Oklahoma to Kansas Moving Guide
Updated June 14, 2025

Planning a 357 mile interstate move from Oklahoma to Kansas? This moving guide will help you compare living in Oklahoma vs Kansas across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like tornado frequency vs less tornado activity), food & health (like Chicken-Fried Steak vs BBQ Ribs), real estate & housing (traditional, ranch vs craftsman, bungalow), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Kansas), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Chicken-Fried Steak and Smoked Brisket, but get your taste buds ready for BBQ Ribs & Grilled Steak
- Kansas housing costs are 10% more expensive than they are in Oklahoma
- Rent in Kansas is 13.60% more affordable than in Oklahoma
- Moving from Oklahoma to Kansas will cost on average between $1,500 - $5,000
- Our top recommended Oklahoma to Kansas movers is Serenity Moving Services
Oklahoma to Kansas Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from Oklahoma to Kansas
- Tornado frequency
- Extreme heat
- Limited public transport
- Less tornado activity
- Milder summers
- Better infrastructure
- Fewer cultural festivals
- Higher living expenses
- Blunt regional attitude
- Cultural heritage
- Low cost of living
- Southern hospitality
Pros of moving from Oklahoma to Kansas
- Say goodbye to tornado frequency and hello to less tornado activity
- Look forward to moving away from extreme heat and moving to Kansas with milder summers
- Swap the limited public transport of Oklahoma for better infrastructure in Kansas
Cons of moving from Oklahoma to Kansas
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from cultural heritage in Oklahoma to live with fewer cultural festivals in Kansas
- You'll lose out on the pro of low cost of living and have to settle for the con of higher living expenses
- Time to bid farewell to southern hospitality and get used to the blunt regional attitude in Kansas
Oklahoma vs. Kansas: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | Oklahoma | Kansas |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Chicken-Fried Steak | BBQ Ribs |
Most popular meat dish | Smoked Brisket | Grilled Steak |
Most popular street food item | Fried Onion Burger | Smoked Brisket Tacos |
Most popular vegan food | Vegan Chili | Jackfruit BBQ Sandwich |
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 Oklahoma to Kansas, you will be trading the iconic Chicken-Fried Steak of Oklahoma for the equally delicious BBQ Ribs of Kansas. And while the locals in Oklahoma rave about their flavorful Smoked Brisket and sumptuous Fried Onion Burger, Kansas residents know they have tasty Grilled Steak and Smoked Brisket Tacos to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Vegan Chili they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Jackfruit BBQ Sandwich of Kansas. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Oklahoma eateries like Cattlemen's Steakhouse, Eischen's Bar, and Sidestreet Diner. 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, Slap's BBQ, and The Merchant.
When comparing lifestyles, Kansas shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Oklahoma. Food truck fans will discover a similar selection in Kansas, compared to what you are used to in Oklahoma. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Kansas.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Oklahoma and Kansas
Comparison | Oklahoma | Kansas |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | Traditional, Ranch | Craftsman, Bungalow |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Large yards, Proximity to schools | Garage space, Energy efficiency |
- The Traditional and Ranch architecture that Oklahoma is known for will be replaced with the Craftsman and Bungalow architecture typical of Kansas.
- Compared to Oklahoma's real estate listings, which commonly reference large yards and proximity to schools, Kansas real estate listings often highlight features like garage space and energy efficiency.
- Make sure you unpack those walking shoes; Kansas is more walkable than Oklahoma.
- Make sure the movers take care of your bike; Kansas is more bike-friendly than Oklahoma.
- Kansas has more of an urban feel than Oklahoma.
- Kansas housing costs are 10% more expensive than they are in Oklahoma, with a median home price of $223,883 compared to Oklahomaβs $203,455.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Kansas have increased by 49% compared to a 50% increase in Oklahoma.
- Rent in Kansas is 13.60% more affordable than in Oklahoma.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Oklahoma and Kansas
Comparison | Oklahoma | 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, Hail | Tornadoes, Severe Storms |
Air Quality | Good | Moderate |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 94/73 | 92/70 |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 50/30 | 42/22 |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 36 | 30 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 6 | 16 |
- The shades won't be used as much for your move from Oklahoma to Kansas. Kansas gets 2% fewer sunshine days than Oklahoma.
- Kansas has higher humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Oklahoma.
- Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and hail in Oklahoma, but be on the lookout for potential tornadoes and severe storms in Kansas.
- The average summer high temperature in Kansas is 2 degrees colder than in Oklahoma.
