Kansas to Utah Moving Guide
Updated June 4, 2025

Planning a 830 mile interstate move from Kansas to Utah? This moving guide will help you compare living in Kansas vs Utah across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh storms vs less severe weather), food & health (like BBQ ribs vs Funeral potatoes), real estate & housing (ranch vs modern and craftsman), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Utah), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to BBQ ribs and Smoked brisket, but get your taste buds ready for Funeral potatoes & Mormon pot roast
- Utah housing costs are 132% more expensive than they are in Kansas
- Rent in Utah is 53.49% more expensive than in Kansas
- Moving from Kansas to Utah will cost on average between $1,500 - $6,000
- Our top recommended Kansas to Utah movers is 801 Moving Company
Kansas to Utah Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Kansas to Utah
- Harsh storms
- Flat landscapes
- Limited outdoor recreation
- Fewer travel destinations
- Less severe weather
- Mountainous terrain
- Abundant outdoor activities
- Proximity to national parks
- Higher cost of living
- Busy urban centers
- Less historical depth
- Competitive atmosphere
- Affordable living
- Quieter lifestyle
- Historical charm
- Friendly communities
Pros of moving from Kansas to Utah
- Say goodbye to harsh storms and hello to less severe weather
- Look forward to moving away from flat landscapes and moving to Utah with mountainous terrain
- Swap the limited outdoor recreation of Kansas for abundant outdoor activities in Utah
- Get ready for proximity to national parks in Utah
Cons of moving from Kansas to Utah
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from affordable living in Kansas to live with a higher cost of living in Utah
- You'll lose out on the pro of a quieter lifestyle and have to settle for the con of busy urban centers
- Time to bid farewell to historical charm and get used to less historical depth in Utah
- Swap friendly communities for a competitive atmosphere
Kansas vs. Utah: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Kansas | Utah |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | BBQ ribs | Funeral potatoes |
Most popular meat dish | Smoked brisket | Mormon pot roast |
Most popular street food item | BBQ sandwiches | Fry sauce with anything fried |
Most popular vegan food | Jackfruit BBQ | Avocado toast |
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 Utah, you will be trading the iconic BBQ ribs of Kansas for the equally delicious Funeral potatoes of Utah. And while the locals in Kansas rave about their flavorful smoked brisket and sumptuous BBQ sandwiches, Utah residents know they have tasty Mormon pot roast and Fry sauce with anything fried 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 avocado toast of Utah. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Kansas eateries like Joeβs Kansas City Bar-B-Que, Chicken Annieβs Original, and Slap's BBQ. After the boxes are unpacked in Utah, don't wait too long before making your way to Utah's acclaimed eateries like Log Haven, Red Iguana, and Ruth's Diner.
When comparing lifestyles, Utah shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Kansas. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Utah compared to what you are used to in Kansas. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Utah.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Kansas and Utah
Comparison | Kansas | Utah |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Ranch | Modern and Craftsman |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious yards, basements | Mountain views, outdoor living spaces |
- The Ranch architecture that Kansas is known for will be replaced with the Modern and Craftsman architecture typical of Utah.
- Compared to Kansas's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious yards and basements, Utah real estate listings often highlight features like mountain views and outdoor living spaces.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Utah is less walkable than Kansas.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; Utah is more bike-friendly than Kansas.
- Utah has more of an urban feel than Kansas.
- Utah housing costs are 132% more expensive than they are in Kansas, with a median home price of $519,182 compared to Kansasβs $223,883.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Utah have increased by 56% compared to a 49% increase in Kansas.
- Rent in Utah is 53.49% more expensive than in Kansas.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Kansas and Utah
Comparison | Kansas | Utah |
---|---|---|
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, Storms | Earthquakes, Wildfires |
Air Quality | Moderate | Varies; occasional poor in urban areas |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 90F/70F | 85F/60F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 40F/20F | 37F/20F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 28" | 20" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 18" | 56" |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Kansas to Utah. Utah gets 3% more sunshine days than Kansas.
