Missouri to Kansas Moving Guide
Want help with the heavy lifting?
Updated August 20, 2025
Planning a 451 mile interstate move from Missouri to Kansas? This moving guide will help you compare living in Missouri vs Kansas across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like high humidity vs less humidity), food & health (like St. Louis-style pizza vs BBQ brisket), real estate & housing (colonial, ranch vs craftsman, ranch), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Kansas), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to St. Louis-style pizza and Burnt ends, but get your taste buds ready for BBQ brisket & Smoked sausages
- Kansas housing costs are 8% less expensive than they are in Missouri
- Rent in Kansas is 17.79% more affordable than in Missouri
- Moving from Missouri to Kansas will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,000
- Our top recommended Missouri to Kansas movers is Sunrise Moving and Packing, LLC

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

Sunrise Moving and Packing, LLC
Best moving company overall for Missouri to Kansas

Tiger Moving LLC

Action Moving
Missouri to Kansas Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Missouri to Kansas
- High humidity
- Severe storms
- Limited public transit
- Higher property taxes
- Dense cities
- Less humidity
- Fewer storms
- Better public transit
- Lower property taxes
- Spacious suburbs
- Fewer attractions
- Quieter pace
- Less historical depth
- Fewer water bodies
- Limited breweries
- Cultural attractions
- Thriving nightlife
- Rich history
- River access
- Various breweries
Pros of moving from Missouri to Kansas
- Say goodbye to high humidity and hello to less humidity
- Look forward to moving away from severe storms and moving to Kansas with fewer storms
- Swap the limited public transit of Missouri for better public transit in Kansas
- Get ready for lower property taxes in Kansas
Cons of moving from Missouri to Kansas
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from cultural attractions in Missouri to live with fewer attractions in Kansas
- You'll lose out on the pro of thriving nightlife and have to settle for the con of a quieter pace
- Time to bid farewell to rich history and get used to less historical depth in Kansas
- Swap river access for fewer water bodies
Missouri vs. Kansas: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Missouri | Kansas |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | St. Louis-style pizza | BBQ brisket |
Most popular meat dish | Burnt ends | Smoked sausages |
Most popular street food item | Toasted ravioli | BBQ sandwiches |
Most popular vegan food | Cauliflower wings | Vegan BBQ jackfruit |
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 Missouri to Kansas, you will be trading the iconic St. Louis-style pizza of Missouri for the equally delicious BBQ brisket of Kansas. And while the locals in Missouri rave about their flavorful burnt ends and sumptuous toasted ravioli, Kansas residents know they have tasty smoked sausages and BBQ sandwiches to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the cauliflower wings they've grown to love, they can get ready for the vegan BBQ jackfruit of Kansas. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Missouri eateries like Pappy's Smokehouse, Blueberry Hill, and Ted Drewes Frozen Custard. After the boxes are unpacked in Kansas, don't wait too long before making your way to Kansas' acclaimed eateries like Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que, YaYa's Alpaca Farm, and The Merchant.
When comparing lifestyles, Kansas shows less emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Missouri. Food truck fans will discover a less desirable selection in Kansas compared to what you are used to in Missouri. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Kansas.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Missouri and Kansas
Comparison | Missouri | Kansas |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Colonial, Ranch | Craftsman, Ranch |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious yards, quiet neighborhoods | Energy efficiency, modern updates |
- The Colonial and Ranch architecture that Missouri is known for will be replaced with the Craftsman and Ranch architecture typical of Kansas.
- Compared to Missouri's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious yards and quiet neighborhoods, Kansas real estate listings often highlight features like energy efficiency and modern updates.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away; Kansas is less walkable than Missouri.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike; Kansas is less bike-friendly than Missouri.
- Kansas has less of an urban feel than Missouri.
- Kansas housing costs are 8% less expensive than they are in Missouri, with a median home price of $223,883 compared to Missouriβs $243,216.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Kansas have increased by 49%, compared to a 49% increase in Missouri.
- Rent in Kansas is 17.79% more affordable than in Missouri.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Missouri and Kansas
Comparison | Missouri | Kansas |
---|---|---|
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 | Tornadoes, Blizzards |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 89Β°F / 66Β°F | 91Β°F / 68Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 40Β°F / 20Β°F | 42Β°F / 21Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 42 | 32 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 18 | 20 |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from Missouri to Kansas. Kansas gets 7% more sunshine days than Missouri.
- Kansas has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to Missouri.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and floods in Missouri, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and blizzards in Kansas.
- The average summer high temperature in Kansas is 2 degrees warmer than in Missouri.
- The average winter lows are 1 degree warmer than they are in Missouri.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Kansas. Kansas receives 10 fewer inches of rain compared to Missouri.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Missouri and Kansas
