1. First steps before moving to Kansas
Find a reliable moving company, truck rental or moving container
For your move to Kansas, you will need to hire a reliable moving company or take on the move yourself. To find the best moving company in Kansas, look for good reviews, a professional-looking website, and years of experience.
Planning a move to Kansas? Have a look at our selection of:
The 5 best moving companies in Wichita.
Finding a job
As of August 2023, Kansas has an unemployment rate of 3.4%, compared to July’s rate of 3.2%. It has the highest unemployment rate since March 2023, at 2.8%.
Jobs that are often in high demand are nurses, nursing assistant, truck, and delivery drivers.
Finding a job in Kansas is easier if you search online for job openings. Popular websites for this include LinkedIn, Indeed, and SimplyHired.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics (Oct 2023)
Getting there
Below are some travel options to get to Kansas from different parts of the country include:
Flying: Flying is the most convenient way to move to Kansas. Book a flight from your departure city to Kansas’s busiest airport, Wichita Airport, followed by smaller Manhattan and Garden City Airport, depending on your destination within Kansas.
Train: You can also take the train with Amtrak as an alternative.
Bus: If you want another way to travel, Kansas cities have bus services like Greyhound, and Flixbus, that can get you there.
If you are flying and require assistance with moving your belongings, you can explore options provided by reputable moving companies.
Must dos before your arrival
Moving to Kansas may be exciting and will challenge you in many ways. By knowing these things beforehand, you will be better prepared for your new life in the city.
- If you’re moving to Kansas permanently and expect significant mail (excluding packages), consider USPS’s mail forwarding service. It redirects your mail to your new address for a specified time. The initial fee for regular mail forwarding is slightly over a dollar for six months, extendable for about $20 for an additional six months. Start the process by signing up on USPS’s website or at your local Post Office.
- When moving to Kansas, sell or donate what you won’t need to simplify your move. Sell or donate household items and personal belongings that won’t be useful. Decide if you want to sell them on sites like Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace, or donate to a non-profit organization
2. Upon your arrival in Kansas
Must dos right upon your arrival
- Get familiar with your neighborhood, and make sure to take note of the important emergency numbers.
- If you roam around the city for work or just simply checking on it, it would be great to purchase a daily pass to save money.
- Locate the essential facilities like the nearest hospital, police station, and fire department for your safety and in case of emergency.
You can easily get around in Kansas. There are several options available.
- South West Transit Association – Provides safe and affordable public transport in Kansas and nearby states.
- Topeka Metro – Provides 26 bus routes in Topeka and 9 lift-equipped paratransit vehicles.
Exchanging your driver’s license
Once you move to Kansas and establish residency, you must transfer your out-of-state driver’s license within 90 days. In order to transfer your out-of-state driver’s license, you’ll need to visit the DOR office in person and bring acceptable documents as proof of your lawful status, name, date of birth, social security number and some additional documents as well. If you have a valid out-of-state driver’s license, your written and driving test will be waived.
Register your vehicle
If you have just moved to Kansas, you’ll have to register your out-of-state vehicle within 90 days of establishing residency. Failure to do so might result in penalties and additional charges. To get your car registered in Kansas:
- Visit your local KS DOR office along with your vehicle title, driver’s license, proof of insurance, registration application, and payment for your registration fee.
- Get your vehicle inspected, depending on whether it was purchased in or out-of-state.
Change your address
Along with mail forwarding, you will also have to update your new address with the concerned authorities in Kansas like the DMV. To exercise your right to vote in Kansas, you can register to vote online, by mail, in person or by fax.
To register by mail, in person or by fax, you need to submit a completed Kansas Voter Registration Application to your local KS county election office. You will have to register at least 21 days before elections if you wish to participate.
Changing your address with your employer, bank, doctor, insurer, and service providers so that you can avoid any complications further down the road.
Setting up a bank account
Obtaining a bank account in Kansas is a straightforward process. You only need to present a copy of your valid state or government-issued ID, such as a driver’s license or passport. The bank with most branches in Kansas for easy access is Commerce Bank.
Getting health insurance
Getting health insurance is an excellent way to get peace of mind when it comes to your health. With health insurance, you will not have to worry about spending a ton of money in case of a health-related emergency. The state of Kansas proposes a website to help you with your health insurance search. Simply choose Kansas as your state and create an account.
|
Type of healthcare |
Cost |
|
Employer-sponsored health insurance |
$121.50 |
|
Non-employer-sponsored health insurance |
$729.33 |
|
Gym |
$48.75 |
Numbeo (Oct 2023) & EHealthInsurance (Oct 2023)
3. Best places to live in Kansas
If you are a couple, you might want to consider living in Overland Park. It offers a good quality of life, good job prospects, a low crime rate and an active and friendly neighborhood.
