Kansas to Arizona Moving Guide
Updated June 17, 2025

Planning a 948 mile interstate move from Kansas to Arizona? This moving guide will help you compare living in Kansas vs Arizona across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like severe thunderstorms vs more sunny days), food & health (like BBQ Ribs vs Chimichanga), real estate & housing (ranch vs pueblo revival), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Arizona), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to BBQ Ribs and Smoked Brisket, but get your taste buds ready for Chimichanga & Carne Asada
- Arizona housing costs are 92% more expensive than they are in Kansas
- Rent in Arizona is 74.42% more expensive than in Kansas
- Moving from Kansas to Arizona will cost on average between $1,500 - $6,000
- Our top recommended Kansas to Arizona movers is Sterling Interstate LLC
Kansas to Arizona Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Kansas to Arizona
- Severe thunderstorms
- High humidity
- Flat landscapes
- Limited outdoor activities
- More sunny days
- Low humidity
- Diverse landscapes
- Abundant hiking spots
- Urban sprawl
- Higher cost of living
- Hot summers
- Limited water supply
- Community feel
- Lower cost of living
- Four seasons
- Rich agriculture
Pros of moving from Kansas to Arizona
- Say goodbye to severe thunderstorms and hello to more sunny days
- Look forward to moving away from high humidity and moving to Arizona with low humidity
- Swap the flat landscapes of Kansas for diverse landscapes in Arizona
- Get ready for abundant hiking spots in Arizona
Cons of moving from Kansas to Arizona
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the community feel in Kansas to live with urban sprawl in Arizona
- You'll lose out on the pro of a lower cost of living and have to settle for the con of a higher cost of living
- Time to bid farewell to four seasons and get used to hot summers in Arizona
- Swap rich agriculture for a limited water supply
Kansas vs. Arizona: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Kansas | Arizona |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | BBQ Ribs | Chimichanga |
Most popular meat dish | Smoked Brisket | Carne Asada |
Most popular street food item | Beef Sliders | Tacos |
Most popular vegan food | Jackfruit BBQ | Veggie Tacos |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
|
|
Fitness/Health Conscientiousness | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ |
Abundance of Food Trucks | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Foodie Scene | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ |
Vegan Friendly | π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π± | π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π± |
If you're moving from Kansas to Arizona, you will be trading the iconic BBQ Ribs of Kansas for the equally delicious Chimichanga of Arizona. And while the locals in Kansas rave about their flavorful Smoked Brisket and sumptuous Beef Sliders, Arizona residents know they have tasty Carne Asada and Tacos to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Jackfruit BBQ they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Veggie Tacos of Arizona. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Kansas eateries like Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que, Freddyβs Frozen Custard and Steakburgers, and Stroud's. After the boxes are unpacked in Arizona, don't wait too long before making your way to Arizona's acclaimed eateries like Elote Cafe, Pizzeria Bianco, and Frank and Lupe's.
When comparing lifestyles, Arizona shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Kansas. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Arizona, compared to what you are used to in Kansas. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Arizona.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Kansas and Arizona
Comparison | Kansas | Arizona |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Ranch | Pueblo Revival |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious backyards, Quiet neighborhoods | Energy-efficient features, Desert landscaping |
- The Ranch architecture that Kansas is known for will be replaced with the Pueblo Revival architecture typical of Arizona.
- Compared to Kansas's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious backyards and quiet neighborhoods, Arizona real estate listings often highlight features like energy-efficient designs and desert landscaping.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Arizona is more walkable than Kansas.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Arizona is more bike-friendly than Kansas.
- Arizona has more of an urban feel than Kansas.
- Arizona housing costs are 92% more expensive than they are in Kansas, with a median home price of $430,827 compared to Kansasβs $223,883.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Arizona have increased 63% compared to a 49% increase in Kansas.
- Rent in Arizona is 74.42% more expensive than in Kansas.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Kansas and Arizona
Comparison | Kansas | Arizona |
---|---|---|
Days of Sunshine per Year | βοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈ | βοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈ |
Avg. Annual Humidity | π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦ | π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦ |
Avg. UV Index | πΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈ | πΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈ |
Natural Disasters | Tornadoes, Thunderstorms | Dust Storms, Heatwaves |
Air Quality | Generally Good | Varies, can be Poor in Cities |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 90Β°F / 70Β°F | 100Β°F / 81Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 40Β°F / 20Β°F | 68Β°F / 47Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 28" | 13" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 18" | 0-3" |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Kansas to Arizona. Arizona gets 30% more sunshine days than Kansas.
