($1,343) Movers From Des Moines, IA to Lexington, KY

What to know before moving from Des Moines to Lexington

Moving from Des Moines to Lexington comes with exciting new opportunities — but also higher living costs. Since Lexington is generally more expensive than Des Moines, it’s important to plan ahead and budget carefully for the change.

Check out how the two cities compare so you know what to expect before you relocate:

• Rent prices in Lexington are 17% higher than in Des Moines, which means you’ll have less money in your pocket each month.
• In terms of homeownership, you’ll be able to get more for your money in Des Moines.
  Home prices in Lexington are 60.7% higher than in Des Moines.
• Income in Lexington is 5.2% higher than in Des Moines, so you could earn more for doing the same job. The top employers in Lexington include A&W Restaurants, University of Kentucky, and Federal Prison Industries.
• Be sure to budget for higher bills in Lexington, since the cost of living for a single person in Lexington is 63.9% higher than in Des Moines. This includes routine expenses like utilities, groceries, clothing, and transportation.
• The cost of living for a family in Lexington is 4.8% lower than in Des Moines.
• The unemployment rate in Lexington is 27.12% lower than in Des Moines.
• You’ll spend less on retail and restaurants in Lexington, since the city’s sales taxes in Lexington are 14.29% lower than in Des Moines.
• One perk of moving to Lexington is paying less in state income taxes, which are 9.09% lower than in Des Moines.

To put this in perspective, you would need around $4,918.03 in Lexington to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with $3,000.00 in Des Moines.

How life is different in Des Moines vs. Lexington

• Lexington's population is about 54% less than Des Moines.
• Lexington's public transportation has a score of 4 out of 10 versus Des Moines's higher score of 5.
• Lexington is more walkable than Des Moines with a score of 90 out of 100 vs Des Moines's 45 out of 100.
• With a score of 85 out of 100, Lexington is more bike-friendly than Des Moines, which has a score of 39 out of 100. The higher a city's score, the more suited they are to safely accommodating cyclists.
• Lexington's crime rate is higher than Des Moines with a score of 50.88 compared to Des Moines's 5.0. This means that Lexington neighborhoods are safer than 50.88% of all U.S. neighborhoods, and Des Moines neighborhoods are safer than 5.0%.
• Lexington is considered to be less safe than Des Moines with a score of 49.12 vs Des Moines's 57.8.
• Air quality in Lexington is good, and in Des Moines it's good.

Other things to consider for your Des Moines vs. Lexington move

• Weather: Lexington has hot, humid summers and moderately cold winters with occasional mild periods
• HOA rules: Check ahead with any neighborhood or community rules on moving to ensure a smooth move.
• Elevator reservation: If your building has an elevator you'll want to check on how to reserve it for move day.
• Truck parking permits: Some cities require parking permits for large vehicles and moving trucks. Find out if you need any parking permits ahead of time.
• State licensing: Movers in Kentucky are licensed and regulated by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) – Division of Motor Carriers. Moving companies that operate within the state must carry adequate cargo insurance and file public tariffs detailing the services they offer and the cost for each. The KYTC can assist consumers with resolving disputes with movers, but only after a customer makes a formal written complaint. Make sure the moving company you use has a license before hiring.
• State regulator: You can verify a Kentucky moving license and its status through the state's public utilities commission.
• Moving permits: Kentucky does not require any moving permits, but it is helpful to check local parking restrictions before moving into the state.
• Change of address: We recommend submitting your change of address form with USPS at least a week prior to your move. You can set an official move date on the form and this way all of your mail will get properly forwarded to Lexington. Get started here.
• Moving company insurance: Every state requires moving companies to carry different levels of insurance.Choose Released Value Protection for free, basic coverage from movers at 60 cents per pound. For comprehensive protection matching your items' full value, consult your moving company for alternative options or consider a third-party insurance provider.
• Moving checklist: Our moving checklist will help you have the peace of mind that you've got everything covered.

Where to live in Lexington

Now that you've decided to make the move to "Horse Capital of the World", these are the best neighborhoods to move to in Lexington.

Helpful moving resources