Movers

Kansas to New York Moving Guide

Updated June 10, 2025

Hero background image

Planning a 1,488 mile interstate move from Kansas to New York? This moving guide will help you compare living in Kansas vs New York across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like severe tornado risk vs robust public transport), food & health (like Barbecue ribs vs Bagels), real estate & housing (ranch vs high-rise), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in New York), politics & religion, and education.

Key Takeaways:

  • Say goodbye to Barbecue ribs and Smoked brisket, but get your taste buds ready for Bagels & Pastrami on rye
  • New York housing costs are 106% more expensive than they are in Kansas
  • Rent in New York is 127.73% more expensive than in Kansas
  • Moving from Kansas to New York will cost on average between $2,000 - $7,500
  • Our top recommended Kansas to New York movers is JP Urban Moving

Kansas to New York Moving Guide

Pros and Cons of Moving from Kansas to New York

ConsKansas iconKansas
  • Severe tornado risk
  • Limited cultural events
  • Mostly flat landscape
ProsNew York iconNew York
  • Robust public transport
  • Diverse cultural scene
  • Varied urban landscapes

New York iconNew York
  • High living expenses
  • Fast-paced lifestyle
  • Less personal space
Kansas iconKansas
  • Low cost of living
  • Slower pace of life
  • Tight-knit communities

Pros of moving from Kansas to New York

  • Say goodbye to severe tornado risk and hello to robust public transport
  • Look forward to moving away from limited cultural events and moving to New York with a diverse cultural scene
  • Swap the mostly flat landscape of Kansas for varied urban landscapes in New York

Cons of moving from Kansas to New York

  • Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the low cost of living in Kansas to live with high living expenses in New York
  • You'll lose out on the pro of a slower pace of life and have to settle with the con of a fast-paced lifestyle
  • Time to bid farewell to tight-knit communities and get used to less personal space in New York

Kansas vs. New York: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene

ComparisonKansasNew York
Most iconic local food itemBarbecue ribsBagels
Most popular meat dishSmoked brisketPastrami on rye
Most popular street food itemWheat State PizzaHot dogs
Most popular vegan foodVegan BBQVegan slices (pizza)
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state
  • Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que
  • Q39
  • The Anchor
  • Katz's Delicatessen
  • Le Bernardin
  • Shake Shack
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 Kansas to New York, you will be trading the iconic barbecue ribs of Kansas for the equally delicious bagels of New York. And while the locals in Kansas rave about their flavorful smoked brisket and sumptuous Wheat State pizza, New York residents know they have tasty pastrami on rye and hot dogs to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the vegan BBQ they've grown to love, they can get ready for the vegan slices (pizza) of New York. 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, Q39, and The Anchor. After the boxes are unpacked in New York, don't wait too long before making your way to New York's acclaimed eateries like Katz's Delicatessen, Le Bernardin, and Shake Shack.

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

Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Kansas and New York

ComparisonKansasNew York
Typical Architecture StyleRanchHigh-rise
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 listingSpacious yards, garagesDoorman, rooftop access
  • The Ranch architecture that Kansas is known for will be replaced with the High-rise architecture typical of New York.
  • Compared to Kansas's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious yards and garages, New York real estate listings often highlight features like doormen and rooftop access.
  • Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. New York is more walkable than Kansas.
  • Make sure the movers take care of your bike. New York is more bike-friendly than Kansas.
  • New York has more of an urban feel than Kansas.
  • New York housing costs are 106% more expensive than they are in Kansas, with a median home price of $460,812 compared to Kansas’s $223,883.
  • Over the prior 5 years, home prices in New York have increased 36% compared to a 49% increase in Kansas.
  • Rent in New York is 127.73% more expensive than in Kansas.

Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Kansas and New York

ComparisonKansasNew York
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 DisastersTornadoes, StormsHurricanes, Blizzards
Air QualityGoodModerate
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F)89Β°F/68Β°F82Β°F/62Β°F
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F)42Β°F/20Β°F38Β°F/26Β°F
Annual Rainfall (Inches)2845
Annual Snowfall (Inches)1825
  • The shades won't be used as much for your move from Kansas to New York. New York gets 3% fewer sunshine days than Kansas.
  • New York has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Kansas.
  • Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and storms in Kansas, but be on the lookout for potential hurricanes and blizzards in New York.
  • Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in New York is 7 degrees colder than Kansas.
  • The average winter lows in New York are 6 degrees warmer than those in Kansas.
  • Your umbrella might be more overworked in New York. New York receives 17 more inches of rain compared to Kansas.