- Utah has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Kansas.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and storms in Kansas, but be on the lookout for potential earthquakes and wildfires in Utah.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Utah is 5 degrees colder than in Kansas.
- The average winter lows are 0 degrees colder than they are in Kansas.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Utah. Utah receives 8 fewer inches of rain compared to Kansas.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Kansas and Utah
Comparison | Kansas | Utah |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $68,925 | $89,168 |
Cost of Living Index | 91.8 | 95.75 |
State Income Tax | 5.7% | 4.95% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.37% | 0.65% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 8.7% | 7.1% |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Manufacturing, Energy | Technology, Tourism, Mining |
Affluence | Moderate | Moderate |
Poverty | Average | Low |
Homelessness | Low | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Utah tend to earn about 29% more than in Kansas
- The COLI in Utah will be 4% higher than what you are used to living in Kansas
- The state income tax in UT is 4.95% compared to 5.7% in KS
- The affluence in Utah is moderate compared to moderate in Kansas
- The poverty level is low in Utah compared to average in Kansas
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Kansas and low in Utah
Political and Religious Climate in Kansas vs. Utah
Comparison | Kansas | Utah |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Mixed, leaning Republican | Strongly Republican |
Local Politics | Moderate local governance | Conservative local governance |
Religion | Christianity predominant, variety of denominations | Latter-day Saints majority, influencing lifestyle and politics |
- Kansas tends to lean mixed, leaning Republican in its political climate
- Utah, on the other hand, is often described as strongly Republican
- Utah's religious environment can be described as a Latter-day Saints majority, influencing lifestyle and politics
- Kansas' residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as predominantly Christianity, featuring a variety of denominations
Education Guide When Moving from Kansas to Utah
Comparison | Kansas | Utah |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Kansas Kansas State University Wichita State University | University of Utah Brigham Young University Utah State University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Meadowbrook Elementary (Overland Park) Corinth Elementary (Leawood) Briarwood Elementary (Prairie Village) | Edgemont Elementary (Provo) North Star Elementary (Salt Lake City) Canyon View Elementary (Cottonwood Heights) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Indian Hill Middle (Prairie Village) Harmony Middle (Overland Park) Pioneer Trail Middle (Olathe) | Centennial Middle (Provo) Midvale Middle (Midvale) Indian Hills Middle (Sandy) |
Top 3 High Schools | Blue Valley North High (Overland Park) Shawnee Mission East High (Prairie Village) Olathe North High (Olathe) | Skyline High (Salt Lake City) Timpview High (Provo) Davis High (Kaysville) |
Top 3 private high schools | Bishop Miege High (Roeland Park) St. Thomas Aquinas High (Overland Park) Kapaun Mt. Carmel Catholic High (Wichita) | Rowland Hall (Salt Lake City) Waterford School (Sandy) Juan Diego Catholic High (Draper) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Wichita Collegiate School (Wichita) The Independent School (Wichita) Cair Paravel Latin School (Topeka) | Waterford School (Sandy) Rowland Hall (Salt Lake City) The Madeleine Choir School (Salt Lake City) |
Top 3 School Districts | Blue Valley School District Olathe District Schools Shawnee Mission School District | Canyons School District Davis School District Park City School District |
How Much Do Kansas to Utah Movers Cost?
Moving 830 miles from Kansas to Utah 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: 2-4 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: 801 Moving Company
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,673 | 300 ft3 | $5.58 |
1 Bedroom | $2,487 | 450 ft3 | $5.53 |
2 Bedrooms | $4,108 | 750 ft3 | $5.48 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,969 | 1100 ft3 | $5.43 |
4 Bedrooms | $8,603 | 1600 ft3 | $5.38 |
5+ Bedrooms | $9,588 | 1800 ft3 | $5.33 |
Top Kansas to Utah Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Kansas to Utah movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.