In 2019, over 10,000 people moved from Kentucky to Florida. If you’re also considering moving from Kentucky to Florida, there are many reasons why you should do that. The Sunshine State is an incredibly popular destination and has seen a population growth of over 2 million people since 2010.
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- While the population in Kentucky has grown by 3% over the past decade, many families are moving to Florida. In fact, more than 10,000 people moved from Kentucky to Florida in 2019.
- The skyline of the city of Covington, Kentucky.
Florida is known for having beautiful sightings, amazing beaches, and welcoming people. But this state is also popular due to having lower costs of living, including affordable housing and lower taxes. The distance between Kentucky and Florida is approximately 830 miles, which means that it’ll take you a little over 13 hours to get from one state to the other by car.
One of the good news for Kentucky residents moving to Florida is that these states are quite similar when it comes to culture, politics, and religion. In this guide, we’ll explain the advantages and disadvantages of moving from Kentucky to Florida and more!
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How Much Does It Cost to Move From Kentucky to Florida?
Considering the distance between Kentucky and Florida, moving costs to relocate between these states can vary greatly. Depending on the company you hire, you can pay more money or less money.
However, in addition to hiring a good moving company, it’s also important that you choose a moving service, such as apartment moving or commercial moving, for instance, that best suits your needs and budget. Below we’ll talk about three moving services you can hire to move from Kentucky to Florida.
Hiring a full-service moving company
Are you way too busy to do things for the moving process? Do you have a comfortable budget and are not worried about money? If you answered yes to both questions, your best option in the moving process is to hire a full-service moving company to relocate from Kentucky to Florida.
In this type of service, the moving company will offer a wide range of moving packages, some of which will include everything in the moving process, such as packing and organizing your belongings, and some will include only the basics.
Here are the estimated moving costs of hiring a full-service moving company to relocate from Kentucky to Florida.
- Studio/1 Bedroom: $1683 – $2805
- 2-3 Bedrooms: $3108 – $5180
- 4+ Bedrooms: $3820 – $6367
- Office-Commercial Moving: $6108 – $8180
Renting a DIY moving truck
Now, if you are on a tight budget and you have plenty of time, a great moving option for you is to rent a moving truck to move from Kentucky to Florida. Unlike hiring a moving company, when you rent a truck, you’re responsible for organizing, packing, and loading your belongings.
In addition to that, you’re also in charge of driving the truck to your new location, as well as paying for the extra expenses associated with that, like gas expenses, repair fees, moving insurance costs, and any other expenses you may have on the way to Florida.
Here are the estimated moving costs of renting a DIY moving truck to relocate from Kentucky to Florida. Note that these estimates don’t include the additional expenses mentioned above (gas, repairs, insurance, et cetera).
- Studio/1 Bedroom: $831+
- 2-3 Bedrooms: $977+
- 4+ Bedrooms: $1122+
- Office-Commercial Moving: $1268 – $2768
Renting a moving container
Alternatively, you can rent a moving container to move from Kentucky to Florida. While this type of moving may not be as known as the other options, this is an affordable and efficient way of relocating.
When you rent a moving container, the moving company will drop off a container at your front step and you’ll have a period of time (usually 3 to 5 days) to load the container with your belongings. Once you have done it, the mover will send a truck to pick up the container and transport it to your new location.
Here are the estimated moving costs of renting a moving container to relocate from Kentucky to Florida.
- Studio/1 Bedroom: $1220+
- 2-3 Bedrooms: $1375+
- 4+ Bedrooms: $1541+
- Office-Commercial Moving: $2388+
How to Hire Movers from Kentucky to Florida?
In addition to knowing your different options when it comes to moving, it’s also important that you know the types of movers you can hire.
Moving companies are legally obliged to have a series of documentation and be registered with the Department of Transportation, and not all of them are allowed to perform certain types of moves.
If you’re moving from Kentucky to Florida, here are three different types of movers that can help you relocate.