Financial & Community Snapshot: Kansas and New York

ComparisonKansasNew York
Avg. Household Income$68,925$79,557
Cost of Living Index91.8102.8
State Income Tax5.70%8.82%
Avg. Property Tax1.37%1.68%
Avg. Sales Tax8.68%8.52%
Top 3 IndustriesAgriculture, Manufacturing, EnergyFinance, Technology, Healthcare
AffluenceModerateHigh
PovertyMediumLow
HomelessnessLowHigh
  • When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in New York tend to earn about 15% more than in Kansas
  • The COLI in New York is 12% higher than what you are used to living in Kansas
  • The state income tax in NY is 8.82% compared to 5.70% in KS
  • The affluence in New York is high compared to moderate in Kansas
  • The poverty level is low in New York compared to medium in Kansas
  • In terms of homelessness, it is low in Kansas and high in New York

Political and Religious Climate in Kansas vs. New York

ComparisonKansasNew York
Political Make-upTraditionally RepublicanStrongly Democratic
Local PoliticsConservative in rural areasLiberal, especially in urban areas
ReligionChristian majority, with Protestant and Catholic communitiesDiverse religious landscape, including Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and others
  • Kansas tends to lean traditionally Republican in its political climate
  • New York, on the other hand, is often described as strongly Democratic
  • New York's religious environment can be described as a diverse religious landscape, including Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and others
  • Kansas' residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as a Christian majority, with Protestant and Catholic communities

Education Guide When Moving from Kansas to New York

ComparisonKansasNew York
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3)University of Kansas
Kansas State University
Wichita State University
Columbia University
New York University
Cornell University
Top 3 Elementary SchoolsCorinth Elementary School (Prairie Village)
Meadowbrook Elementary (Prairie Village)
Briarwood Elementary (Overland Park)
PS 77 Lower Lab School (New York)
Success Academy Charter School-Bronx 1 (Bronx)
Baccalaureate School for Global Education (Queens)
Top 3 Middle SchoolsLeawood Middle School (Leawood)
Indian Hills Middle School (Prairie Village)
Overland Trail Middle School (Overland Park)
Lab Middle School for Collaborative Studies (New York)
New York City Lab Middle School for Collaborative Studies (Manhattan)
Success Academy Charter School-Bronx 1 (Bronx)
Top 3 High SchoolsBlue Valley North High School (Overland Park)
Blue Valley West High School (Overland Park)
Shawnee Mission East High School (Prairie Village)
Stuyvesant High School (Manhattan)
Bronx High School of Science (Bronx)
Brooklyn Technical High School (Brooklyn)
Top 3 private high schoolsPembroke Hill School (Kansas City)
The Independent School (Wichita)
St. Thomas Aquinas High School (Overland Park)
Horace Mann School (Bronx)
Trinity School (New York)
Collegiate School (New York)
Top 3 private K-12 schoolsWichita Collegiate School (Wichita)
Topeka Collegiate School (Topeka)
Cair Paravel Latin School (Topeka)
Collegiate School (New York)
Trinity School (New York)
Horace Mann School (Bronx)
Top 3 School DistrictsBlue Valley School District
Shawnee Mission School District
Olathe District Schools
Scarsdale Union Free School District
Jericho Union Free School District
Syosset Central School District

How Much Do Kansas to New York Movers Cost?

Moving 1,488 miles from Kansas to New York will typically cost between $3,000 and $7,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.

  • Expected Range: $3,000 - $7,500
  • Expected Time To Complete: 2-7 days
  • Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Magical Moving & Storage
HOME SIZEMOVING COSTVOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3)$/FT3
Studio$2,046300 ft3$6.82
1 Bedroom$3,047450 ft3$6.77
2 Bedrooms$5,040750 ft3$6.72
3 Bedrooms$7,3371100 ft3$6.67
4 Bedrooms$10,5921600 ft3$6.62
5+ Bedrooms$11,8261800 ft3$6.57

Top Kansas to New York Movers

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

TOP PICK
JP Urban Moving featured image

JP Urban Moving

Best moving company overall for Kansas to New York

9.85/10
ExceptionalView details
RUNNER-UP
Metropolis Moving featured image

Metropolis Moving

9.72/10
ExceptionalView details
ALSO GREAT
American Movers featured image

American Movers

9.03/10