Moving to Kentucky from United Kingdom

moving to

What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from United Kingdom to Kentucky — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from United Kingdom to Kentucky, you would find that Kentucky is 8.7% cheaper than United Kingdom overall. A £56,672 salary in United Kingdom would need to be roughly $61,056 in Kentucky to maintain the same lifestyle. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Bowling Green averages 69°F vs 60°F in London, making it significantly warmer.

How Far Will Your Money Go?

What to expect for your wallet after moving from United Kingdom to Kentucky.

What does your salary buy?

£56,672 $61,056

To maintain the same standard of living in Kentucky

Calculate with your salary →

Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day

Restaurants

pay 3.6% less

Groceries

pay 31.2% more

Transportation

pay 38.6% less

Housing

pay 2.0% less

Childcare

pay 5.1% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 24.2% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 GBP = 1.32 USD (June 2026)

Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.

Get free moving quotes to Kentucky

We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.

  • ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
  • ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
  • ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you

Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from United Kingdom to Kentucky, based on official data.

Moved in 2023
10,850 ↑ 3% vs 2022

people moved from United Kingdom to United States · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to United States?

Top countries of origin for United States's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from United Kingdom to Kentucky.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate The World Factbook, 2022

share of adults with obesity

GB
27.8%
KY
38.2%

United Kingdom performs better than Kentucky across all health & wellbeing metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access The World Factbook, 2023

share of households with internet

GB
97.0%
KY
87.4%

United Kingdom performs better than Kentucky across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

GB
4.1%
KY
3.5%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

GB
$54,100
KY
$50,135

Kentucky generally does better on employment & economy, though United Kingdom leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

GB
81.9 yrs
KY
73.5 yrs

United Kingdom performs better than Kentucky across all family life metrics.

Data: The World Factbook

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

London Rain: 22.0 in/yr (558 mm)
60° / 46°F

Avg. annual high / low

Bowling Green Rain: 49.9 in/yr (1267 mm)
69° / 47°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months London Bowling Green
Jan–Mar 49°/38°F (9°/3°C) 52°/31°F (11°/-1°C)
Apr–Jun 64°/48°F (18°/9°C) 78°/55°F (25°/13°C)
Jul–Sep 72°/56°F (22°/13°C) 87°/64°F (30°/18°C)
Oct–Dec 53°/43°F (12°/6°C) 59°/38°F (15°/3°C)
View all months
Month London Bowling Green
Jan 47°/38°F (8.1°/3.1°C) 45°/26°F (7.2°/-3.1°C)
Feb 47°/37°F (8.6°/2.7°C) 50°/30°F (10.0°/-1.3°C)
Mar 53°/40°F (11.6°/4.6°C) 60°/37°F (15.4°/2.8°C)
Apr 58°/43°F (14.6°/5.9°C) 70°/46°F (20.9°/7.6°C)
May 65°/48°F (18.1°/8.9°C) 78°/55°F (25.4°/12.8°C)
Jun 70°/53°F (21.0°/11.8°C) 86°/64°F (30.1°/17.7°C)
Jul 74°/57°F (23.4°/13.7°C) 89°/68°F (31.9°/19.9°C)
Aug 74°/57°F (23.1°/13.8°C) 89°/66°F (31.6°/18.9°C)
Sep 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.4°C) 82°/58°F (27.8°/14.4°C)
Oct 60°/48°F (15.5°/8.8°C) 71°/46°F (21.8°/7.9°C)
Nov 52°/42°F (11.3°/5.8°C) 59°/38°F (15.2°/3.1°C)
Dec 47°/38°F (8.4°/3.4°C) 48°/29°F (8.8°/-1.6°C)

Data: Met Office Met Office, National Weather Service National Weather Service

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between United Kingdom and United States. To live, work, or study long-term in United States, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check United States's immigration authority.

United Kingdom passport

United Kingdom passport holder visiting United States

Electronic Travel Authorisation
United Kingdom passport holders need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to enter United States.
United States passport

United States passport holder visiting United Kingdom

Electronic Travel Authorisation
United States passport holders need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to enter United Kingdom.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in Kentucky than United Kingdom?

Yes — Kentucky is on average about 19% cheaper than United Kingdom. City-level variation can be significant.

How much money do I need to move to Kentucky?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly $15,264 in Kentucky on a £56,672 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Kentucky?

Usually fine from major cities in Kentucky. The harder questions are legal — digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

How is healthcare in Kentucky compared to United Kingdom?

United Kingdom performs better than Kentucky across all health & wellbeing metrics.

What's the weather like in Kentucky compared to United Kingdom?

The average high temperature in Bowling Green is 69°F, compared to 60°F in London. Bowling Green receives around 49.9 in of rainfall per year, while London gets 22.0 in.

What language do they speak in Kentucky?

Both United Kingdom and Kentucky share the same official language: English.

Share this

At a Glance

GB
Population 67,791,400 4,339,367
Currency British Pound Sterling (£) United States Dollar ($)
Languages English English
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +44 +1
Time zones 9 11
Emergency number 999 911