Interstate Movers
There are two main types of moving: local moving and interstate moving. When you make a local move, that means you’re moving between two locations within the same state, sometimes even in the same city.
- Interstate movers will help you relocate to a different state, but there are also other types of movers. Do you know which type of mover you’ll need to hire to relocate from Kentucky to Florida? Find out below!
- Movers handling boxes.
Interstate moving, as the name suggests, means that you’re moving from one state to another, as in the case of moving from Kentucky to Florida. Most moving companies offer this service, but not all of them do. Hence why it’s important to ask your mover if they work with interstate moving before hiring their services.
Long-Distance Movers
The concept of long-distance will vary depending on the mover you’re contacting. For some movers, 400 miles or more is considered long-distance, but some may consider any distance above 100 miles as long-distance moving.
In this case, the distance between Kentucky and Florida is a little over 800 miles (or slightly less, depending on which city you’re moving from and to). This means that you’ll have to hire long-distance movers to relocate from Kentucky to Florida.
Cross-Country Movers
Cross-country movers are moving companies that specialize in transporting items across the country. This is a delicate task, thus they are required by law to have special licenses in order to perform this type of moving.
Hiring a cross-country mover can be fairly expensive. Luckily, you won’t have to worry about that — moving from Kentucky to Florida is not considered cross-country moving!
Moving Brokers
Finding the ideal long-distance mover is not always an easy task, especially considering how many movers we can find on the internet. In case you’re not sure how to hire an affordable and reliable mover, don’t worry — you can contact a moving broker for this!
Moving brokers work as middlemen in the moving process. While they won’t actually help you relocate from Kentucky to Florida, they will help you find the best mover that suits your budget and needs!
5 Best Moving Companies to Help Relocate from Kentucky to Florida
Before you start searching for movers, we want you to understand that we are here to help you. That includes helping you find an ideal moving company to assist you in the relocation process.
If you use our free moving costs calculator, you will receive moving quotes from different top-rated companies. It takes less than 5 minutes to fill the form and receive the quotes! To help you get a headstart, here are the 5 best moving companies to help you relocate from Kentucky to Florida!
Arpin Van Lines
Arpin Van Lines is a former family-owned business that offers moving services nationwide. If you’re looking for an affordable mover to relocate from Kentucky to Florida, these guys can help you a great deal.
They offer both local and long-distance moving services, as well as packing, storage, and commercial moving services. One of the pros of hiring Arpin is that they have plenty of customized services that will fit your budget, as well as offering off-peak season discounts.
National Van Lines
Operating nationwide since 1929, National Van Lines is one of the largest moving companies in the country. This company is ideal for full-service moving and long-distance moving, which are two services you’ll need to relocate to Florida.
An advantage of hiring National Van Lines is that you get fast and free moving quotes — all you have to do is record a video of your home and send it to National; they’ll give you estimates based on the video. A downside is that some clients have reported damaged items upon receiving their belongings at their new homes.
Bekins Van Lines
Bekins is one of the top-rated moving companies in the country. In the market for over 100 years, this company has gained prominence for having a wide network of agents operating all over the nation.
If you’re moving from Kentucky to Florida, Bekins can help you. You can get ballpark estimates on their website, as well as contacting an agent and getting estimates from them. One of the pros of hiring Bekins is that they offer high-quality services. However, these services can be quite pricey, which is a downside.
Mayflower Moving
Mayflower operates using the services of local agents and moving companies. This means that they operate even in remote locations in the country, which makes it easier for you to hire their services.
This company is known for having affordable moving costs, but it is also known for the inconsistency of its services. Several customers have complained that their belongings were damaged during the transportation and also reported a lack of communication in the moving process.
Atlas Van Lines
Operating for over 70 years, Atlas Van Lines is one of the household names in the moving industry. They are known for offering a wide range of services, from residential moving to military moving. They also work with apartment moving and vehicle transport.
