Utah to Kentucky Moving Guide
Updated June 20, 2025

Planning a 1,636 mile interstate move from Utah to Kentucky? This moving guide will help you compare living in Utah vs Kentucky across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs affordability), food & health (like Jello vs Fried Chicken), real estate & housing (craftsman, ranch vs colonial, cape cod), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Utah), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Jello and Utah Scone with Honey Butter, but get your taste buds ready for Fried Chicken & Hot Brown Turkey Sandwich
- Kentucky housing costs are 61% less expensive than they are in Utah
- Rent in Kentucky is 22.26% more affordable than in Utah
- Moving from Utah to Kentucky will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,500
- Our top recommended Utah to Kentucky movers is 801 Moving Company
Utah to Kentucky Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Utah to Kentucky
- High cost of living
- Arid climate
- Dry winters
- Limited hunting seasons
- Conservative culture
- Affordability
- Rich precipitation
- Lush landscapes
- Abundant wildlife
- Southern hospitality
- No ski options
- Limited tech industry
- Higher crime rates
- Sticky summers
- Few national parks
- Ski resorts
- Silicon Slopes tech jobs
- Low crime rates
- Dry climate
- National parks
Pros of moving from Utah to Kentucky
- Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to affordability
- Look forward to moving away from an arid climate and moving to Kentucky with rich precipitation
- Swap the dry winters of Utah for lush landscapes in Kentucky
- Get ready for abundant wildlife in Kentucky
Cons of moving from Utah to Kentucky
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the ski resorts in Utah to live with no ski options in Kentucky
- You'll lose out on the pro of Silicon Slopes tech jobs and have to settle for the con of a limited tech industry
- Time to bid farewell to low crime rates and get used to higher crime rates in Kentucky
- Swap the dry climate for sticky summers
Utah vs. Kentucky: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Utah | Kentucky |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Jello | Fried Chicken |
Most popular meat dish | Utah Scone with Honey Butter | Hot Brown Turkey Sandwich |
Most popular street food item | Navajo Taco | Kentucky Beer Cheese |
Most popular vegan food | Zucchini Noodles | Black Bean Burgers |
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 Utah to Kentucky, you will be trading the iconic Jello of Utah for the equally delicious Fried Chicken of Kentucky. And while the locals in Utah rave about their flavorful Utah Scone with Honey Butter and sumptuous Navajo Taco, Kentucky residents know they have tasty Hot Brown Turkey Sandwich and Kentucky Beer Cheese to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Zucchini Noodles they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Black Bean Burgers of Kentucky. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Utah eateries like The Rest, Log Haven, and Red Butte CafΓ©. After the boxes are unpacked in Kentucky, don't wait too long before making your way to Kentucky's acclaimed eateries like The Brown Hotel, Churchill Downs, and Clifford's Restaurant.
When comparing lifestyles, Kentucky shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Utah. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Kentucky, compared to what you are used to in Utah. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Kentucky.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Utah and Kentucky
Comparison | Utah | Kentucky |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Craftsman, Ranch | Colonial, Cape Cod |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Views, Open Floor Plans | Large Yards, Historic Details |
- The Craftsman and Ranch architecture that Utah is known for will be replaced with the Colonial and Cape Cod architecture typical of Kentucky.
- Compared to Utah's real estate listings that commonly reference views and open floor plans, Kentucky real estate listings often highlight features like large yards and historic details.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away. Kentucky is less walkable than Utah.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike. Kentucky is less bike-friendly than Utah.
- Kentucky has less of an urban feel than Utah.
- Kentucky housing costs are 61% less expensive than they are in Utah, with a median home price of $201,332 compared to Utahβs $519,182.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Kentucky have increased 47% compared to a 56% increase in Utah.
- Rent in Kentucky is 22.26% more affordable than in Utah.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Utah and Kentucky
Comparison | Utah | Kentucky |
---|---|---|
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 | Earthquakes, Wildfires | Tornadoes, Floods |
Air Quality | Good to Moderate | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85-100 / 55-70 | 85-90 / 65-70 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 30-50 / 15-30 | 40-50 / 20-30 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 20" | 45" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 56" | 22" |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Utah to Kentucky. Kentucky gets 18% fewer sunshine days than Utah.
