Moving from Kentucky to Tennessee
Moving to Tennessee on the same salary slightly raises your real buying power (+2.2%); about $63,500 there would match what you have now. Change the salary below to see your own numbers.
Equal salary in TN: $63,500
To keep the same lifestyle, you need about $63,500 in Tennessee to match $65,000 in Kentucky ($1,500 less), after 2026 taxes and local prices.
Single filer, W-2 salary, standard deduction.
These changes cover taxes, housing and electricity. Food, transport, healthcare, other spending and one-time moving costs are excluded. They are not total savings. State medians may differ from your neighborhood and current quotes.
| Tax on $65,000 | Kentucky | Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | $5,620 | $5,620 |
| Social Security + Medicare | $4,973 | $4,973 |
| State income tax | $2,157 | $0 |
| State payroll programs (UI, disability, paid leave, transit) | $0 | $0 |
| Take-home pay | $52,250 | $54,408 |
Key facts: Kentucky to Tennessee
- Median rent
- $998 → $1,284/mo
- Median home value
- $226,000 → $332,600
- Price level (U.S. = 100)
- 90.2 → 91.9
- Road distance
- ≈ 180 miles
- Natural hazard risk (FEMA)
- Above average (68.0 → 77.8 of 100)
What changes when you move to Tennessee
- Tennessee has no state income tax on wages. At $65,000 you'd stop paying about $2,157 a year in Kentucky income tax.
- BEA's housing price index is 23% higher in Tennessee. Median rent goes from $998 to $1,284 a month and the median home value from $226,000 to $332,600.
Who moves from Kentucky to Tennessee
In the latest IRS migration data (2022–2023), 5,634 households (9,714 people) filed their taxes in Tennessee after filing in Kentucky the year before. That makes Tennessee the #3 destination for people leaving Kentucky. These households reported an average adjusted gross income of $55,619. Going the other way, 5,516 households moved from Tennessee to Kentucky, a net gain of 118 households for Tennessee.
Five-year trend
Moves from Kentucky to Tennessee reached a five-year high in 2022–23, up 8% from 2018–19.
Source: IRS SOI state-to-state migration files, tax years 2018–19 to 2022–23.
Cost to move from Kentucky to Tennessee
Moving cost: $310–$4,860
Moving about 180 miles from Kentucky to Tennessee costs roughly $310 – $4,860, depending on how much of the work you hire out.
Distance between the states' population centers by road (estimate). Short moves are often priced by the hour, so quotes can come in lower.
| Moving method | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Rental truck (DIY) Truck rental, taxes and fees. Add fuel, damage coverage, lodging and your time. | $310 – $600 |
| Moving container You pack and load; the company drives the container. | $1,090 – $2,030 |
| Full-service movers Packing, loading, transport and unloading. | $1,830 – $4,860 |
These ranges are based on summer (peak-season) quotes. A move between October and April usually costs less: peak prices run 20–30% higher.
A rental truck also burns about 18 gallons of fuel over this distance. One-way truck rental prices depend on direction: a truck headed where many people are moving often costs more than the same trip in reverse.
Ranges combine 198 published quote ranges on 22 interstate routes (moveBuddha, retrieved 2026-09-24) with 47 independent published prices from U-Pack, HireAHelper and Move.org, which raised the top of several ranges. They are not quotes; get at least three written estimates.
Alaska and Hawaii ranges come from published carrier rates and moving quotes, dated in each row (Matson's household-goods rates, U-Pack, Royal Hawaiian Movers). See how we estimate.
Shipping a car from Kentucky to Tennessee
Car shipping: $580–$890
Shipping a sedan from Kentucky to Tennessee on an open carrier costs about $580–$890, typically 1–4 days in transit over about 180 miles.
Modeled from 32 published 2026 route prices (SGT Auto Transport 'Ship a Car to Another State' sample routes, SGT Auto Transport cost calculator sample routes) plus published Hawaii and Alaska rates. SUVs cost about 25% more and enclosed carriers about 35% more. Not a quote.
Kentucky vs Tennessee take-home pay at every salary
| Salary | Equal salary in TN | Take-home change | Take-home in KY | Take-home in TN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $48,900 | +$1,632 | $40,723 | $42,355 |
| $75,000 | $73,000 | +$2,507 | $59,085 | $61,593 |
| $100,000 | $97,200 | +$3,382 | $75,798 | $79,180 |
| $150,000 | $145,500 | +$5,132 | $108,659 | $113,791 |
| $250,000 | $241,900 | +$8,632 | $174,550 | $183,182 |
Single filer, 2026 tax rules, standard deduction. "Equal salary" keeps the same after-tax buying power.
At higher incomes, especially for homeowners, itemizing state and local taxes (deductible up to $40,400 in 2026) can lower your federal tax while you live in Kentucky, which narrows the gap shown.