Atlas is especially known for its international moving services, but it is also known for being an affordable mover. You can hire their services to relocate to Florida and you won’t have to worry about your belongings, as this company is known for transporting items with care.
What Are the Top Benefits of Moving from Kentucky to Florida?
When we’re considering moving to a new place, we don’t have to worry only about the amount of money we may have to spend in the process. It’s highly important that we also learn more about this new location and try to weigh the pros and cons.
- There’s a reason why over 300,000 people moved to Florida in 2020, and it’s because this state is fairly affordable. Read more advantages of moving from Kentucky to Florida below.
- Aerial view of a neighborhood in Pompano Beach, Florida.
Before you move from Kentucky to Florida, you have to understand what is similar and what is different in these states, as well as considering the advantages and disadvantages of both states.
Here are the top benefits of moving from Kentucky to Florida.
Pros of Living in Kentucky
- Laid-back feels
- If you’re a stay-at-home kind of person, you probably love living in Kentucky. Depending on the city where you live, there aren’t many entertainment options — which means you can just stay at home and relax. Or maybe sit at the front porch and enjoy life quietly.
- Good weather
- Kentucky is neither too hot nor too cold, which is certainly a good thing. The mild weather in this state is a great advantage and it’s one of the reasons why people move here.
- Friendly people
- The Southern people are known for being charming and friendly. In Kentucky, this is no different. In small towns, everyone knows each other and their mothers, so everyone is always eager to help and be friendly to one another.
Pros of Moving to Florida
- Beaches
- There’s a clear reason why Florida is known as the Sunshine State. This state is home to some amazingly beautiful and sunny beaches — which is certainly a pro, especially for those who are retiring and moving to Florida.
- Family activities
- Florida is home to several water parks, amusement parks, and other attractions. This means that there’ll be plenty of things for you to do with your family, especially if you have children.
- Costs of living
- There is no state income tax in Florida and housing is rather affordable in this state. In other words, living in Florida is affordable in general and this is one of the main reasons why people move to the Sunshine State.
Cons of Living in Kentucky
- Cultural diversity
- If you are the kind of person who likes learning about different cultures and trying different foods, maybe Kentucky is not the place for you. There’s a lack of cultural diversity in Kentucky, though that is slowly changing.
- Southern accent
- If you’re a newcomer in Kentucky, one of the things you struggle with is the heavy Southern accent in this state. The accent and the vocabulary in this state are a disadvantage for those who weren’t raised here.
- Animals on the road
- There’s a large number of deer and turkey in Kentucky. While that piece of information doesn’t sound necessarily harmful, it’s important to note that these animals usually go to the roads and cause traffic accidents, so you have to drive carefully in this state.
Cons of Moving to Florida
- Natural disasters
- While Florida is the Sunshine State, things aren’t always sunny here. There are quite a few hurricanes in Florida — so much that the locals are already used to it, but the newcomers take some time to adjust to this reality.
- Exotic animals
- Florida is home to many exotic animals, especially snakes and alligators. It’s not unusual for Florida residents to find an alligator in their backyards, so you might always have to keep an eye.
- Lots of tourists
- Florida is one of the top tourist destinations in the country. While this is great for the economy, it’s not so great for the locals, who have to deal with herds of tourists all over the state, especially in South Florida.
Comparison: Price of Living in Kentucky vs. Price of Living in Florida
In addition to knowing the advantages of living in Kentucky and moving to Florida, it’s also important that you try to get cost-of-living estimates for both places. As we mentioned before, one of the cons of moving to Florida is that this state is fairly affordable.
If you’re wondering how affordable we’re talking about, here is a comparison of the costs of living in Kentucky and the costs of living in Florida!
