Movers

DC to Kansas Moving Guide

Updated June 13, 2025

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Planning a 1,294 mile interstate move from DC to Kansas? This moving guide will help you compare living in DC vs Kansas across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high cost of living vs lower cost of living), food & health (like Half-smoke vs BBQ brisket), real estate & housing (victorian, federal vs prairie, ranch), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in DC), politics & religion, and education.

Key Takeaways:

  • Say goodbye to Half-smoke and Mumbo sauce with wings, but get your taste buds ready for BBQ brisket & Smoked ribs
  • Kansas housing costs are 64% less expensive than they are in DC
  • Rent in Kansas is 54.27% more affordable than in DC
  • Moving from DC to Kansas will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,000
  • Our top recommended DC to Kansas movers is Bookstore Movers

DC to Kansas Moving Guide

Pros and Cons of Moving from DC to Kansas

ConsDC iconDC
  • High cost of living
  • Heavy traffic
  • High population density
  • Competitive job market
  • Harsh winters
ProsKansas iconKansas
  • Lower cost of living
  • Less traffic congestion
  • More open spaces
  • Stable job opportunities
  • Milder winters

Kansas iconKansas
  • Limited diversity
  • Less historical attractions
  • Limited public transport
  • Fewer restaurant choices
  • Quieter nightlife
DC iconDC
  • Cultural diversity
  • Rich history
  • Excellent public transport
  • Variety of dining options
  • Dynamic nightlife

Pros of moving from DC to Kansas

  • Say goodbye to the high cost of living and hello to the lower cost of living
  • Look forward to moving away from heavy traffic and moving to Kansas with less traffic congestion
  • Swap the high population density of DC for more open spaces in Kansas
  • Get ready for stable job opportunities in Kansas

Cons of moving from DC to Kansas

  • Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from cultural diversity in DC to live with limited diversity in Kansas
  • You'll lose out on the pro of rich history and have to settle for the con of fewer historical attractions
  • Time to bid farewell to excellent public transport and get used to limited public transport in Kansas
  • Swap a variety of dining options for fewer restaurant choices

DC vs. Kansas: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene

ComparisonDCKansas
Most iconic local food itemHalf-smokeBBQ brisket
Most popular meat dishMumbo sauce with wingsSmoked ribs
Most popular street food itemFood trucks with international cuisineBeef sandwiches
Most popular vegan foodCauliflower steakVegan BBQ jackfruit
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state
  • Ben's Chili Bowl
  • Rosa's Thai Cafe
  • Zaytinya
  • Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que
  • Q39
  • Wichita Brewing Co & Pizzeria
Fitness/Health ConscientiousnessπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺπŸ’ͺ
Abundance of Food Trucks🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚
Foodie Scene🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴
Vegan Friendly🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱

If you're moving from DC to Kansas, you will be trading the iconic Half-smoke of DC for the equally delicious BBQ brisket of Kansas. And while the locals in DC rave about their flavorful Mumbo sauce with wings and sumptuous food trucks with international cuisine, Kansas residents know they have tasty smoked ribs and beef sandwiches to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the cauliflower steak they've grown to love, they can get ready for the vegan BBQ jackfruit of Kansas. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic DC eateries like Ben's Chili Bowl, Rosa's Thai Cafe, and Zaytinya. After the boxes are unpacked in Kansas, don't wait too long before making your way to Kansas' acclaimed eateries like Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que, Q39, and Wichita Brewing Co and Pizzeria.

When comparing lifestyles, Kansas shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than DC. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Kansas compared to what you are used to in DC. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Kansas.

Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between DC and Kansas

ComparisonDCKansas
Typical Architecture StyleVictorian, FederalPrairie, Ranch
WalkabilityπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘ŸπŸ‘Ÿ
Bikeability🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲
Urban LifestyleπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈπŸ›οΈ
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listingProximity to Metro, Historic DetailsLarge Yards, Quiet Streets
  • The Victorian and Federal architecture that DC is known for will be replaced with the Prairie and Ranch architecture typical of Kansas.
  • Compared to DC's real estate listings that commonly reference proximity to metro and historic details, Kansas real estate listings often highlight features like large yards and quiet streets.
  • You can keep your walking shoes packed away. Kansas is less walkable than DC.
  • You might want to think twice before moving your bike. Kansas is less bike-friendly than DC.
  • Kansas has less of an urban feel than DC.
  • Kansas housing costs are 64% less expensive than they are in DC, with a median home price of $223,883 compared to DC’s $619,320.
  • Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Kansas have increased by 49% compared to an 8% increase in DC.
  • Rent in Kansas is 54.27% more affordable than in DC.

Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between DC and Kansas

ComparisonDCKansas
Days of Sunshine per Yearβ˜€οΈβ˜€οΈβ˜€οΈβ˜€οΈβ˜€οΈβ˜€οΈβ˜€οΈβ˜€οΈβ˜€οΈβ˜€οΈ
Avg. Annual HumidityπŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦πŸ’¦
Avg. UV IndexπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈπŸ•ΆοΈ
Natural DisastersHurricanes, FloodsTornadoes, Hail
Air QualityModerateGood
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F)88/7191/69
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F)47/2942/20
Annual Rainfall (Inches)4030
Annual Snowfall (Inches)1519
  • Break out the sunglasses for your move from DC to Kansas. Kansas gets 13% more sunshine days than DC.
  • Kansas has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to DC.
  • Say goodbye to the possible hurricanes and floods in DC, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and hail in Kansas.
  • The average summer high temperature in Kansas is 3 degrees warmer than in DC.
  • The average winter lows in Kansas are 9 degrees colder than they are in DC.
  • Your umbrella might be neglected in Kansas. Kansas receives 10 fewer inches of rain compared to DC.

Financial & Community Snapshot: DC and Kansas

ComparisonDCKansas
Avg. Household Income$101,027$68,925
Cost of Living Index140.191.8
State Income Tax8.55.7
Avg. Property Tax0.561.41
Avg. Sales Tax6.08.7
Top 3 IndustriesGovernment, Education, TourismAgriculture, Manufacturing, Energy
AffluenceHighModerate
PovertyLowModerate
HomelessnessModerateLow
  • When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Kansas tend to earn about 32% less than in DC
  • The COLI in Kansas will be 34% lower than what you are used to living in DC
  • The state income tax in KS is 5.7 compared to 8.5 in DC
  • The affluence in Kansas is moderate compared to high in DC
  • The poverty level is moderate in Kansas compared to low in DC
  • In terms of homelessness, it is moderate in DC and low in Kansas

Political and Religious Climate in DC vs. Kansas

ComparisonDCKansas
Political Make-upPrimarily DemocraticPrimarily Republican
Local PoliticsLiberal urban policiesConservative, rural influences
ReligionLess religious overallMore religious, Christian majority
  • DC tends to lean primarily Democratic in its political climate
  • Kansas, on the other hand, is often described as primarily Republican
  • Kansas' religious environment can be described as more religious with a Christian majority
  • DC's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as less religious overall

Education Guide When Moving from DC to Kansas

ComparisonDCKansas
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3)Georgetown University
George Washington University
American University
University of Kansas
Kansas State University
Wichita State University
Top 3 Elementary SchoolsHyde-Addison Elementary School
Mann Elementary School
Eaton Elementary School
Briarwood Elementary School
Prairie Star Elementary School
Corinth Elementary School
Top 3 Middle SchoolsDeal Middle School
Hardy Middle School
McKinley Middle School
Lakewood Middle School
Leawood Middle School
Indian Hills Middle School
Top 3 High School SchoolsWilson High School
School Without Walls High School
McKinley Tech High School
Blue Valley North High School
Shawnee Mission East High School
Olathe North High School
Top 3 private high schoolsSidwell Friends School
Georgetown Day School
St. Albans School
The Pembroke Hill School
Kapaun Mt. Carmel Catholic High School
Bishop Miege High School
Top 3 private K-12 schoolsSidwell Friends School
Georgetown Day School
National Cathedral School
The Pembroke Hill School
Wichita Collegiate School
Kansas City Christian School
Top 3 School DistrictsDistrict of Columbia Public SchoolsBlue Valley School District
Shawnee Mission School District
Olathe District Schools

How Much Do DC to Kansas Movers Cost?

Moving 1,294 miles from DC to Kansas will typically cost between $3,000 and $7,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.

  • Expected Range: $3,000 - $7,000
  • Expected Time To Complete: 2-2 days
  • Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Mic's Moving
HOME SIZEMOVING COSTVOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3)$/FT3
Studio$1,936300 ft3$6.45
1 Bedroom$2,882450 ft3$6.40
2 Bedrooms$4,765750 ft3$6.35
3 Bedrooms$6,9341100 ft3$6.30
4 Bedrooms$10,0061600 ft3$6.25
5+ Bedrooms$11,1671800 ft3$6.20

Top DC to Kansas Movers

Read our in-depth analysis of the best DC to Kansas movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

TOP PICK
Bookstore Movers featured image

Bookstore Movers

Best moving company overall for DC to Kansas

9.60/10
ExceptionalView details
RUNNER-UP
Mic's Moving featured image

Mic's Moving

9.60/10
ExceptionalView details
ALSO GREAT
Ap Pro Moving Llc featured image

Ap Pro Moving Llc

9.44/10
ExceptionalView details