Comparison | Missouri | Kansas |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $64,811 | $68,925 |
Cost of Living Index | 91.8 | 91.8 |
State Income Tax | 5.4% | 5.7% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.97% | 1.28% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 4.225% | 6.5% |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Manufacturing, Transportation | Manufacturing, Agriculture, Education |
Affluence | Moderate | Moderate |
Poverty | Moderate | Moderate |
Homelessness | Low | Low |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Kansas tend to earn about 6% more than in Missouri
- The COLI in Kansas will be the same as what you are used to living in Missouri
- The state income tax in KS is 5.7% compared to 5.4% in MO
- The affluence in Kansas is moderate compared to moderate in Missouri
- The poverty level is moderate in Kansas compared to moderate in Missouri
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in Missouri and low in Kansas
Political and Religious Climate in Missouri vs. Kansas
Comparison | Missouri | Kansas |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Generally Republican-leaning statewide; GOP holds strong influence in the legislature and most statewide offices. Urban cores (St. Louis and Kansas City) vote Democratic, while most rural areas are solidly Republican. | Republican-leaning overall with a history of occasionally electing Democratic governors. Legislature is strongly Republican. Urban/suburban areas like Wyandotte County, Johnson County, and college towns (e.g., Lawrence) lean more Democratic; rural regions are strongly Republican. |
Local Politics | Large cities typically have Democratic mayors and councils. Suburbs range from competitive to conservative, and rural counties are largely conservative. Statewide ballot initiatives sometimes reflect cross-party coalitions. | Many local offices are nonpartisan. Wichita and Lawrence often elect more moderate or progressive local leaders; Johnson County suburbs are increasingly competitive; rural counties remain conservative. State policies can shape local decisions. |
Religion | Predominantly Christian, with a strong evangelical Protestant presence and notable Catholic communities (especially around St. Louis and Kansas City). Religiously unaffiliated populations are more common in metro areas. | Predominantly Christian, with a relatively larger Catholic presence in parts of the state alongside significant evangelical and mainline Protestant communities. Urban and college areas have more religiously unaffiliated residents. |
- Missouri tends to lean generally Republican in its political climate.
- Kansas, on the other hand, is often described as Republican-leaning overall with a history of occasionally electing Democratic governors. The legislature is strongly Republican. Urban and suburban areas like Wyandotte County, Johnson County, and college towns (e.g., Lawrence) lean more Democratic, while rural regions are strongly Republican.
- Kansas' religious environment can be described as predominantly Christian, with a relatively larger Catholic presence in parts of the state alongside significant evangelical and mainline Protestant communities. Urban and college areas have more religiously unaffiliated residents.
- Missouri's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as predominantly Christian, with a strong evangelical Protestant presence and notable Catholic communities, especially around St. Louis and Kansas City. Religiously unaffiliated populations are more common in metro areas.
Education Guide When Moving from Missouri to Kansas
Comparison | Missouri | Kansas |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Missouri Columbia; Missouri State University Springfield; Washington University in St. Louis St. Louis | University of Kansas Lawrence; Kansas State University Manhattan; Wichita State University Wichita |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Kirkwood Elementary School Kirkwood; Mason Ridge Elementary Town and Country; Forsyth School St. Louis | Sunflower Elementary School Lawrence; Corinth Elementary School Prairie Village; Lakewood Elementary Overland Park |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Ladue Middle School St. Louis; Clayton High School Clayton; Pembroke Hill School Kansas City | Leawood Middle School Leawood; Prairie Star Middle School Overland Park; Indian Woods Middle School Overland Park |
Top 3 High Schools | Rockwood Summit High School Fenton; Clayton High School Clayton; Ladue Horton Watkins High Ladue | Blue Valley North High School Overland Park; Olathe Northwest High School Olathe; Lawrence Free State High School Lawrence |
Top 3 private high schools | St. Louis University High St. Louis; Pembroke Hill School Kansas City; MICDS St. Louis | Bishop Miege High School Roeland Park; The Independent School Wichita; Wichita Collegiate School Wichita |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Crossroads College Preparatory School St. Louis; John Burroughs School St. Louis; The Pembroke Hill School Kansas City | The Independent School Wichita; Wichita Collegiate School Wichita; Kansas City Christian School Prairie Village |
Top 3 School Districts | Parkway School District Chesterfield; Rockwood School District Eureka; Kirkwood School District Kirkwood | Blue Valley School District Overland Park; Olathe Public Schools Olathe; Shawnee Mission School District Shawnee Mission |
How Much Do Missouri to Kansas Movers Cost?
Moving 451 miles from Missouri to Kansas 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: 3-8.5 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Sunrise Moving and Packing, LLC
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,458 | 300 ft3 | $4.86 |
1 Bedroom | $2,165 | 450 ft3 | $4.81 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,570 | 750 ft3 | $4.76 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,182 | 1100 ft3 | $4.71 |
4 Bedrooms | $7,457 | 1600 ft3 | $4.66 |
5+ Bedrooms | $8,299 | 1800 ft3 | $4.61 |