Kansas to Colorado Moving Guide
Updated June 9, 2025

Planning a 465 mile interstate move from Kansas to Colorado? This moving guide will help you compare living in Kansas vs Colorado across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons, food & health (like BBQ Ribs vs Rocky Mountain Oysters), real estate & housing (ranch vs mountain modern), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Colorado), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to BBQ Ribs and Smoked Brisket, but get your taste buds ready for Rocky Mountain Oysters & Bison Burgers
- Colorado housing costs are 145% more expensive than they are in Kansas
- Rent in Colorado is 84.70% more expensive than in Kansas
- Moving from Kansas to Colorado will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,000
- Our top recommended Kansas to Colorado movers is Movemasters, Inc.
Kansas vs. Colorado: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Kansas | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | BBQ Ribs | Rocky Mountain Oysters |
Most popular meat dish | Smoked Brisket | Bison Burgers |
Most popular street food item | BBQ Sandwiches | Green Chili Burritos |
Most popular vegan food | Jackfruit BBQ | Quinoa Salads |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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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 Colorado, you will be trading the iconic BBQ Ribs of Kansas for the equally delicious Rocky Mountain Oysters of Colorado. And while the locals in Kansas rave about their flavorful Smoked Brisket and sumptuous BBQ Sandwiches, Colorado residents know they have tasty Bison Burgers and Green Chili Burritos 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 Quinoa Salads of Colorado. 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, Chicken Annie's Original, and Stroud's. After the boxes are unpacked in Colorado, don't wait too long before making your way to Colorado's acclaimed eateries like The Buckhorn Exchange, Beast + Bottle, and Root Down.
When comparing lifestyles, Colorado shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Kansas. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Colorado compared to what you are used to in Kansas. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Colorado.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Kansas and Colorado
Comparison | Kansas | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Ranch | Mountain Modern |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious backyards, Basement | Mountain views, Proximity to trails |
- The Ranch architecture that Kansas is known for will be replaced with the Mountain Modern architecture typical of Colorado.
- Compared to Kansas's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious backyards and basements, Colorado real estate listings often highlight features like mountain views and proximity to trails.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes; Colorado is more walkable than Kansas.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; Colorado is more bike-friendly than Kansas.
- Colorado has more of an urban feel than Kansas.
- Colorado housing costs are 145% more expensive than they are in Kansas, with a median home price of $549,126 compared to Kansasβs $223,883.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Colorado have increased by 40% compared to a 49% increase in Kansas.
- Rent in Colorado is 84.70% more expensive than in Kansas.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Kansas and Colorado
Comparison | Kansas | Colorado |
---|---|---|
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, Floods | Wildfires, Avalanches |
Air Quality | Good | Variable |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 90Β°F / 70Β°F | 85Β°F / 60Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 40Β°F / 20Β°F | 45Β°F / 18Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 28" | 15" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 20" | 60" |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Kansas to Colorado. Colorado gets 7% more sunshine days than Kansas.
- Colorado has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Kansas.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and floods in Kansas, but be on the lookout for potential wildfires and avalanches in Colorado.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Colorado is 5 degrees colder than in Kansas.
- The average winter lows are 2 degrees colder than they are in Kansas.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Colorado. Colorado receives 13 fewer inches of rain compared to Kansas.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Kansas and Colorado
Comparison | Kansas | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $68,925 | $89,302 |
Cost of Living Index | 91.8 | 98.3 |
State Income Tax | 3.1-5.7 | 4.4-4.6 |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.37 | 0.51 |
Avg. Sales Tax | 6.5 | 2.9 |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Manufacturing, Energy | Aerospace, Tourism, Technology |
Affluence | Modest | Affluent |
Poverty | Moderate | Lower |
Homelessness | Low | Higher |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Colorado tend to earn about 30% more than those in Kansas
- The COLI in Colorado will be 7% higher than what you are used to living in Kansas
- The state income tax in Colorado is 4.4-4.6 compared to 3.1-5.7 in Kansas
- The affluence in Colorado is affluent compared to modest in Kansas
- The poverty level is lower in Colorado compared to moderate in Kansas
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Kansas and higher in Colorado
Political and Religious Climate in Kansas vs. Colorado
Comparison | Kansas | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Traditionally leans Republican | Known for its swing state status, recently trending Democratic |
Local Politics | Conservative in rural areas, liberal in urban centers like Wichita | Liberal in urban areas like Denver, more conservative in rural regions |
Religion | Christian majority, with a significant Protestant population | Diverse religious landscape, less religious overall compared to Kansas |
- Kansas tends to lean traditionally Republican in its political climate
- Colorado, on the other hand, is often described as known for its swing state status, recently trending Democratic
- Colorado's religious environment can be described as a diverse religious landscape, less religious overall compared to Kansas
- Kansas' residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as a Christian majority, with a significant Protestant population
Education Guide When Moving from Kansas to Colorado
Comparison | Kansas | Colorado |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Kansas Kansas State University Wichita State University | University of Colorado Boulder Colorado State University University of Denver |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Meadowbrook Elementary Prairie Village Sunflower Elementary Lawrence Corinth Elementary Leawood | Bromwell Elementary Denver Cory Elementary Denver Parker Core Knowledge Parker |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Leawood Middle School Leawood Lakewood Middle Overland Park Harmony Middle Overland Park | DSST: Byers Middle School Denver Mountain Ridge Middle School Highlands Ranch Challenge School Denver |
Top 3 High School Schools | Blue Valley North High Overland Park Shawnee Mission East High Shawnee Mission Olathe North High Olathe | Cherry Creek High School Greenwood Village Fairview High School Boulder Peak to Peak Charter School Lafayette |
Top 3 private high schools | The Pembroke Hill School Kansas City Bishop Seabury Academy Lawrence Kapaun Mt. Carmel Catholic High School Wichita | Kent Denver School Englewood Colorado Academy Denver The Colorado Springs School Colorado Springs |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Wichita Collegiate School Wichita Topeka Collegiate School Topeka Bishop Seabury Academy Lawrence | Denver Christian School Denver Valor Christian High School Highlands Ranch Dawson School Lafayette |
Top 3 School Districts | Blue Valley School District Overland Park Shawnee Mission School District Shawnee Mission Olathe District Schools Olathe | Cherry Creek School District Greenwood Village Boulder Valley School District Boulder Douglas County School District Castle Rock |
How Much Do Kansas to Colorado Movers Cost?
Moving 465 miles from Kansas to Colorado will typically cost between $2,000 and $5,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,000 - $5,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-9.5 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: The Move Caddies
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,466 | 300 ft3 | $4.89 |
1 Bedroom | $2,177 | 450 ft3 | $4.84 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,590 | 750 ft3 | $4.79 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,211 | 1100 ft3 | $4.74 |
4 Bedrooms | $7,499 | 1600 ft3 | $4.69 |
5+ Bedrooms | $8,347 | 1800 ft3 | $4.64 |
Top Kansas to Colorado Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Kansas to Colorado movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.