EXPENSES | KENTUCKY | FLORIDA |
| Housing | $820 | $947 |
| Food | $732 | $817 |
| Child care | $1,283 | $948 |
| Transportation | $1,184 | $1,137 |
| Health care | $859 | $1,027 |
| Other necessities | $626 | $712 |
| Taxes | $886 | $615 |
| Monthly Total | $6,391 | $6,203 |
| Annual Total | $76,688 | $74,437 |
All estimates presented in the table above were calculated considering the expenses of a family of two adults and two children. The data was retrieved from the Economic Policy Institute’s Family Budget Calculator.
Best Places to Move to in Florida
If you’re considering moving from Kentucky to Florida, you’re probably wondering how are you supposed to choose a place in the Sunshine State when there are so many beautiful and popular destinations in this state.
- There are many popular destinations in Florida, especially the major cities that have sunny beaches and a busy lifestyle.
- Aerial view of the Miami skyline.
However, you should probably consider factors other than beauty and popularity when choosing a place to move to in Florida. Some cities in this state are incredibly affordable, while others are more expensive to live in.
Here are the 4 best places to move to in Florida.
- Miami
- Who hasn’t dreamed of moving to Miami? While living in this city can be fairly pricey, it means you’ll be living in one of the most popular cities in the world, as well as one of the liveliest. Miami is known for its beautiful architecture, amazing parties, and sunny beaches.
- Tampa
- Tampa is home to a little over 400,000 people and it is one of the top cities in Florida. This city is known for having amazing tourism spots, as well as having plenty of job opportunities. Tampa is also a good place to move to if you have kids, as this city is home to a popular amusement park.
- Jacksonville
- The most populous city in Florida, Jacksonville is a safe city with plenty of fun destinations for the family. If you like visiting restaurants and museums, this is the place for you. Jacksonville is famous for its many golf courses, and it attracts many tourists because of the sport.
- Orlando
- Now, if you truly want to live in a city that is always busy, Orlando is the place for you. While this city is home to approximately 287,000 people, it welcomes over 70 million visitors every year, mainly because of Walt Disney World.
In the end, is Moving from Kentucky to Florida Worth It?
Moving to a new location is not an easy decision to make. There are many factors that drive people to relocate and, if you are considering moving from Kentucky to Florida, you’re probably wondering whether or not it’s worth it.
From what we have shown you thus far, there are quite a few benefits to moving to Florida. Not only is this state ranked among the 10 best states in the country, but it is also one of the most affordable destinations. Florida has a relatively average crime rate, as well as plenty of job opportunities.
While the unemployment rate in Florida is among the 25-highest, the job growth rate in this state is 1 percentage point above the national average. If you work in the health care, hospitality, or services industries, it’s important for you to know that these fields are on-demand in Florida.
Our final verdict is that moving from Kentucky to Florida is worth it.
How to Move from Kentucky to Florida?
Now that we are reaching the end of this guide, you’ve probably made a final decision regarding whether you should move from Kentucky to Florida or not. If you decided that you are going to relocate, you’re certainly wondering what to do.
Moving can be quite a complicated process, especially if it is your first time ever relocating. In this case, here are 10 useful tips on how to move from Kentucky to Florida!
- Plan Ahead
- If you want your moving process to go as smoothly as possible, planning ahead is the key. Before you actually start the process, take some time to plan what your steps are going to be and also establish a timeline. Our downloadable moving checklist can help you a lot in this process.
- Downsize
- Downsizing may be hard, but it is necessary. If you have any items that you don’t use anymore, try to sell or donate them. By doing this, you’ll be saving yourself some money in the moving process.
- Get Moving Quotes
- Once you have downsized, you can start looking for movers and getting moving quotes. Most companies offer estimates on their websites, but we can spare you the trouble of visiting every single website. If you use our free moving costs calculator, you’ll receive moving quotes from different companies in under 5 minutes.
- Book Movers
- Once you have compared the moving quotes you received, it’s time for you to pick the ideal mover. When you choose a moving company, contact them as soon as possible and book their services.