Cost of living: Kentucky vs Tennessee
| Measure | Kentucky | Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Overall price level (U.S. = 100) | 90.2 | 91.9 |
| Housing price index | 64.3 | 79.1 |
| Utilities price index | 75.3 | 72.1 |
| Goods price index | 96.0 | 96.2 |
| Median rent (monthly) | $998 | $1,284 |
| Median home value | $226,000 | $332,600 |
| Median property tax (yearly) | $1,611 | $1,488 |
| Electricity (residential) | 14.26¢/kWh | 14.07¢/kWh |
| State sales tax rate | 6% | 7% |
| Median household income | $64,526 | $71,997 |
Renting and buying: Kentucky vs Tennessee
| Measure | Kentucky | Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Income to rent the median home (30% rule) | $39,920 | $51,360 |
| Monthly cost to own the median home (20% down) | $1,448 | $2,002 |
| Income needed to buy the median home | $62,049 | $85,806 |
| Homeowners insurance (yearly median, homes with a mortgage) | $1,401 | $1,402 |
| Infant child care (center, yearly) | $12,740 | $13,126 |
Mortgage at the Freddie Mac 30-year average with 20% down, plus the median property tax and the median homeowners insurance that owners with a mortgage paid in 2024 (Census ACS). Premiums have risen in most states since then, so get quotes. See buying a home in Tennessee for other down payments.
Your yearly budget: Kentucky vs Tennessee
On a $65,000 salary, taxes, housing, electricity, one car and health insurance for one adult come to $36,458 a year in Kentucky and $39,256 in Tennessee if you rent: $2,798 more after the move. If you buy the median home, they come to $41,856 and $47,874 ($6,018 more).
Your yearly budget, before vs after
| Yearly cost | KY | TN | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Income and payroll taxes on $65,000, single filer | $12,750 | $10,593 | -$2,157 |
| Electricity state average bill | $1,606 | $1,720 | +$114 |
| Car insurance one car, state average | $1,046 | $1,050 | +$4 |
| Gas 12,000 miles at 25 mpg | $2,000 | $1,953 | -$47 |
| Health insurance one adult, age 40, own plan before subsidies | $7,080 | $8,532 | +$1,452 |
| If you rent | |||
| Rent median, 12 months | $11,976 | $15,408 | +$3,432 |
| Total if you rent | $36,458 | $39,256 | +$2,798 |
| If you buy the median home (20% down) | |||
| Mortgage payment median home, 20% down, 6.95% | $14,362 | $21,136 | +$6,774 |
| Property tax median home | $1,611 | $1,488 | -$123 |
| Homeowners insurance state median, with a mortgage | $1,401 | $1,402 | +$1 |
| Total if you buy | $41,856 | $47,874 | +$6,018 |
Taxes: 2026 federal and state rules, standard deduction. Rent, home value and property tax: Census ACS 2024 state medians. Mortgage: Freddie Mac 30-year average (6.95%, week of September 17, 2026).
State figures: EIA 2024 average residential power bill, NAIC 2023 auto insurance (average per car), Census ACS 2024 homeowners insurance (median for owners with a mortgage; premiums have risen since), AAA regular gas on September 23, 2026, and the KFF 2026 benchmark silver Marketplace premium. Job-based health coverage usually costs you less, and in 2026 incomes between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level can get a premium tax credit.
Not included: sales tax (combined state and local rates are not in our data yet), food, car payments and other spending.
Child care is not in the totals. Full-time center care for one infant averages $12,740 a year in Kentucky and $13,126 in Tennessee (Child Care Aware of America, 2024 state averages).
Cost of living in Tennessee cities: Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, Chattanooga.
After you arrive in Tennessee
- Tennessee new resident checklist: driver license and vehicle registration deadlines.
- Taxes the year you move: part-year returns in Kentucky and Tennessee.
- How Tennessee taxes retirement income.
- Live in Tennessee but keep working in Kentucky? See who taxes your wages.
Frequently asked questions
How much salary do I need in Tennessee to live like I do in Kentucky?
A $65,000 salary in Kentucky works out to about $63,500 in Tennessee once 2026 federal and state taxes and BEA regional price levels are counted. At $100,000 it is about $97,200.
Will I pay less tax in Tennessee than in Kentucky?
Yes, about $2,157 less a year in income and payroll taxes on a $65,000 salary (19.6% of pay in Kentucky vs 16.3% in Tennessee). Property and sales taxes are shown separately.
How much does it cost to move from Kentucky to Tennessee?
For a 2–3 bedroom home over about 180 miles, expect roughly $310–$600 with a rental truck, $1,090–$2,030 with a moving container, or $1,830–$4,860 with full-service movers.
Are more people moving from Kentucky to Tennessee?
Moves from Kentucky to Tennessee reached a five-year high in 2022–23, up 8% from 2018–19.
How many people move from Kentucky to Tennessee?
IRS migration data for 2022–2023 show 5,634 households (9,714 people) moved from Kentucky to Tennessee, making Tennessee the #3 destination for people leaving Kentucky. 5,516 households moved the other way.
Is Tennessee cheaper than Kentucky?
Overall prices in Tennessee are 1.9% higher than Kentucky (BEA Regional Price Parities 2024). Median rent is $1,284 vs $998 a month.
Compare other moves
Where people from Kentucky actually move
- KY to Ohio 6,362 households
- KY to Indiana 5,940 households
- KY to Florida 4,578 households
- KY to Texas 2,642 households
- KY to Illinois 1,741 households
- KY to Georgia 1,625 households
- KY to North Carolina 1,565 households
- KY to California 1,362 households