Kansas to Washington Moving Guide
Updated June 17, 2025

Planning a 1,687 mile interstate move from Kansas to Washington? This moving guide will help you compare living in Kansas vs Washington across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like flat landscapes vs mountainous scenery), food & health (like BBQ Ribs vs Salmon), real estate & housing (ranch-style vs northwest contemporary), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Washington), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to BBQ Ribs and Smoked Brisket, but get your taste buds ready for Salmon & Seafood Bisque
- Washington housing costs are 164% more expensive than they are in Kansas
- Rent in Washington is 79.70% more expensive than in Kansas
- Moving from Kansas to Washington will cost on average between $2,000 - $8,000
- Our top recommended Kansas to Washington movers is Seattle Moves & More
Top Kansas to Washington Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Kansas to Washington movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.
Seattle Moves & More
Best moving company overall for Kansas to Washington

John Volken Academy Movers

American Movers
Kansas to Washington Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Kansas to Washington
- Flat landscapes
- Extreme temperatures
- Limited public transit
- Fewer tech jobs
- Less cultural diversity
- Mountainous scenery
- Milder climate
- Extensive public transit
- Thriving tech industry
- Rich cultural diversity
- Higher living expenses
- Fast-paced lifestyle
- Adjusting to new culture
- Higher population density
- Low cost of living
- Slower pace of life
- Familiar communities
- Wide open spaces
Pros of moving from Kansas to Washington
- Say goodbye to flat landscapes and hello to mountainous scenery
- Look forward to moving away from extreme temperatures and moving to Washington with a milder climate
- Swap the limited public transit of Kansas for extensive public transit in Washington
- Get ready for a thriving tech industry in Washington
Cons of moving from Kansas to Washington
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from a low cost of living in Kansas to live with higher living expenses in Washington
- 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 familiar communities and get used to adjusting to a new culture in Washington
- Swap wide open spaces for a higher population density
Kansas vs. Washington: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Kansas | Washington |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | BBQ Ribs | Salmon |
Most popular meat dish | Smoked Brisket | Seafood Bisque |
Most popular street food item | BBQ Sandwich | Teriyaki |
Most popular vegan food | Kansas Wheat Berry Salad | Quinoa Kale Salad |
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 Washington, you will be trading the iconic BBQ Ribs of Kansas for the equally delicious Salmon of Washington. And while the locals in Kansas rave about their flavorful Smoked Brisket and sumptuous BBQ Sandwich, Washington residents know they have tasty Seafood Bisque and Teriyaki to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Kansas Wheat Berry Salad they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Quinoa Kale Salad of Washington. 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, Larksbar, and Hy-Vee Grill. After the boxes are unpacked in Washington, don't wait too long before making your way to Washington's acclaimed eateries like Canlis, The Herb Farm, and Matt's Rotisserie and Oyster Lounge.
When comparing lifestyles, Washington shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Kansas. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Washington, compared to what you are used to in Kansas. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Washington.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Kansas and Washington
Comparison | Kansas | Washington |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Ranch-style | Northwest Contemporary |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Large yards, quiet neighborhoods | Eco-friendly features, proximity to nature |
- The Ranch-style architecture that Kansas is known for will be replaced with the Northwest Contemporary architecture typical of Washington.
- Compared to Kansas's real estate listings that commonly reference large yards and quiet neighborhoods, Washington real estate listings often highlight features like eco-friendly designs and proximity to nature.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes; Washington is more walkable than Kansas.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; Washington is more bike-friendly than Kansas.
- Washington has more of an urban feel than Kansas.
- Washington housing costs are 164% more expensive than they are in Kansas, with a median home price of $591,148 compared to Kansasβs $223,883.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Washington have increased by 49% compared to a 49% increase in Kansas.
- Rent in Washington is 79.70% more expensive than in Kansas.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Kansas and Washington
Comparison | Kansas | Washington |
---|---|---|
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, severe storms | Earthquakes, volcanoes |
