North Dakota to Kansas Moving Guide
Updated June 20, 2025

Planning a 721 mile interstate move from North Dakota to Kansas? This moving guide will help you compare living in North Dakota vs Kansas across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like severe winters vs milder winters), food & health (like Lefse vs BBQ Ribs), real estate & housing (ranch vs prairie), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Kansas), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Lefse and Walleye, but get your taste buds ready for BBQ Ribs & Smoked Brisket
- Kansas housing costs are 12% less expensive than they are in North Dakota
- Rent in Kansas is 7.50% more expensive than in North Dakota
- Moving from North Dakota to Kansas will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,500
- Our top recommended North Dakota to Kansas movers is Two Men and a Truck
North Dakota to Kansas Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from North Dakota to Kansas
- Severe winters
- Remote rural areas
- Limited job opportunities
- Small city life
- Milder winters
- More urban amenities
- Diverse job market
- Active city life
- Flat landscapes
- Higher cost of living
- Less personal interaction
- Busy urban centers
- Natural beauty
- Low cost of living
- Friendly communities
- Quiet lifestyle
Pros of moving from North Dakota to Kansas
- Say goodbye to severe winters and hello to milder winters
- Look forward to moving away from remote rural areas and moving to Kansas with more urban amenities
- Swap the limited job opportunities of North Dakota for a diverse job market in Kansas
- Get ready for an active city life in Kansas
Cons of moving from North Dakota to Kansas
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the natural beauty in North Dakota to live with flat landscapes in Kansas
- You'll lose out on the pro of a low cost of living and have to settle for the con of a higher cost of living
- Time to bid farewell to friendly communities and get used to less personal interaction in Kansas
- Swap a quiet lifestyle for busy urban centers
North Dakota vs. Kansas: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | North Dakota | Kansas |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Lefse | BBQ Ribs |
Most popular meat dish | Walleye | Smoked Brisket |
Most popular street food item | Taco trucks | BBQ food trucks |
Most popular vegan food | Wild Rice Burger | Jackfruit BBQ |
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 North Dakota to Kansas, you will be trading the iconic Lefse of North Dakota for the equally delicious BBQ Ribs of Kansas. And while the locals in North Dakota rave about their flavorful Walleye and sumptuous Taco trucks, Kansas residents know they have tasty Smoked Brisket and BBQ food trucks to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Wild Rice Burger they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Jackfruit BBQ of Kansas. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic North Dakota eateries like Pitchfork Steak Fondue, Kroll's Diner, and HoDo Restaurant. 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, The Anchor, and Cafe Beautiful.
When comparing lifestyles, Kansas shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than North Dakota. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Kansas compared to what you are used to in North Dakota. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Kansas.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between North Dakota and Kansas
Comparison | North Dakota | Kansas |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Ranch | Prairie |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Spacious yards, proximity to parks | Garages, basement |
- The Ranch architecture that North Dakota is known for will be replaced with the Prairie architecture typical of Kansas.
- Compared to North Dakota's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious yards and proximity to parks, Kansas real estate listings often highlight features like garages and basements.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Kansas is more walkable than North Dakota.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Kansas is more bike-friendly than North Dakota.
- Kansas has more of an urban feel than North Dakota.
- Kansas housing costs are 12% less expensive than they are in North Dakota, with a median home price of $223,883 compared to North Dakotaβs $253,395.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Kansas have increased by 49% compared to an 18% increase in North Dakota.
- Rent in Kansas is 7.50% more expensive than in North Dakota.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between North Dakota and Kansas
Comparison | North Dakota | 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 | Blizzards, Floods | Tornadoes, Hailstorms |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 82Β°F / 55Β°F | 91Β°F / 69Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 24Β°F / 2Β°F | 44Β°F / 20Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 17" | 28" |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 51" | 19" |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from North Dakota to Kansas. Kansas gets 14% more sunshine days than North Dakota.
- Kansas has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to North Dakota.
- Say goodbye to the possible blizzards and floods in North Dakota, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and hailstorms in Kansas.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Kansas is 9 degrees warmer than in North Dakota.
- The average winter lows are 18 degrees warmer than they are in North Dakota.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Kansas. Kansas receives 11 more inches of rain compared to North Dakota.
