Tennessee to Arizona Moving Guide
Updated June 10, 2025

Planning a 1,581 mile interstate move from Tennessee to Arizona? This moving guide will help you compare living in Tennessee vs Arizona across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high humidity vs dry climate), food & health (like Nashville Hot Chicken vs Sonoran Hot Dog), real estate & housing (traditional, colonial vs ranch, pueblo revival), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Arizona), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Nashville Hot Chicken and Memphis BBQ, but get your taste buds ready for Sonoran Hot Dog & Carne Asada
- Arizona housing costs are 36% more expensive than they are in Tennessee
- Rent in Arizona is 13.84% more expensive than in Tennessee
- Moving from Tennessee to Arizona will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,500
- Our top recommended Tennessee to Arizona movers is Sterling Interstate LLC
Tennessee to Arizona Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Tennessee to Arizona
- High humidity
- Tornado risk
- Limited desert landscapes
- Lacks Grand Canyon
- Fewer sunny days
- Dry climate
- Less severe weather
- Stunning desert vistas
- Close to Grand Canyon
- Abundant sunshine
- Fewer music festivals
- Sparser vegetation
- Higher cost of living
- Hot summers
- Different flora and fauna
- Rich musical heritage
- Lush greenery
- Lower cost of living
- Four distinct seasons
- Diverse wildlife
Pros of moving from Tennessee to Arizona
- Say goodbye to high humidity and hello to dry climate
- Look forward to moving away from tornado risk and moving to Arizona with less severe weather
- Swap the limited desert landscapes of Tennessee for stunning desert vistas in Arizona
- Get ready for close access to the Grand Canyon in Arizona
Cons of moving from Tennessee to Arizona
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the rich musical heritage in Tennessee to live with fewer music festivals in Arizona
- You'll lose out on the pro of lush greenery and have to settle for the con of sparser vegetation
- Time to bid farewell to the lower cost of living and get used to the higher cost of living in Arizona
- Swap four distinct seasons for hot summers
Tennessee vs. Arizona: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Tennessee | Arizona |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Nashville Hot Chicken | Sonoran Hot Dog |
Most popular meat dish | Memphis BBQ | Carne Asada |
Most popular street food item | BBQ Ribs | Tacos |
Most popular vegan food | BBQ Jackfruit | Vegan Tacos |
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 Tennessee to Arizona, you will be trading the iconic Nashville Hot Chicken of Tennessee for the equally delicious Sonoran Hot Dog of Arizona. And while the locals in Tennessee rave about their flavorful Memphis BBQ and sumptuous BBQ Ribs, Arizona residents know they have tasty Carne Asada and Tacos to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the BBQ Jackfruit they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Vegan Tacos of Arizona. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Tennessee eateries like The Southern Steak & Oyster, Hattie B's Hot Chicken, and Husk. 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 Cafe, and The Mission.
When comparing lifestyles, Arizona shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Tennessee. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Arizona compared to what you are used to in Tennessee. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Arizona.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Tennessee and Arizona
Comparison | Tennessee | Arizona |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Traditional, Colonial | Ranch, Pueblo Revival |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Large yards, proximity to nature | Swimming pools, energy efficiency |
- The Traditional and Colonial architecture that Tennessee is known for will be replaced with the Ranch and Pueblo Revival architecture typical of Arizona.
- Compared to Tennessee's real estate listings that commonly reference large yards and proximity to nature, Arizona real estate listings often highlight features like swimming pools and energy efficiency.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Arizona is more walkable than Tennessee.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Arizona is more bike-friendly than Tennessee.
- Arizona has more of an urban feel than Tennessee.
- Arizona housing costs are 36% more expensive than they are in Tennessee with a median home price of $430,827 compared to Tennesseeβs $317,482.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Arizona have increased by 63% compared to a 63% increase in Tennessee.
- Rent in Arizona is 13.84% more expensive than in Tennessee.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Tennessee and Arizona
Comparison | Tennessee | 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 | Tornadoes, Floods | Wildfires, Monsoons |
Air Quality | Moderate | Varies; mostly good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 89/69 | 104/81 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 49/30 | 68/46 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 54 | 13 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 5 | 0.3 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Tennessee to Arizona. Arizona gets 44% more sunshine days than Tennessee.
