Kansas City offers a relatively reasonable cost of living as well as a rich variety of food and entertainment options year-round. To live here yourself, you’ll need to take this in stride with somewhat congested traffic, high crime rates, and cold, snowy winters.

Established as a port just off the Missouri River in the 1830s, Kansas City has grown to be a city home to hundreds of thousands of people. These days, there’s a lot at the local level to be celebrated, from its numerous barbecue options to its jazz and blues music legacies and more.

If you’re considering relocating to Kansas City yourself, you’ll want to weigh the pros and cons first. Courtesy of

Jerry

, the

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car

home

, and renters insurance, here’s what you could expect as a Kansas City resident.

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What you need to know about Kansas City before you move

Kansas City covers a sprawling area of about 319 square miles, and it’s home to nearly 460,000 people and counting—actually, over 2.1 million, if you consider the entire metro area. Before deciding whether you’ll be the next one to do so, here are a few things you’ll want to know about living in Kansas City.

1. The cost of living is pretty average

Kansas City has a cost of living within a few percent of the national average, so how expensive it feels to live here might depend on where you’re moving from.

If you’re looking for an apartment to rent in Kansas City, the average cost of a one-bedroom is about $1,200 per month, but that can run closer to $1,700 in some of the city’s more expensive neighborhoods, according to

rent.com

And what can you expect on a typical grocery run? A gallon of milk could cost about $5.97, a dozen eggs could cost $3 to $4, and a loaf of bread could cost about $3.

Meanwhile, a latte from your favorite coffee shop could cost $4 to $5, while a pint of beer could cost $5 to $6.

As of 2020, Kansas City’s median household income was $56,179. Missouri’s minimum wage is currently $11.15 per hour, and in 2023, it’s set to rise to $12 per hour.

2. There’s a solid job market

The local job market in Kansas City is in pretty good shape. Health care, manufacturing, and retail are two of the city’s major sectors, with top employers including Truman Medical Centers/University Health, Saint Luke’s Health System, Children’s Mercy, Honeywell, Walmart, Amazon, Cerner, and Ford Motor Company.

And between April and June, the Kansas City region had more than 92,000 new job postings, so, depending on your job industry, you could have a good number of prospects to consider.

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3. Local crime rates are higher than average

If you’re considering a move to Kansas City, it’s worth noting that, as has been the case for many parts of the country, violent crime has been on the rise over the last couple of years. During the second quarter of 2022, Kansas City had the nation’s

fifth-highest rate

of homicides per capita at about 10 per 100,000 residents.

Property crime rates in Kansas City are also higher than average but had been on the general decline since 2013, based on the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting Program. In 2019, the most recently available data, there were a total of 3,801 reported motor vehicle thefts and 3,070 reported burglaries.

According to data from

neighborhoodscout.com

, your odds of becoming a victim of a violent crime in Kansas City are 1 in 64, while for property crime, it’s 1 in 24.

For a deeper dive into the data, you can view Kansas City’s crime statistics via the

Kansas City Police Department’s website

4. Driving is usually the best transportation option

According to INRIX’s 2021 Traffic Scorecard Report, Kansas City is the 82nd-most congested city in the United States, and last year, the average Kansas City driver spent 13 hours in congested traffic.

That said, Kansas City covers an area of 319 square miles, meaning having a car is often still the most convenient transportation option.

As for public transportation options, the

RideKC

bus system can get you around the city, and the downtown KC Streetcar is free.

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5. There are plenty of entertainment options to keep you busy

As far as entertainment options in Kansas City go, there’s a little something for nearly everyone.

Kansas City is known for its jazz and blues roots, and these days, the city still has a top-notch music scene that has plenty to offer across a variety of genres.

Then, there’s the Crossroads Arts District, where you can sample food, and check out local performers, musicians, and artists. The

Power and Light District

is a great place to hit up for nightlife entertainment. You’ll also have access to a variety of museums, the Kansas City Zoo, Worlds of Fun Theme park, and more.

Long story short, it’ll be hard to get bored in Kansas City.

6. You’ll have access to great BBQ

Kansas City’s legendary barbecue scene has been over a century in the making. Some of Kansas City’s most popular BBQ joints include Arthur Bryant’s Barbeque, Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que, and Slap’s BBQ.

The Kansas City food scene has plenty more to offer, too. Beyond barbecue, you’ll find a variety of cafes, diners serving comfort food favorites, as well as Australian, Ethiopian, French, Korean, Mexican, and German eats—and these options are still only scratching the surface. So if you do decide to relocate to Kansas City, rest assured that you won’t go hungry.

7. You’ll get to experience all four seasons

As a Midwestern city, you can expect to experience all four seasons in Kansas City. That means you’ll get to enjoy cold winters in conjunction with hot, humid summers. As fall sets in, trees’ autumn leaves transitioning along the Missouri River are definitely a sight to be seen.

Winter temperatures in Kansas City range from lows of about 7 degrees Fahrenheit to about 45 degrees, and the average amount of snowfall is about 15 inches per year. In summer, temperatures can soar well into the 90s.

