraska to live with higher living expenses in Arizona
- You'll lose out on the pro of a tranquil countryside and have to settle for the con of busy urban centers
- Time to bid farewell to close-knit communities and get used to less personal connections in Arizona
- Swap winter sports for limited winter activities
Nebraska vs. Arizona: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Nebraska | Arizona |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Runza | Sonoran Hot Dog |
Most popular meat dish | Beef steak | Carne asada |
Most popular street food item | Reuben sandwich | Tacos |
Most popular vegan food | Black bean burgers | Vegan burritos |
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 Nebraska to Arizona, you will be trading the iconic Runza of Nebraska for the equally delicious Sonoran Hot Dog of Arizona. And while the locals in Nebraska rave about their flavorful beef steak and sumptuous Reuben sandwich, Arizona residents know they have tasty carne asada and tacos to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the black bean burgers they've grown to love, they can get ready for the vegan burritos of Arizona. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Nebraska eateries like The Ravenous Pig, The Grateful Bread, and Mistyβs Steakhouse and Brewery. After the boxes are unpacked in Arizona, don't wait too long before making your way to Arizona's acclaimed eateries like Pizzeria Bianco, Elote CafΓ©, and The Mission.
When comparing lifestyles, Arizona shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Nebraska. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Arizona compared to what you are used to in Nebraska. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Arizona.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Nebraska and Arizona
Comparison | Nebraska | Arizona |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Ranch, Craftsman | Pueblo, Spanish Revival |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Large yards, Quiet neighborhoods | Swimming pools, Mountain views |
- The Ranch and Craftsman architecture that Nebraska is known for will be replaced with the Pueblo and Spanish Revival architecture typical of Arizona.
- Compared to Nebraska's real estate listings that commonly reference large yards and quiet neighborhoods, Arizona real estate listings often highlight features like swimming pools and mountain views.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Arizona is more walkable than Nebraska.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Arizona is more bike-friendly than Nebraska.
- Arizona has more of an urban feel than Nebraska.
- Arizona housing costs are 68% more expensive than they are in Nebraska, with a median home price of $430,827 compared to Nebraskaβs $257,167.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Arizona have increased by 63% compared to a 47% increase in Nebraska.
- Rent in Arizona is 49.88% more expensive than in Nebraska.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Nebraska and Arizona
Comparison | Nebraska | 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 | Tornados, Floods | Wildfires, Dust Storms |
Air Quality | Good | Variable, depending on area |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85/60 | 104/81 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 35/13 | 67/46 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 23.97 | 13.6 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 28.5 | 0.3 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Nebraska to Arizona. Arizona gets 36% more sunshine days than Nebraska.
- Arizona has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Nebraska.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and floods in Nebraska, but be on the lookout for potential wildfires and dust storms in Arizona.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Arizona is 19 degrees warmer than in Nebraska.
- The average winter lows are 33 degrees warmer than they are in Nebraska.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Arizona. Arizona receives 10.4 fewer inches of rain compared to Nebraska.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Nebraska and Arizona
Comparison | Nebraska | Arizona |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $69,597 | $74,568 |
Cost of Living Index | 90.85 | 101.2 |
State Income Tax | 6.84% | 4.54% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.55% | 0.66% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.94% | 8.40% |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Manufacturing, Insurance | Healthcare, Tourism, Technology |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Low | Medium |
Homelessness | Low | High |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Arizona tend to earn about 7% more than in Nebraska
- The COLI in Arizona will be 11% higher than what you are used to living in Nebraska
- The state income tax in AZ is 4.54% compared to 6.84% in NE
- The affluence in Arizona is high compared to moderate in Nebraska
- The poverty level is medium in Arizona compared to low in Nebraska
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Nebraska and high in Arizona
Political and Religious Climate in Nebraska vs. Arizona
Comparison | Nebraska | Arizona |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Conservative | Swing State |
Local Politics | Significant rural influence | Urban areas with significant influence |
Religion | Christianity predominant, with a strong presence of Protestant and Catholic communities | Diverse, with Christianity being predominant but a slightly higher representation of non-Christian faiths |
- Nebraska tends to lean Conservative in its political climate
- Arizona, on the other hand, is often described as a swing State
- Arizona's religious environment can be described as diverse, with Christianity being predominant and a slightly higher representation of non-Christian faiths
- Nebraska's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as predominantly Christianity, with a strong presence of Protestant and Catholic communities
Education Guide When Moving from Nebraska to Arizona
Comparison | Nebraska | Arizona |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Nebraska-Lincoln Creighton University University of Nebraska at Kearney | Arizona State University University of Arizona Northern Arizona University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Brownell Elementary (Omaha) Pyrtle Elementary (Lincoln) Paddock Road Elementary (Omaha) | Basis Oro Valley Basis Scottsdale Basis Chandler |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Elkhorn Ridge Middle School (Elkhorn) Scott Middle School (Lincoln) Kiewit Middle School (Omaha) | Basis Chandler Basis Scottsdale Basis Tucson North |
Top 3 High Schools | Lincoln East High School (Lincoln) Millard North High School (Omaha) Elkhorn South High School (Elkhorn) | Basis Scottsdale Basis Oro Valley Basis Peoria |
Top 3 private high schools | Brownell Talbot School (Omaha) Marian High School (Omaha) Mount Michael Benedictine School (Elkhorn) | Brophy College Preparatory (Phoenix) Xavier College Preparatory (Phoenix) The Gregory School (Tucson) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Brownell Talbot School (Omaha) Omaha Christian Academy (Omaha) Concordia Academy (Omaha) | Tesseract School (Phoenix) Rancho Solano Preparatory School (Scottsdale) The Gregory School (Tucson) |
Top 3 School Districts | Westside Community Schools (Omaha) Elkhorn Public Schools (Elkhorn) Millard Public Schools (Omaha) | Scottsdale Unified School District Catalina Foothills School District Chandler Unified School District |
How Much Do Nebraska to Arizona Movers Cost?
Moving 1,100 miles from Nebraska to Arizona will typically cost between $2,500 and $6,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,500 - $6,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 3.5-11 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: King's Moving - Moving Company in Omaha
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,826 | 300 ft3 | $6.09 |
1 Bedroom | $2,717 | 450 ft3 | $6.04 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,490 | 750 ft3 | $5.99 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,531 | 1100 ft3 | $5.94 |
4 Bedrooms | $9,419 | 1600 ft3 | $5.89 |
5+ Bedrooms | $10,507 | 1800 ft3 | $5.84 |
Top Nebraska to Arizona Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Nebraska to Arizona movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Sterling Interstate LLC
Best moving company overall for Nebraska to Arizona