Financial & Community Snapshot: North Dakota and Kansas
Comparison | North Dakota | Kansas |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $71,970 | $68,925 |
Cost of Living Index | 95.3 | 91.8 |
State Income Tax | 2.9 - 5.4% | 3.1 - 5.7% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.0% | 1.4% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 5.0% | 6.5% |
Top 3 Industries | Agriculture, Energy, Manufacturing | Agriculture, Aerospace, Manufacturing |
Affluence | Moderate | Moderate |
Poverty | Low | Moderate |
Homelessness | Low | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Kansas tend to earn about 4% less than in North Dakota
- The COLI in Kansas will be 4% lower than what you are used to living in North Dakota
- The state income tax in KS is 3.1% to 5.7% compared to 2.9% to 5.4% in ND
- The affluence in Kansas is moderate compared to moderate in North Dakota
- The poverty level is moderate in Kansas compared to low in North Dakota
- In terms of homelessness, it is low in North Dakota and moderate in Kansas
Political and Religious Climate in North Dakota vs. Kansas
Comparison | North Dakota | Kansas |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Lean Republican | Historically Republican, with Democratic urban centers |
Local Politics | Local governance often focuses on agricultural policies | Local issues may vary significantly between urban and rural settings |
Religion | Majority Christian, with a prominence of Lutheran denominations | Majority Christian, diverse denominations with a significant Catholic presence |
- North Dakota tends to lean Republican in its political climate
- Kansas, on the other hand, is often described as historically Republican with Democratic urban centers
- Kansas' religious environment can be described as majority Christian with diverse denominations and a significant Catholic presence
- North Dakota's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as majority Christian with a prominence of Lutheran denominations
Education Guide When Moving from North Dakota to Kansas
Comparison | North Dakota | Kansas |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | 1. North Dakota State University Fargo 2. University of North Dakota Grand Forks 3. Minot State University Minot | 1. University of Kansas Lawrence 2. Kansas State University Manhattan 3. Wichita State University Wichita |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | 1. Freedom Elementary West Fargo 2. Liberty Elementary Bismarck 3. Centennial Elementary Fargo | 1. Corinth Elementary Prairie Village 2. Briarwood Elementary Overland Park 3. Sunset Hill Elementary Lawrence |
Top 3 Middle Schools | 1. Discovery Middle Fargo 2. Horizon Middle Bismarck 3. Ben Franklin Middle Fargo | 1. Indian Hills Middle Prairie Village 2. Lakewood Middle Overland Park 3. Harmony Middle Overland Park |
Top 3 High School Schools | 1. Fargo South High Fargo 2. Century High Bismarck 3. Red River High Grand Forks | 1. Blue Valley North High Overland Park 2. Shawnee Mission East High Prairie Village 3. Olathe North High Olathe |
Top 3 private high schools | 1. Shanley High School Fargo 2. Bishop Ryan Catholic School Minot 3. Oak Grove Lutheran School Fargo | 1. The Pembroke Hill School Kansas City 2. Kansas City Christian School Prairie Village 3. Wichita Collegiate School Wichita |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | 1. Oak Grove Lutheran School Fargo 2. Shiloh Christian School Bismarck 3. Dakota Adventist Academy Bismarck | 1. The Independent School Wichita 2. The Pembroke Hill School Kansas City 3. Wichita Collegiate School Wichita |
Top 3 School Districts | 1. Fargo Public Schools Fargo 2. Bismarck Public Schools Bismarck 3. West Fargo Public Schools West Fargo | 1. Blue Valley Unified School District Overland Park 2. Shawnee Mission School District Shawnee Mission 3. Olathe District Schools Olathe |
How Much Do North Dakota to Kansas Movers Cost?
Moving 721 miles from North Dakota to Kansas will typically cost between $2,500 and $5,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.
- Expected Range: $2,500 - $5,500
- Expected Time To Complete: 2-2 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Mike's Moving Pros
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,611 | 300 ft3 | $5.37 |
1 Bedroom | $2,394 | 450 ft3 | $5.32 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,953 | 750 ft3 | $5.27 |
3 Bedrooms | $5,743 | 1100 ft3 | $5.22 |
4 Bedrooms | $8,273 | 1600 ft3 | $5.17 |
5+ Bedrooms | $9,217 | 1800 ft3 | $5.12 |
Top North Dakota to Kansas Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best North Dakota to Kansas movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Two Men and a Truck
Best moving company overall for North Dakota to Kansas