- Arizona has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Kansas.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and thunderstorms in Kansas, but be on the lookout for potential dust storms and heatwaves in Arizona.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Arizona is 10 degrees warmer than in Kansas.
- The average winter lows are 27 degrees warmer in Arizona than they are in Kansas.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Arizona. Arizona receives 15 fewer inches of rain compared to Kansas.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Kansas and Arizona
Comparison | Kansas | Arizona |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $68,925 | $74,568 |
Cost of Living Index | 91.8 | 101.2 |
State Income Tax | 3.1% | 4.5% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.41% | 0.62% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 8.68% | 8.40% |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Manufacturing, Aerospace | Tourism, Technology, Healthcare |
Affluence | Moderate | Mixed |
Poverty | Average | Above Average |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Arizona tend to earn about 8% more than those in Kansas
- The COLI in Arizona will be 10% higher than what you are used to living in Kansas
- The state income tax in AZ is 4.5% compared to 3.1% in KS
- The affluence in Arizona is mixed compared to moderate affluence in Kansas
- The poverty level is above average in Arizona compared to average poverty in Kansas
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Kansas and moderate in Arizona
Political and Religious Climate in Kansas vs. Arizona
Comparison | Kansas | Arizona |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Conservative | Mixed, with swing state tendencies |
Local Politics | Republican dominance in rural areas | Diverse, with both Democratic and Republican strongholds |
Religion | Christian predominance, Methodist and Baptist notable | Christian majority, with a Catholic significant presence |
- Kansas tends to lean Conservative in its political climate
- Arizona, on the other hand, is often described as mixed with swing state tendencies
- Arizona's religious environment can be described as a Christian majority with a significant Catholic presence
- Kansas' residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as Christian predominance with notable Methodist and Baptist influences
Education Guide When Moving from Kansas to Arizona
Comparison | Kansas | Arizona |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Kansas Kansas State University Wichita State University | University of Arizona Arizona State University Northern Arizona University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Meadowbrook Elementary Prairie Village; Corinth Elementary Leawood; Lakewood Elementary Overland Park | Basis Scottsdale Primary Scottsdale; Khalsa Montessori Elementary School Phoenix; Benchmark School Phoenix |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Leawood Middle School Leawood; Prairie Star Middle School Leawood; Lakewood Middle School Overland Park | Basis Chandler Chandler; Basis Scottsdale Scottsdale; Basis Tucson North Tucson |
Top 3 High Schools | Blue Valley North High School Overland Park; Shawnee Mission East High School Prairie Village; Olathe North High School Olathe | Basis Scottsdale Scottsdale; Basis Oro Valley Oro Valley; Basis Peoria Peoria |
Top 3 private high schools | The Pembroke Hill School Kansas City; Wichita Collegiate School Wichita; Thomas More Prep-Marian Hays | Brophy College Preparatory Phoenix; Xavier College Preparatory Phoenix; The Gregory School Tucson |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Independent School Wichita; Cair Paravel Latin School Topeka; Wichita Collegiate School Wichita | Veritas Preparatory Academy Phoenix; Chandler Preparatory Academy Chandler; Northland Preparatory Academy Flagstaff |
Top 3 School Districts | Blue Valley School District Overland Park; Shawnee Mission School District Shawnee; Olathe School District Olathe | Scottsdale Unified School District Scottsdale; Chandler Unified School District Chandler; Gilbert Public Schools Gilbert |
How Much Do Kansas to Arizona Movers Cost?
Moving 948 miles from Kansas to Arizona will typically cost between $2,500 and $6,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,500 - $6,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 3-9 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Sterling Interstate LLC
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,740 | 300 ft3 | $5.80 |
1 Bedroom | $2,587 | 450 ft3 | $5.75 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,275 | 750 ft3 | $5.70 |
3 Bedrooms | $6,215 | 1100 ft3 | $5.65 |
4 Bedrooms | $8,960 | 1600 ft3 | $5.60 |
5+ Bedrooms | $9,990 | 1800 ft3 | $5.55 |
Top Kansas to Arizona Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Kansas to Arizona movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Sterling Interstate LLC
Best moving company overall for Kansas to Arizona