Tennessee Local Expert
Mike Stover
“I am a Tennessee native who has lived, worked, or worn out tires in all three divisions of the state,…”
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Leaving Tennessee for Alaska: Cost of Living Comparison
Trading Tennessee's rolling hills and mild southern seasons for the Alaskan frontier is about as bold a move as an American can make. The two states sit at nearly opposite ends of every spectrum you can imagine, from climate and cost of living to daylight hours and sheer geographic isolation. What feels like a simple desire for adventure can quickly become a logistical puzzle once you start factoring in the distance, the shipping costs, and the reality of long, dark winters ahead. Our Snappy Scout team (Mike & Mackenzie) dug into the numbers, the practicalities, and the lifestyle shifts you need to understand before you start loading the moving truck.
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Our Local Experts Guiding Your Move
Most Direct Route for a Moving Truck from Tennessee to Alaska
Average distance
3,750miles
Typical route
The most common driving route from Tennessee to Alaska takes you northwest through the central United States and into Canada, following major interstates and highways before connecting to the Alaska Highway (ALCAN).
Popular moving routes (approx. driving distance):
Nashville, TN → Anchorage, AK
~3750 miles
Memphis, TN → Anchorage, AK
~3700 miles
Knoxville, TN → Fairbanks, AK
~3950 miles
Chattanooga, TN → Juneau, AK
~3800 miles
Clarksville, TN → Anchorage, AK
~3700 miles
Should You Move From Tennessee to Alaska Quiz
Take this 10 question quiz to find out if the move to Alaska from Tennessee is the right call for your lifestyle and preferences.
Progress1 of 10 questions
Question 1 of 10
What kind of weather makes you happiest?
0/10answered
Live score
Collecting your answers and forming an opinion. Answer another question to see the results.
Tennessee to Alaska Moving Estimates
Moving 3,750 miles from Tennessee to Alaska will typically cost between $2,500.00 and $4,500.00 to hire full service movers. See the breakdown below by home size.
Expected Range
$2,500.00–$4,500.00
Expected Time
5–12days
Cost by home size
Studio
$1,270.00
1 Bedroom
$1,870.00
2 Bedrooms
$3,080.00
3 Bedrooms
$4,460.00
4 Bedrooms
$6,410.00
5+ Bedrooms
$7,120.00
| Home Size | Moving Cost | Volume (ft³) | $/ft³ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,270.00 | 300 | $4.23 |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,870.00 | 450 | $4.16 |
| 2 Bedrooms | $3,080.00 | 750 | $4.11 |
| 3 Bedrooms | $4,460.00 | 1,100 | $4.05 |
| 4 Bedrooms | $6,410.00 | 1,600 | $4.01 |
| 5+ Bedrooms | $7,120.00 | 1,800 | $3.96 |
How we calculated these numbers: We reached out to the owners and operators of more than a dozen nationwide moving companies to figure out how they factor in mileage, weight, volume, timing, origin & termination locations, and approximate home sizes to determine a moving estimate. The results above are what the data nerds at Snappy Scout created based on that info.
That's the average.
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Is Uprooting Your Life from Tennessee to Alaska Right for Me?
Well, it depends. If you're a Cowboy, Minimalist, or Adventure Junkie, you'll thrive in your move to Alaska. But if you're more of a PTA President, Gamer, or Retired Snowbird, settling into your new home state may be a bit of a challenge. We scored a variety of different “personalities” on a 10-point scale to show you what to expect from a lifestyle perspective with a relocation from Tennessee to Alaska.
Top 3 winners and losers moving from TN to AK
Cowboys
Tennessee
6.5
/10
Alaska
8
/10
Tennessee
Giving up
Franklin horse farms, PBR's Nashville Stampede at Bridgestone Arena
Alaska
Gaining
Alaska State Fair rodeos, rugged frontier pride
Recommended AK cities/areas for Cowboys
PalmerDelta Junction
Tennessee
6.5
/10
Alaska
8
/10
Minimalism
Tennessee
5
/10
Alaska
6
/10
Tennessee
Giving up
The Gulch microlofts fit, but suburban sprawl and I-24 overwhelm
Alaska
Gaining
Remote cabin life strips everything down nicely
Recommended AK cities/areas for Minimalists
HomerJuneau
Tennessee
5
/10
Alaska
6
/10
Adventure Activities
Tennessee
9.5
/10
Alaska
10
/10
Tennessee
Giving up
The Appalachian Trail, Great Smoky Mountains, Ocoee Rapids, Obed climbs
Alaska
Gaining
Denali climbs, glacier treks, trail ridge races, mountain biking, backcountry skiing galore
Recommended AK cities/areas for Adventure Junkies
McCarthyJuneauTalkeetnaAnchorage
Tennessee
9.5
/10
Alaska
10
/10
PTA Life
Tennessee
8
/10
Alaska
4
/10
Tennessee
Giving up
Williamson County schools, Brentwood fields, Collierville Friday nights
Alaska
Gaining
Strong community spirit but small school districts limit it
Recommended AK cities/areas for PTA Presidents
AnchorageJuneau
Tennessee
8
/10
Alaska
4
/10
Gaming
Tennessee
7
/10
Alaska
4
/10
Tennessee
Giving up
Nashville's Game Terminal, Memphis conventions at Crosstown Concourse, gamer conventions at Meadowview Conference Center
Alaska
Gaining
Long dark winters help, but internet speeds often don't
Recommended AK cities/areas for Gamers
AnchorageFairbanks
Tennessee
7
/10
Alaska
4
/10
Snowbirds
Tennessee
7
/10
Alaska
4.5
/10
Tennessee
Giving up
Tellico Village lakes, low taxes, sunny porch seasons
Alaska
Gaining
Beautiful summers but winters are brutally long here
Recommended AK cities/areas for Retired Snowbirds
AnchorageKetchikan
Tennessee
7
/10
Alaska
4.5
/10
Local Perspective
What moment, smell, or ritual captures the soul of Alaska?