- Visit Your New Area
- In case you’re still trying to decide whether you should move to Florida, one of the things you can do to reach a final decision is to visit your new area. Take a weekend and go visit your new city and then you’ll know if it’s worth moving there.
- Start Packing
- Have you decided that yes, moving from Kentucky to Florida is worth it? In that case, it’s time for you to start packing. This process can be quite tiresome but if you read our tips on how to pack like a pro, you’ll nail this process!
- Create an Essentials Box
- If you’re relocating by car, you’ll probably want to eat some snacks on the way to Florida. When you get to your new home, you’ll want to take a long shower and change into a fresh pair of clothes. In that case, you can create an Essentials box where you’ll store all these items (snacks, clothes, toiletries, et cetera) and have easy access to them during the moving process.
- Say Farewells
- While Kentucky and Florida are both located in the Southern part of the country, that doesn’t mean that these states are necessarily close. Depending on where you’re moving to, you may be over 800 miles away from your family and friends. Thus, you’ll certainly need to set some time aside to say farewells to them.
- Get Some Rest
- Moving can be painfully stressful. You may get so caught up in all the steps in this process that you may even forget to sleep well or at least get some rest. Our obvious recommendation is that you don’t let this happen and try to get some rest at least before the moving day.
- Enjoy the Move
- If you’re moving from Kentucky to Florida, that means you’re moving to the Sunshine State, where it’s always sunny, the beaches are always beautiful, and the parties are everywhere. What’s there not to like about this place? Don’t forget to enjoy the move, as you’re about to start one of the brightest chapters of your life!
Moving Services to Help You Relocate from Kentucky to Florida
Finally, it’s also important that you know the different types of services you can hire when you’re moving from Kentucky to Florida. Some companies offer international moving services, others offer vehicle transportation. Whatever it is that you need, you’ll certainly find an ideal mover.
However, before you try to find a moving company, you have to know at least a few of the services you can hire. Here are 9 moving services to help you relocate from Kentucky to Florida.
- Furniture Transportation
- Sometimes, selling your furniture before moving is the best option. However, those cases are rare and you’ll probably have to move furniture to Florida. Luckily, furniture transportation is the most common type of moving service you can hire.
- Residential Movers
- Whether you’re moving from a house or from an apartment, you’ll need to hire residential movers. The good news is that most moving companies will offer this service, so you shouldn’t have a hard time finding the best one.
- Piano Transportation
- One of the biggest concerns for piano players is not knowing whether they can transport a piano. If that’s your case, don’t worry — you can move a piano from Kentucky to Florida. All you have to do is find a long-distance mover that offers this service, which is more common than you would think.
- Art and Antiques Movers
- Do you collect art and antiques? If so, you know how these items need to be handled with the utmost care. When moving from Kentucky to Florida you can transport art pieces and antiques. The best part is that some movers specialize in this service, which means you won’t have to worry about their safety.
- Hot Tub Movers
- Hot tubs are bulky items and, because of that, some people believe that they can’t transport them. That’s far from the truth. You can relocate a hot tub from Kentucky to Florida— and it’ll be way cheaper than buying a new one.
- Pool Table Movers
- Similar to hot tub moving, another bulky item that you can relocate is a pool table. Another good news is that moving a pool table is easier than you would think and several movers offer this service.
- Office Movers
- In case you’re also moving an office or a business to Florida, you will need to hire specialized movers. Office movers can help you relocate any office, though their services tend to be more expensive due to the complexity of this relocation process.
- Long-Distance Movers
- As we mentioned earlier, you’ll need to hire long-distance movers in order to relocate from Kentucky to Florida. Nowadays, most moving companies offer this service, thus the prices are more competitive.
- Last-Minute Movers
- While one of our main tips is that you plan ahead of your move and try to start organizing everything as early as possible, we can’t control life. In case anything happens and you need to move much earlier than planned, you can always hire a last-minute mover to move from Kentucky to Florida.