Virginia to Alabama Moving Guide
Updated June 21, 2025

Planning a 669 mile interstate move from Virginia to Alabama? This moving guide will help you compare living in Virginia vs Alabama across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs lower cost of living), food & health (like Virginia Ham vs Alabama BBQ), real estate & housing (colonial, cape cod vs craftsman, bungalow), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Virginia), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Virginia Ham and Fried Chicken, but get your taste buds ready for Alabama BBQ & Pulled pork
- Alabama housing costs are 41% less expensive than they are in Virginia
- Rent in Alabama is 19.46% more affordable than in Virginia
- Moving from Virginia to Alabama will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,500
- Our top recommended Virginia to Alabama movers is ARS Movers
Virginia to Alabama Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Virginia to Alabama
- High cost of living
- Cold winters
- Heavy traffic
- High taxes
- Dense population
- Lower cost of living
- Mild winters
- Less congestion
- Lower taxes
- More space
- Less historical landmarks
- Hot, humid summers
- Less diversity
- Averaged schools
- Fewer urban options
- Rich history
- Variety of seasons
- Diverse culture
- Great schools
- Urban amenities
Pros of moving from Virginia to Alabama
- Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to the lower cost of living
- Look forward to moving away from cold winters and moving to Alabama with mild winters
- Swap the heavy traffic of Virginia for less congestion in Alabama
- Get ready for lower taxes in Alabama
Cons of moving from Virginia to Alabama
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the rich history in Virginia to live with fewer historical landmarks in Alabama
- You'll lose out on the pro of a variety of seasons and have to settle with the con of hot, humid summers
- Time to bid farewell to the diverse culture and get used to less diversity in Alabama
- Swap great schools for average schools
Virginia vs. Alabama: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Virginia | Alabama |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Virginia Ham | Alabama BBQ |
Most popular meat dish | Fried Chicken | Pulled pork |
Most popular street food item | Oysters | Fried Green Tomatoes |
Most popular vegan food | Vegetable Soup | Black-eyed Pea Hummus |
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 Virginia to Alabama, you will be trading the iconic Virginia Ham of Virginia for the equally delicious Alabama BBQ of Alabama. And while the locals in Virginia rave about their flavorful Fried Chicken and sumptuous Oysters, Alabama residents know they have tasty Pulled Pork and Fried Green Tomatoes to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Vegetable Soup they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Black-eyed Pea Hummus of Alabama. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Virginia eateries like The Inn at Little Washington, LβAuberge Chez FranΓ§ois, and Amuse. After the boxes are unpacked in Alabama, don't wait too long before making your way to Alabama's acclaimed eateries like Sawβs BBQ, Highlands Bar and Grill, and Big River Grille.
When comparing lifestyles, Alabama shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Virginia. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Alabama, compared to what you are used to in Virginia. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Alabama.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Virginia and Alabama
Comparison | Virginia | Alabama |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Cape Cod | Craftsman, Bungalow |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Hardwood floors, Granite countertops | Large yards, Outdoor living spaces |
- The Colonial and Cape Cod architecture that Virginia is known for will be replaced with the Craftsman and Bungalow architecture typical of Alabama.
- Compared to Virginia's real estate listings that commonly reference hardwood floors and granite countertops, Alabama real estate listings often highlight features like large yards and outdoor living spaces.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Alabama is less walkable than Virginia.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike; Alabama is less bike-friendly than Virginia.
- Alabama has less of an urban feel than Virginia.
- Alabama housing costs are 41% less expensive than they are in Virginia, with a median home price of $226,045 compared to Virginiaβs $385,780.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Alabama have increased by 45% compared to a 42% increase in Virginia.
- Rent in Alabama is 19.46% more affordable than in Virginia.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Virginia and Alabama
Comparison | Virginia | Alabama |
---|---|---|
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 | Coastal storms, Hurricanes | Tornadoes, Hurricanes |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 85/64 | 91/71 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 48/29 | 57/36 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 44" | 56" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 10" | 2" |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Virginia to Alabama. Alabama gets 4% more sunshine days than Virginia.
