Moving from San Francisco, CA to Kansas City, KS
Cross-country relocations like San Francisco, CA → Kansas City, KS cover 1836 mi and about 31h 56m of driving through 7 states. Expect a multi-day trip and a meaningful change in climate, cost-of-living, and job market. The sections below compare each data layer directly from BEA, Census, Zillow, BLS, and NOAA.
1836 mi · 31h 56m by car · CA → NV → UT → WY → NE → MO → KS
Distance & route
| Route through | CA → NV → UT → WY → NE → MO → KS |
|---|---|
| Primary highways | I 80, I 29, N-2 |
| Major cities en route | Santa Rosa, Richmond, Vallejo, Berkeley, Oakland |
Route via OSRM driving profile. Actual time varies with traffic and season.
Cost of living
| San Francisco | Kansas City | U.S. avg | |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items (RPP) | 115.613 | 92.543 | 100.0 |
| Rents | 172.585 | 89.034 | 100.0 |
| Goods | 108.465 | 94.12 | 100.0 |
| Services | 194.718 | 86.642 | 100.0 |
Overall prices in Kansas City come in 20.0% under San Francisco — expect rent and services to carry most of that gap.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (MSA-level · MSA-level); 2024.
Housing prices
Housing gap is large: Kansas City typical home at $198,195 is 20.0% under San Francisco at $1,356,662 (Zillow, 2026-03).
YoY change: San Francisco +5.0%, Kansas City +1.0%. Snapshot: 2026-03. Data provided by Zillow.
Climate
| 1991–2020 normals | San Francisco | Kansas City |
|---|---|---|
| Annual avg temperature | 56°F | 57°F |
| January avg low | 46°F | 22°F |
| July avg high | 62°F | 90°F |
| Annual snowfall | 0.0" | 11.0" |
| Annual precipitation | 20.6" | 38.1" |
Climate is roughly comparable on the annual mean — 56.2°F vs 56.9°F per NOAA 1991–2020 normals.
Expect 11.0 in of snow annually at the destination — manageable with basic winter gear per NOAA normals.
Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (stations: SAN FRANCISCO OCEANSIDE, CA US, KANSAS CITY DOWNTOWN AP, MO US).
Demographics
| ACS 5-year 2023 | San Francisco | Kansas City |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 836,321 | 154,776 |
| Median household income | $141,446 | $59,183 |
| Median age | 39.7 | 34 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 35.1% | 12.6% |
| Avg household size | 2.31 | 2.72 |
Income gap is large: median household income drops 20.0% between San Francisco and Kansas City (ACS 2023).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year 2023.
Jobs & wages
Top occupations in Kansas City MSA
| Occupation | Employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| Office and Administrative Support Occupations | 133,580 | $43,640 |
| Transportation and Material Moving Occupations | 105,080 | $42,090 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations | 95,130 | $29,920 |
| Sales and Related Occupations | 94,940 | $36,640 |
| Business and Financial Operations Occupations | 77,380 | $75,790 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Moving between California and Kansas
State income-tax top marginal rates are from the Tax Foundation, updated annually. Check Kansas'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.
Winter driving along this route
- Donner Pass (I-80) and Tejon Pass (I-5 Grapevine) see chain requirements and occasional closures December through March.
- I-80 east of Reno and US-50 across the Sierra can require chains in winter storms.
- I-80 through Parleys Canyon and I-70 through the San Rafael Swell see winter closures; I-15 north of Salt Lake can slow in storms.
- I-80 across southern Wyoming frequently closes in winter storms November through April — check WYDOT 511 before departure.
State DOT 511 phone or web services provide real-time road conditions year-round.
Packing & arrival checklist
- Air conditioning matters: July highs in Kansas City average 90°F on NOAA normals. If the new place has window-unit or no AC, plan that purchase for the first week.
- Tornado season peaks April through June — identify a safe room or interior space in the new home on day one.
- 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 Kansas after establishing residency.
Frequently asked
Is Kansas City more expensive than San Francisco?
Based on BEA Regional Price Parities (2024), overall price level in Kansas City is 20.0% lower than San Francisco (92.543 vs 115.613, U.S. average = 100). Rent and services typically carry most of this gap.
How does the job market in Kansas City compare to San Francisco?
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics show median wages of $48,040 in the Kansas City MSA vs $72,050 in the San Francisco MSA, on total employment of 1,078,310 and 2,422,210 respectively. Top occupations on the destination side appear in the Jobs & wages section above.
How much do homes cost in Kansas City compared to San Francisco?
Zillow ZHVI (2026-03) puts the typical home value at $198,195 in Kansas City vs $1,356,662 in San Francisco — a 85.4% lower figure. Data provided by Zillow Research.
When is the best time to move from San Francisco to Kansas City?
Moving companies usually charge 20–30% less between October and April (off-peak). Memorial Day through Labor Day is peak pricing. For a 1836 mi drive, weather on the route matters too — see the timing section above for state-specific winter warnings.
How does household income compare in San Francisco vs Kansas City?
Median household income on the Census ACS 5-year (2023) is $59,183 in Kansas City vs $141,446 in San Francisco — a 58.2% lower figure. Compare this against the cost-of-living gap above when budgeting.
What is the climate difference between San Francisco and Kansas City?
On NOAA 1991–2020 normals, annual average temperature is 56.9°F in Kansas City vs 56.2°F in San Francisco (0.7°F warmer). Annual snowfall: 11.0 in vs 0.0 in. Annual precipitation: 38.1 in vs 20.6 in.
How far is Kansas City, KS from San Francisco, CA?
The driving distance is 1836 mi and the route typically takes 31h 56m via I 80 and I 29. The trip crosses 7 state(s). Actual time varies with traffic and season.
Plan the move
Estimate costs with our moving cost calculator, or see where else to move from San Francisco.
City profiles: San Francisco, CA · Kansas City, KS.