- Arizona has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Tennessee.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and floods in Tennessee, but be on the lookout for potential wildfires and monsoons in Arizona.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Arizona is 15 degrees warmer than Tennessee.
- The average winter lows are 16 degrees warmer than they are in Tennessee.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Arizona. Arizona receives 41 fewer inches of rain compared to Tennessee.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Tennessee and Arizona
Comparison | Tennessee | Arizona |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $65,254 | $74,568 |
Cost of Living Index | 88.9 | 101.2 |
State Income Tax | 0 | 2.59-4.5 |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.64 | 0.77 |
Avg. Sales Tax | 7 | 8.4 |
Top 3 Industries | Healthcare, Manufacturing, Agriculture | Healthcare, Technology, Tourism |
Affluence | Moderate | Moderate to High |
Poverty | Moderate | Moderate |
Homelessness | Low to Moderate | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Arizona tend to earn about 14% more than in Tennessee
- The COLI in Arizona will be 14% higher than what you are used to living in Tennessee
- Bummer... By moving from TN to AZ, you'll now have a state income tax of 2.59-4.5
- The affluence in Arizona is moderate to high compared to moderate in Tennessee
- The poverty level is moderate in Arizona compared to moderate in Tennessee
- In terms of homelessness, it is low to moderate in Tennessee and moderate in Arizona
Political and Religious Climate in Tennessee vs. Arizona
Comparison | Tennessee | Arizona |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Traditionally Republican | Swing state |
Local Politics | Conservative leanings in rural areas | Mixture of conservative and liberal in urban areas |
Religion | Christianity predominant, Baptist strong presence | Christianity predominant, Catholic strong presence |
- Tennessee tends to lean traditionally Republican in its political climate
- Arizona, on the other hand, is often described as a swing state
- Arizona's religious environment can be described as predominantly Christianity with a strong Catholic presence
- Tennessee's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as predominantly Christianity with a strong Baptist presence
Education Guide When Moving from Tennessee to Arizona
Comparison | Tennessee | Arizona |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Tennessee Vanderbilt University Tennessee State University | Arizona State University University of Arizona Northern Arizona University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Lockeland Elementary School (Nashville) Oak Hill School (Nashville) Percy Priest Elementary (Nashville) | Basis Scottsdale Primary - East Campus (Scottsdale) Knox Gifted Academy (Chandler) Archway Classical Academy (Scottsdale) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Meigs Academic Magnet School (Nashville) Brentwood Middle School (Brentwood) Stanford Montessori School (Nashville) | Basis Chandler (Chandler) Basis Scottsdale (Scottsdale) Basis Oro Valley (Oro Valley) |
Top 3 High School Schools | Central Magnet School (Murfreesboro) Hume-Fogg Academic High School (Nashville) Tennessee School for the Arts (Nashville) | Basis Scottsdale (Scottsdale) Basis Chandler (Chandler) Basis Oro Valley (Oro Valley) |
Top 3 private high schools | Baylor School (Chattanooga) Montgomery Bell Academy (Nashville) The McCallie School (Chattanooga) | Brophy College Preparatory (Phoenix) Xavier College Preparatory (Phoenix) The Gregory School (Tucson) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Franklin Road Academy (Nashville) The Webb School (Bell Buckle) Baylor School (Chattanooga) | Phoenix Country Day School (Paradise Valley) Rancho Solano Preparatory School (Scottsdale) The Gregory School (Tucson) |
Top 3 School Districts | Williamson County Schools Maryville City Schools Kingsport City Schools | Scottsdale Unified School District Catalina Foothills School District Chandler Unified School District |
How Much Do Tennessee to Arizona Movers Cost?
Moving 1,581 miles from Tennessee to Arizona 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: 2-8 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Rice's Professional Moving Service
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,099 | 300 ft3 | $7.00 |
1 Bedroom | $3,126 | 450 ft3 | $6.95 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,172 | 750 ft3 | $6.90 |
3 Bedrooms | $7,531 | 1100 ft3 | $6.85 |
4 Bedrooms | $10,874 | 1600 ft3 | $6.80 |
5+ Bedrooms | $12,143 | 1800 ft3 | $6.75 |
Top Tennessee to Arizona Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Tennessee to Arizona movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Sterling Interstate LLC
Best moving company overall for Tennessee to Arizona