- Alabama has higher humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Virginia.
- Say goodbye to the possible coastal storms and hurricanes in Virginia, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and hurricanes in Alabama.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Alabama is 6 degrees warmer than in Virginia.
- The average winter lows are 7 degrees warmer than they are in Virginia.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Alabama. Alabama receives 12 more inches of rain compared to Virginia.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Virginia and Alabama
Comparison | Virginia | Alabama |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $85,873 | $59,674 |
Cost of Living Index | 96.6 | 91.2 |
State Income Tax | 5.75 | 5 |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.80 | 0.41 |
Avg. Sales Tax | 5.3 | 9.22 |
Top 3 Industries | Government, Tech, Military | Manufacturing, Agriculture, Aerospace |
Affluence | High | Moderate |
Poverty | Moderate | Higher |
Homelessness | Low | Higher |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Alabama tend to earn about 31% less than in Virginia
- The COLI in Alabama is 6% lower than what you are used to living in Virginia
- The state income tax in Alabama is 5 compared to 5.75 in Virginia
- The affluence in Alabama is moderate compared to high in Virginia
- The poverty level is higher in Alabama compared to moderate in Virginia
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Virginia and higher in Alabama
Political and Religious Climate in Virginia vs. Alabama
Comparison | Virginia | Alabama |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Mixed; leans Democratic in recent elections | Strongly Republican |
Local Politics | Varies significantly by region | Conservative across most areas |
Religion | Christianity predominant, with a mix of other faiths | Heavily Christian, especially Evangelical |
- Virginia tends to lean mixed and leans Democratic in its political climate
- Alabama, on the other hand, is often described as strongly Republican
- Alabama's religious environment can be described as heavily Christian, especially Evangelical
- Virginia's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as predominantly Christianity, with a mix of other faiths
Education Guide When Moving from Virginia to Alabama
Comparison | Virginia | Alabama |
---|---|---|
Where most seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Virginia Virginia Tech William & Mary | University of Alabama Auburn University University of Alabama at Birmingham |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Arlington Science Focus School Arlington; St. Christopher's School Richmond; Baileys Elementary School Falls Church | Mountain Brook Elementary Mountain Brook; Cherokee Bend Elementary Mountain Brook; Vestavia Hills Elementary West Vestavia Hills |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Longfellow Middle School Falls Church; Henley Middle School Crozet; Lake Braddock Secondary Burke | Mountain Brook Junior High Mountain Brook; Berry Middle School Hoover; Liberty Park Middle School Vestavia Hills |
Top 3 High Schools | Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology Alexandria; McLean High School McLean; Langley High School McLean | Loveless Academic Magnet Program High School Montgomery; Mountain Brook High School Mountain Brook; Vestavia Hills High School Vestavia Hills |
Top 3 private high schools | The Potomac School McLean; Norfolk Academy Norfolk; St. Christopher's School Richmond | The Altamont School Birmingham; Indian Springs School Indian Springs; Randolph School Huntsville |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Nysmith School Herndon; Basis Independent McLean McLean; The Langley School McLean | The Altamont School Birmingham; Indian Springs School Indian Springs; Randolph School Huntsville |
Top 3 School Districts | Falls Church City Public Schools; Loudoun County Public Schools; Fairfax County Public Schools | Mountain Brook City Schools; Vestavia Hills City Schools; Madison City Schools |
How Much Do Virginia to Alabama Movers Cost?
Moving 669 miles from Virginia to Alabama will typically cost between $2,500 and $5,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,500 - $5,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-5 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Estes SureMove
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,582 | 300 ft3 | $5.27 |
1 Bedroom | $2,350 | 450 ft3 | $5.22 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,879 | 750 ft3 | $5.17 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,635 | 1100 ft3 | $5.12 |
4 Bedrooms | $8,116 | 1600 ft3 | $5.07 |
5+ Bedrooms | $9,041 | 1800 ft3 | $5.02 |
Top Virginia to Alabama Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Virginia to Alabama movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.