As for severe weather, Kansas City can experience tornadoes, which is helpful to keep in mind when you pick out insurance policies.

Does Kansas City live up to the hype?

Kansas City has a lot to offer its residents—a decent cost of living, a variety of entertainment options, and great food (including BBQ and beyond).

That said, if you decide to move here, you’ll have to take all this in stride with somewhat congested traffic, high crime rates, and cold, snowy winters.

If all this sounds manageable to you, Kansas City might just be the right fit!

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Finding a place to live in Kansas City

One of the most challenging aspects of relocating to a new city is finding the right place to live.

In Kansas City, the median monthly housing cost for homeowners with mortgages was $1,391, as of the 2020 census. As of August 2022, the median home listing price in Kansas City was about $294,000, according to

realtor.com

If you’re looking for an apartment in Kansas City, average rent prices can range from about $1,000 per month for a studio to just under $1,800 per month for a three-bedroom, according to

rent.com

. But those figures can vary depending on the neighborhood you choose.

The average one-bedroom in Kansas City is about $1,200 per month, but that average comes closer to about $1,700 in the Downtown Loop and River Market neighborhoods, while in Loma Vista or Scaritt Point, you might find a one-bedroom for under $700.

As you’re searching for a place to live in Kansas City, establishing a budget and seeing what homes are available to you is a good place to start. Then, you can further narrow down your options based on the amenities you’re looking for or the locations you want to be close by to, whether that’s downtown entertainment or a certain school for your kids.

As you begin to browse Kansas City’s 240-plus neighborhoods, here are some locations worth looking into:

Most iconic neighborhoods: West Plaza, Overland Park, Crossroads Arts District, River Market, Midtown

Best neighborhoods if you’ve got kids: Gashland/Nashua, KCI, Shoal Creek Valley

Best neighborhoods for foodies: River Market, Crossroads Arts District, West Bottoms

Best neighborhoods to buy a house: Shoal Creek Valley, Longview, Gashland

Most affordable neighborhoods: Swope, Riverfront Industrial, Heart of the City

If you’re able, it’s a good idea to visit the neighborhoods you’re considering in person so you can get a better sense of what it might be like to live there and whether it will be a good fit for the type of lifestyle you’re looking for.

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Moving to Kansas City checklist

So, you’ve decided to make it official: you’re moving to Kansas City, and you’ve picked a new place to call home! Whether you’re moving to the city from nearby or from across the country, every move can come with its own hurdles.

To help make your Kansas City move as smooth as possible, here are some items worth adding to your to-do list:

Before you go

Before packing up and heading to Kansas City, here are a few items you’ll want to cross off your checklist:

Set a moving date with a reputable moving company. If you’re not sure where to begin, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration offers

helpful tips

to find movers while avoiding scams.

If you’re handling your move yourself, remember to reserve a U-Haul if you need one.

Let important contacts know you’re moving—like your landlord, your employer, your insurance provider(s), and utility provider(s).

Verify your new renters or

homeowners insurance policy

will be active and ready to go once you’ve moved into your new place.

If you’re planning a long-distance move, consider whether it’s more convenient for you to drive or ship your car.

Update your address and set up mail forwarding with

USPS

so you don’t miss any important communications.

After you get there

Once you’ve arrived at your new Kansas City home and have started to settle in, there are just a few more items you might need to take care of:

If you’ve moved to Kansas City from out of state, you’ll need to re-register your car in Florida and update your car insurance if you haven’t already.

Start exploring your new home! Now that the moment you’ve been waiting for is already here, get ready to enjoy good food, and good entertainment, and experience Orlando like a true local.

MORE:

How to find car and home insurance quotes online

How to save on car, renters, and home insurance in Kansas City

Relocating to a new city comes with plenty of expenses already—allow Jerry to help you cut down on those costs by helping you make sure you’re not overpaying for your home, renters, and/or

car insurance in Kansas City

With Jerry, it only takes about 45 seconds to answer a few basic questions and start comparing customized quotes from top insurance providers, all in one place. From there, you can choose the amount of coverage you’re looking for at the right rate. And if you’re looking for multiple policies, Jerry can help you

bundle

them for additional savings on each one!

The best part? When it comes to car insurance alone, Jerry users enjoy an average savings of over $800 per year.

“
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Let Jerry find you the best homeowners insurance policy for your needs

* checking your rate won’t affect your credit score

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Is it worth moving to Kansas City?

Whether it’s worth it to move to Kansas City depends on your budget and what you’re looking for in a lifestyle. If you’re looking for a city with a decent cost of living, great food, and a wide variety of entertainment options—and you don’t mind the snow—Kansas City just might be worth your consideration.

How much money do I need to move to Kansas City?

When it comes to moving to Kansas City, you could expect to spend anywhere from several hundred dollars to several thousand to relocate, depending on the size and distance of your move and whether or not you decide to hire professional movers.

Based on data from MIT’s Living Wage calculator, a single adult would need to earn at least $16.75 per hour to live comfortably in Kansas City, or about $34,840 per year.

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