If you are a family, you might want to consider Leawood. Leawood offers a prospering job market and a low crime rate (55% below the Kansas average). Additionally, Leawood is filled with some amazing restaurants, shopping areas and two of the top-performing school districts in the country.
If you are single, you should consider moving to Manhattan. Manhattan offers a thriving college environment; it is home to the University of Kansas. The people here are very welcoming and friendly. In addition, it has some remarkable restaurants.
Setting up home services
Setting up essential home services like electricity, water, and internet in Kansas is a straightforward process.
- Kansas Municipal Utilities is responsible for regulating electricity, natural gas, water, and telecommunication services in Kansas. You can visit their website and search for electricity, water, and gas providers and even reach out to them if you have any inquiry.
- The best internet providers in Kansas will have bundling options, various speeds, and multiple package options at reasonable prices.
Should you rent or buy?
The average Kansas home value is $187,171, increased by 8% from 2022. Kansas’s price per square foot to buy an apartment outside the center is $128.33.
Finding an apartment for rent in Kansas is easy, utilize websites like Zillow, Apartmentguide, and Apartments.com. When seeking a house, these websites—Zillow, Realtor, and Century21—will assist you in your search for a home in Kansas.
Cost of rent in Wichita, Kansas
|
Area/Neighborhood |
1-bed apartment |
3-bed apartment |
|
Wichita (Outside of Center) |
$753.33 |
$1,516.67 |
Cost of buying a property in Kansas
|
Area/Neighborhood |
Average home price |
|
Wichita |
$187,171 |
Numbeo (Oct 2023) & Zillow (Oct 2023)
Consider getting home insurance
Getting home insurance is essential, whichever state you are residing in. It is a kind of financial protection that will cover for your expenses if a natural disaster damages your home. Residents in Kansas are at a high risk of severe storms, floods, tornadoes, hailstorms, earthquakes, landslides, and wildfires. Therefore, getting home insurance will prove to be valuable.
4. Cost of living in Kansas
|
Category |
Monthly cost |
|
1 bed apt rent outside city center |
$925.00 |
|
Groceries Numbeo’s grocery list ($60.07 multiplied by 4) |
$240.28 |
|
Utilities Electricity, heating, cooling, water, garbage |
$203.84 |
|
Internet with 60 Mbps |
$67.04 |
|
Transit pass |
$50.00 |
|
Entertainment Meal, taxi, movie |
$85.00 |
|
Gym membership |
$48.75 |
|
Total |
$ |
5. The weather in Kansas
On average, there are 230 sunny days per year in Kansas. The highest temperature in summer is 91° and the winter low is 19 degrees. Kansas averages 15 inches of snow per year and 33 inches of rain. The atmosphere in Kansas can be divided into three parts: semi-arid steppe, humid continental and humid subtropical.
The western part of Kansas has a semiarid climate with dry, hot summers. Winters vary from being scorching to icy. Sometimes it gets too hot in Kansas, which makes Kansas the 9th sunniest state.
The state is also vulnerable to harsh weather conditions because of the likelihood of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes in spring.
6. What to do as a local in Kansas
After you are done settling into your new home in Kansas, you will probably want to familiarize yourself with the state and all its attractions. Some of the most popular activities and locations in Kansas include:
Alcove Spring Historic Park – It is considered as one of the most significant historic sites on the Oregon Trail in Kansas. It comprises several beautiful viewpoints in the park along its trails and paths.
OZ Museum and Dorothy’s House and the Land of Oz – Must-visit places if you’ve watched the award-winning classic film called The Wizard of Oz.
Prairie Fire Museum – The museum has received honors for its architecture style. The discovery room is a lot of fun with a lot of activities covering palaeontology, zoology, geology, and astronomy.
Wichita Art Museum– A beautiful place rich in history.
Common grocery stores in Kansas include Aldi, Sprouts Farmers Market, and Trader Joe’s.
The two most popular big chain stores are Walmart and Costco.
Must-visit food places in Kansas are Red Lobster and The Handle Bar & Grill.
Visit the popular cities in Kansas: Wichita, Topeka & Lawrence.
7. Fun facts about Kansas
- Fun Fact #1: Kansas is called ‘The Sunflower State’ because of its abundance of sunflowers.
- Fun Fact #2: Helium was discovered in Kansas in 1905.
- Fun Fact #3: There are around 500 caves in Kansas, most of them being inaccessible.
Conclusion
Kansas offers a mix of rural and urban areas, allowing for a variety of lifestyles. You can choose to live in vibrant cities like Wichita or enjoy the tranquillity of the countryside. Additionally, Kansas is centrally located in the United States, making it a convenient base for travel to other parts of the country.
While moving to Kansas has its pros and cons, checking the cost of living is essential to make sure you will live comfortably in this city and call it your home. It’s a good idea to research specific neighborhoods within the state and consider your priorities to determine if Kansas is the right fit for you and your family.
Need a trusted moving company for the area? Discover the 5 best movers in Kansas.