Air Quality | Generally good, varies by season | Varies, can be affected by wildfires |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 89Β°F / 68Β°F | 75Β°F / 55Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 44Β°F / 20Β°F | 47Β°F / 36Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 30 | 38 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 18 | 50 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Kansas to Washington. Washington gets 34% fewer sunshine days than Kansas.
- Washington has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Kansas.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and severe storms in Kansas, but be on the lookout for potential earthquakes and volcanoes in Washington.
- Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Washington is 14 degrees colder than in Kansas.
- The average winter lows are 16 degrees warmer than they are in Kansas.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Washington. Washington receives 8 more inches of rain compared to Kansas.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Kansas and Washington
Comparison | Kansas | Washington |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $68,925 | $91,306 |
Cost of Living Index | 91.8 | 104.1 |
State Income Tax | 5.7% | 0% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.4% | 1.03% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 8.68% | 9.23% |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Manufacturing, Aerospace | Technology, Aerospace, Healthcare |
Affluence | Moderate | High |
Poverty | Moderate | Low |
Homelessness | Low | High |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Washington tend to earn about 32% more than those in Kansas
- The COLI in Washington is 13% higher than what you are used to living in Kansas
- Hooray, moving to WA means you'll no longer have state income taxes
- The affluence in Washington is high compared to moderate affluence in Kansas
- The poverty level is low in Washington compared to moderate poverty in Kansas
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Kansas and high in Washington
Political and Religious Climate in Kansas vs. Washington
Comparison | Kansas | Washington |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Leans Republican | Leans Democratic |
Local Politics | Conservative, with pockets of liberalism in larger cities | Liberal, especially in urban areas like Seattle |
Religion | Christian majority, large evangelical presence | Less religiously inclined, diverse faiths |
- Kansas tends to lean Republican in its political climate
- Washington, on the other hand, is often described as leaning Democratic
- Washington's religious environment can be described as less religiously inclined and diverse in faiths
- Kansas' residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as a Christian majority with a large evangelical presence
Education Guide When Moving from Kansas to Washington
Comparison | Kansas | Washington |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Kansas Kansas State University Wichita State University | University of Washington Washington State University Western Washington University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Prairie Creek Elementary School Spring Hill Meadow Lane Elementary School Overland Park Cedar Creek Elementary School Olathe | Cascade Ridge Elementary School Issaquah Challenger Elementary School Issaquah Discovery Elementary School Sammamish |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Leawood Middle School Leawood Harmony Middle School Overland Park Prairie Star Middle School Leawood | International School Bellevue Pacific Cascade Middle School Issaquah Redmond Middle School Redmond |
Top 3 High School Schools | Blue Valley North High School Overland Park Shawnee Mission East High School Prairie Village Blue Valley High School Stilwell | International School Bellevue Nikola Tesla STEM High School Redmond Bellevue High School Bellevue |
Top 3 private high schools | The Pembroke Hill School Kansas City Wichita Collegiate School Wichita Bishop Seabury Academy Lawrence | Lakeside School Seattle The Overlake School Redmond Eastside Catholic School Sammamish |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | The Independent School Wichita Kansas City Christian School Prairie Village Wichita Collegiate School Wichita | The Bush School Seattle The Bear Creek School Redmond Seattle Academy Seattle |
Top 3 School Districts | Blue Valley School District Overland Park Shawnee Mission School District Shawnee Olathe District Schools Olathe | Lake Washington School District Redmond Bellevue School District Bellevue Mercer Island School District Mercer Island |
How Much Do Kansas to Washington Movers Cost?
Moving 1,687 miles from Kansas to Washington will typically cost between $3,000 and $8,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $3,000 - $8,000
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-4 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: John Volken Academy Movers
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,159 | 300 ft3 | $7.20 |
1 Bedroom | $3,216 | 450 ft3 | $7.15 |
2 Bedrooms | $5,322 | 750 ft3 | $7.10 |
3 Bedrooms | $7,751 | 1100 ft3 | $7.05 |
4 Bedrooms | $11,194 | 1600 ft3 | $7.00 |
5+ Bedrooms | $12,503 | 1800 ft3 | $6.95 |