- The average winter lows are 8 degrees colder than they are in Oklahoma.
- Your umbrella might be neglected in Kansas. Kansas receives 6 fewer inches of rain compared to Oklahoma.
Financial & Community Snapshot: Oklahoma and Kansas
Comparison | Oklahoma | Kansas |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $59,673 | $68,925 |
Cost of Living Index | 90.1 | 91.8 |
State Income Tax | 5% | 5.7% |
Avg. Property Tax | 0.90% | 1.30% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 8.95% | 8.68% |
Top 3 Industries | Energy, Agriculture, Aerospace | Agriculture, Manufacturing, Aviation |
Affluence | Moderate | Moderate |
Poverty | Moderate | Moderate |
Homelessness | Moderate | Moderate |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Kansas tend to earn about 16% more than in Oklahoma
- The COLI in Kansas will be 2% higher than what you are used to living in Oklahoma
- The state income tax in Kansas is 5.7% compared to 5% in Oklahoma
- The affluence in Kansas is moderate compared to moderate in Oklahoma
- The poverty level is moderate in Kansas compared to moderate in Oklahoma
- In terms of homelessness, it is moderate in Oklahoma and moderate in Kansas
Political and Religious Climate in Oklahoma vs. Kansas
Comparison | Oklahoma | Kansas |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Primarily Republican | Largely Republican, with Democratic presence in urban areas |
Local Politics | Conservative leanings with focus on industries like oil and agriculture | Moderately conservative, but with progressive tendencies in cities like Lawrence and parts of Kansas City |
Religion | Highly religious, predominantly Christian with significant Baptist presence | Religiously diverse, though Christianity dominates, includes significant Catholic and Protestant communities |
- Oklahoma tends to lean primarily Republican in its political climate
- Kansas, on the other hand, is often described as largely Republican with a Democratic presence in urban areas
- Kansas's religious environment can be described as religiously diverse, though Christianity dominates and includes significant Catholic and Protestant communities
- Oklahoma's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as highly religious, predominantly Christian with a significant Baptist presence
Education Guide When Moving from Oklahoma to Kansas
Comparison | Oklahoma | Kansas |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | University of Oklahoma Oklahoma State University University of Tulsa | University of Kansas Kansas State University Wichita State University |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | Chisholm Elementary School (Edmond) Fisher Elementary School (Moore) Heritage Elementary School (Tulsa) | Briarwood Elementary School (Overland Park) Corinth Elementary School (Prairie Village) Sunset Hill Elementary School (Lawrence) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Whittier Middle School (Norman) Central Middle School (Edmond) Sequoyah Middle School (Broken Arrow) | Leawood Middle School (Leawood) Harmony Middle School (Overland Park) Indian Hills Middle School (Prairie Village) |
Top 3 High Schools | Edmond North High School (Edmond) Norman High School (Norman) Jenks High School (Jenks) | Blue Valley North High School (Overland Park) Shawnee Mission East High School (Prairie Village) Lawrence Free State High School (Lawrence) |
Top 3 private high schools | Bishop Kelley High School (Tulsa) Mount St. Mary High School (Oklahoma City) Cascia Hall Preparatory School (Tulsa) | Pembroke Hill School (Kansas City) Bishop Miege High School (Roeland Park) St. Thomas Aquinas High School (Overland Park) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Holland Hall (Tulsa) Heritage Hall (Oklahoma City) Oklahoma Christian School (Edmond) | The Independent School (Wichita) Wichita Collegiate School (Wichita) Cair Paravel Latin School (Topeka) |
Top 3 School Districts | Edmond Public Schools Norman Public Schools Jenks Public Schools | Blue Valley School District Shawnee Mission School District Lawrence Public Schools |
How Much Do Oklahoma to Kansas Movers Cost?
Moving 357 miles from Oklahoma 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: 2-3 days
- Most Affordable Recommended Movers: Serenity Moving Services
HOME SIZE | MOVING COST | VOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3) | $/FT3 |
---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,405 | 300 ft3 | $4.68 |
1 Bedroom | $2,085 | 450 ft3 | $4.63 |
2 Bedrooms | $3,437 | 750 ft3 | $4.58 |
3 Bedrooms | $4,986 | 1100 ft3 | $4.53 |
4 Bedrooms | $7,173 | 1600 ft3 | $4.48 |
5+ Bedrooms | $7,979 | 1800 ft3 | $4.43 |
Top Oklahoma to Kansas Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best Oklahoma to Kansas movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.

Serenity Moving Services
Best moving company overall for Oklahoma to Kansas