I live for the scent of cottonwood buds blooming in Spring. It is my happy place- and represents warmer, longer, sunnier days ahead!
– Mackenzie Schultz
Alaska Local
Lifestyle differences between living in Tennessee and living in Alaska
TennesseeAlaska
How the Way Locals Eat Shifts When You Move from Tennessee to Alaska
Eating Like a Local in Tennessee
Locals from Memphis to Roan Mountain know that REAL barbeque comes wet, sweet, and sticky. Vinegar is a cleaning agent, not an ingredient in BBQ.
Mike StoverTennessee Local ExpertEating Like a Local in Alaska
Beer Battered Fish and Chips (Try the Halibut or Rockfish!), Local Alaskan Oysters, King Crab Legs, PelMeni's, Fish Tacos, and Grilled Salmon. Friends Don't Let Friends Eat Farmed Salmon!
Mackenzie SchultzAlaska Local ExpertAlaska looking like
the right move?
There’s one more number worth knowing: what it’ll cost to get there.
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From Tennessee to Alaska: How Your Tax Return Lines Up
Tennessee
Alaska
TennesseevsAlaska
State Income Tax
State Income TaxNo tax on wages, Hall tax on dividends repealed 2021
None, plus you get a Permanent Fund Dividend check annually
Tennessee
No tax on wages, Hall tax on dividends repealed 2021
VS
Alaska
None, plus you get a Permanent Fund Dividend check annually
Property Taxes
Property TaxesLower statewide, higher in Shelby and Davidson, Knox and Hamilton moderate, rural low
Among the lowest nationwide, no statewide levy
Tennessee
Lower statewide, higher in Shelby and Davidson, Knox and Hamilton moderate, rural low
VS
Alaska
Among the lowest nationwide, no statewide levy
The No-Nonsense Values, Beliefs, & Politics Picture: Tennessee vs Alaska
Tennessee
Alaska
TennesseevsAlaska
People
PeoplePolite, Volunteer State helpful, porch chat friendly, bless your heart energy
Rugged, self-reliant, welcoming and happy to help
Tennessee
Polite, Volunteer State helpful, porch chat friendly, bless your heart energy
VS
Alaska
Rugged, self-reliant, welcoming and happy to help
Politics
Solid Republican statewide, Nashville and Memphis blue, Chattanooga and Knoxville cores competitive
Libertarian-leaning red with fierce independent streak, ranked choice voting
Tennessee
Solid Republican statewide, Nashville and Memphis blue, Chattanooga and Knoxville cores competitive
VS
Alaska
Libertarian-leaning red with fierce independent streak, ranked choice voting
Religion
ReligionPredominantly Christian, strong evangelical Baptist, growing unaffiliated, Muslim and Hindu communities in Nashville
Majority Christian including Protestants, Russian Orthodox, and Catholics, significant Native spiritual traditions, alongside Church of Latter-day Saints, as well as non-religious
Tennessee
Predominantly Christian, strong evangelical Baptist, growing unaffiliated, Muslim and Hindu communities in Nashville
VS
Alaska
Majority Christian including Protestants, Russian Orthodox, and Catholics, significant Native spiritual traditions, alongside Church of Latter-day Saints, as well as non-religious
Leaving Tennessee Seasons Behind: What Alaska Weather Really Looks Like
SUMMER
Tennessee
sweet tea sauna vibes (Memphis bakes, Nashville steams, Smokies cool off at dusk). The lowlands are just plain hot; the mountains are where you want to be.
Alaska
Can be shockingly pleasant sweater weather (mostly 60s, sometimes 70s-80s inland)
WINTER
Tennessee
light jacket roulette (Nashville slush, Memphis rain, Gatlinburg steals the snow). Natives say if you don't like Tennessee weather, wait a while; it'll change.
Alaska
Frostbite mode (Interior hits minus 40, Coasts are windy and rainy mild). Dark!
My Favorite Thing About Winter/Spring/Summer/Fall in Alaska
I love the transition of trading in my packraft paddles, fishing gear, camping equipment, and mountain bike for backcountry skis, ice climbing tools, ice skates, and a local library card!
Mackenzie SchultzAlaska Local Expert✧ You've researched the move ✧
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Next Steps
Learn More About Moving to Alaska
By now, you're hopefully fully aware that at Snappy Scout, our moving guides aren't like the rest! Now that you've compared the aspects of leaving behind Tennessee, take a deeper dive into the specifics of moving to Alaska. No boring census stats... we promise! Just practical real advice from Alaska local experts.
