Moving from Kansas City, MO to San Antonio, TX
The drive from Kansas City, MO to San Antonio, TX runs 819 mi — about 14h 16m on interstate, longer with stops. Long-range relocations typically bring real shifts in cost of living, housing prices, climate, and job market. Below, each of those layers is pulled from its source (BEA, Census, Zillow, BLS, NOAA) for a direct comparison.
819 mi · 14h 16m by car · TX → OK → KS → MO
Distance & route
| Route through | TX → OK → KS → MO |
|---|---|
| Primary highways | I 35, US 77, I 335 |
| Major cities en route | Austin, Round Rock, Killeen, Waco, Arlington |
Route via OSRM driving profile. Actual time varies with traffic and season.
Cost of living
| Kansas City | San Antonio | U.S. avg | |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items (RPP) | 92.543 | 94.716 | 100.0 |
| Rents | 89.034 | 82.169 | 100.0 |
| Goods | 94.12 | 93.757 | 100.0 |
| Services | 86.642 | 94.575 | 100.0 |
Overall cost of living in San Antonio and Kansas City is within ±5% on the BEA Regional Price Parity (2024) — plan your budget on category-level differences instead.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (MSA-level · MSA-level); 2024.
Housing prices
Typical home values in Kansas City and San Antonio are within 5% of each other ($250,208 vs $249,810 on Zillow ZHVI, 2026-03).
YoY change: Kansas City +0.8%, San Antonio -2.7%. Snapshot: 2026-03. Data provided by Zillow.
Climate
| 1991–2020 normals | Kansas City | San Antonio |
|---|---|---|
| Annual avg temperature | 57°F | 69°F |
| January avg low | 22°F | 40°F |
| July avg high | 90°F | 94°F |
| Annual snowfall | 11.0" | 0.1" |
| Annual precipitation | 38.1" | 34.0" |
Climate warms by 12.1°F on the annual average — 56.9°F → 69.0°F.
San Antonio gets essentially no annual snowfall on the NOAA 1991–2020 normals — winter gear can largely stay in storage.
Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (stations: KANSAS CITY DOWNTOWN AP, MO US, SAN ANTONIO INCARNATE WORD, TX US).
Demographics
| ACS 5-year 2023 | Kansas City | San Antonio |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 508,233 | 1,458,954 |
| Median household income | $67,449 | $62,917 |
| Median age | 35.7 | 34.6 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.8% | 17.7% |
| Avg household size | 2.32 | 2.66 |
Income steps down 2.3%: $67,449 in Kansas City vs $62,917 in San Antonio.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year 2023.
Jobs & wages
Top occupations in San Antonio MSA
| Occupation | Employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| Office and Administrative Support Occupations | 145,480 | $41,700 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations | 109,390 | $28,430 |
| Transportation and Material Moving Occupations | 100,480 | $37,340 |
| Sales and Related Occupations | 93,110 | $34,910 |
| Management Occupations | 82,250 | $100,820 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Moving between Missouri and Texas
State income-tax top marginal rates are from the Tax Foundation, updated annually. Check Texas's DMV for the current deadline to transfer driver license and vehicle registration after establishing residency. Consult a tax professional for your specific filing situation — state tax treatment depends on residency, sourcing, and reciprocity agreements.
Best time to move
Moving companies typically charge 20–30% more between Memorial Day and Labor Day (peak season). October through April offers the lowest rates and better mover availability.
To avoid mid-semester school transfers, most U.S. families schedule moves between mid-June and mid-August. Public school calendars typically run late August or early September through late May or early June.
Packing & arrival checklist
- Air conditioning matters: July highs in San Antonio average 94°F on NOAA normals. If the new place has window-unit or no AC, plan that purchase for the first week.
- You are moving to a noticeably warmer climate (12.1°F higher annual average). Keep summer clothing accessible and consider donating or storing heavy winter gear.
- Coastal Texas sees hurricanes June through November; inland areas face severe thunderstorms and occasional tornadoes in spring.
- Arrange utility connection (power, internet, gas, water) two weeks ahead of move-in.
- Update mailing address with USPS change-of-address within the first week post-move.
- Register to vote in Texas after establishing residency.
Frequently asked
How does household income compare in Kansas City vs San Antonio?
Median household income on the Census ACS 5-year (2023) is $62,917 in San Antonio vs $67,449 in Kansas City — a 6.7% lower figure. Compare this against the cost-of-living gap above when budgeting.
How far is San Antonio, TX from Kansas City, MO?
The driving distance is 819 mi and the route typically takes 14h 16m via I 35 and US 77. The trip crosses 4 state(s). Actual time varies with traffic and season.
How does the job market in San Antonio compare to Kansas City?
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics show median wages of $44,390 in the San Antonio MSA vs $48,040 in the Kansas City MSA, on total employment of 1,091,510 and 1,078,310 respectively. Top occupations on the destination side appear in the Jobs & wages section above.
Is San Antonio more expensive than Kansas City?
Based on BEA Regional Price Parities (2024), overall price level in San Antonio is 2.3% higher than Kansas City (94.716 vs 92.543, U.S. average = 100). Rent and services typically carry most of this gap.
How much do homes cost in San Antonio compared to Kansas City?
Zillow ZHVI (2026-03) puts the typical home value at $249,810 in San Antonio vs $250,208 in Kansas City — a 0.2% lower figure. Data provided by Zillow Research.
When is the best time to move from Kansas City to San Antonio?
Moving companies usually charge 20–30% less between October and April (off-peak). Memorial Day through Labor Day is peak pricing. For a 819 mi drive, weather on the route matters too — see the timing section above for state-specific winter warnings.
What is the climate difference between Kansas City and San Antonio?
On NOAA 1991–2020 normals, annual average temperature is 69.0°F in San Antonio vs 56.9°F in Kansas City (12.1°F warmer). Annual snowfall: 0.1 in vs 11.0 in. Annual precipitation: 34.0 in vs 38.1 in.
Plan the move
Estimate costs with our moving cost calculator, or see where else to move from Kansas City.
City profiles: Kansas City, MO · San Antonio, TX.