- Kentucky has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Utah.
- Say goodbye to the possible earthquakes and wildfires in Utah, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and floods in Kentucky.
- The average summer high temperature in Kentucky is the same as in Utah.
- The average winter lows are 5 degrees warmer than they are in Utah.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Kentucky. Kentucky receives 25 more inches of rain compared to Utah.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Utah and Kentucky
Comparison | Utah | Kentucky |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $89,168 | $59,341 |
Cost of Living Index | 95.75 | 87.8 |
State Income Tax | 4.95% | 5% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.58% | 0.83% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.10% | 6% |
Top 3 Industries | Technology, Mining, Tourism | Manufacturing, Agriculture, Healthcare |
Affluence | Moderate | Moderate |
Poverty | Low | Moderate |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Kentucky tend to earn about 33% less than in Utah
- The COLI in Kentucky is 8% lower than what you are used to living in Utah
- The state income tax in KY is 5% compared to 4.95% in UT
- The affluence in Kentucky is moderate compared to moderate in Utah
- The poverty level is moderate in Kentucky compared to low in Utah
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Utah and moderate in Kentucky
Political and Religious Climate in Utah vs. Kentucky
Comparison | Utah | Kentucky |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Conservative, Republican-dominated | Mixed, with both Republican and Democratic areas |
Local Politics | Focus on state rights, education, and public lands | Emphasis on healthcare, coal mining, and agriculture |
Religion | Largely LDS (Mormon) | Diverse, including Protestant and Catholic |
- Utah tends to lean conservative and Republican-dominated in its political climate
- Kentucky, on the other hand, is often described as mixed with both Republican and Democratic areas
- Kentucky's religious environment can be described as diverse, including Protestant and Catholic
- Utah's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as largely LDS (Mormon)
Education Guide When Moving from Utah to Kentucky
Comparison | Utah | Kentucky |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Utah Brigham Young University Utah State University | University of Kentucky University of Louisville Western Kentucky University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Canyon Rim Academy (Salt Lake City) Hawthorne Elementary (Salt Lake City) Edgemont Elementary (Provo) | Ashland Elementary (Lexington) Mann Elementary (Union) Beechwood Elementary (Fort Mitchell) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Intermountain Christian School (Salt Lake City) Northern Utah Academy for Math Engineering & Science (Kaysville) Salt Lake Arts Academy (Salt Lake City) | Barret Traditional Middle School (Louisville) Beechwood Middle School (Fort Mitchell) Murray Middle School (Murray) |
Top 3 High Schools | Academy for Math Engineering & Science (Salt Lake City) Skyline High School (Salt Lake City) Timpview High School (Provo) | DuPont Manual High School (Louisville) Beechwood High School (Fort Mitchell) Highlands High School (Fort Thomas) |
Top 3 private high schools | Rowland Hall (Salt Lake City) Waterford School (Sandy) Juan Diego Catholic High School (Draper) | Sacred Heart Academy (Louisville) Trinity High School (Louisville) St. Xavier High School (Louisville) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Rowland Hall (Salt Lake City) Waterford School (Sandy) Madeleine Choir School (Salt Lake City) | The Lexington School (Lexington) Sayre School (Lexington) Louisville Collegiate School (Louisville) |
Top 3 School Districts | Park City School District Davis School District Alpine School District | Oldham County Schools Fort Thomas Independent Schools Beechwood Independent School District |
How Much Do Utah to Kentucky Movers Cost?
Moving 1,636 miles from Utah to Kentucky 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 | $2,130 | 300 ft3 | $7.10 |
1 Bedroom | $3,172 | 450 ft3 | $7.05 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,250 | 750 ft3 | $7.00 |
3 Bedrooms | $7,645 | 1100 ft3 | $6.95 |
4 Bedrooms | $11,040 | 1600 ft3 | $6.90 |
5+ Bedrooms | $12,330 | 1800 ft3 | $6.85 |
Top Utah to Kentucky Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Utah to Kentucky movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.