Moving from New Jersey to Kansas

The cost of living in Kansas is 21% lower than the national average. This is based on the median household earnings of $55,000 per year. These figures may seem too good to be true, but the conditions in Kansas make it possible to live well for less money.

Wichita and Topeka are the largest cities in Kansas, and there are less than a million residents between them. Smaller towns fill the rest of the state, which means there is relatively low demand for housing or anything else. This may sound like a downside, but it isn’t: a smaller population means lower prices. Depending on where you intend to live and work, housing prices can run as low as $12,000 for a detached single-family home.

The state also does a great job of producing food and manufactured goods for local consumption. Little needs to be shipped to the state, which reduces the need for the expense involved.

When one thinks of a country club, the image of old men and high fees come to mind. This is not the reality in Kansas. Joining a country club in Kansas is like joining a gym rather than an exclusive association for the wealthy. Many of the state’s clubs have affordable membership fees, which will enable you to enjoy swimming, tennis, and well-equipped fitness facilities. In many instances, the country club is the only place for fine dining in the area. If you are moving to one of the smaller towns in the state, taking out a membership in the nearest country club may be worth it.

The distances between towns in Kansas are long. However, the traffic is much lighter than in New Jersey. Depending on where you live and where you need to get to each morning, the drive may take between 30 to 60 minutes. Even if you move to the Kansas City Metro Area—a large metropolis that encompasses parts of Western Missouri and Eastern Kansas—your average commute will be less than 25 minutes.

The best thing about commuting in Kansas is that you will nearly always be on the move. There is none of the frustrating congestion found in New Jersey. And most of the places you will need to go to can be reached in less than an hour.

The agricultural industry is large in Kansas. But the state offers more than farm-related jobs. Transportation and trade are also leading industries. High-tech firms have sprung up in hubs around the universities and colleges in the state. The unemployment rate in Kansas is around 3% on average and the state ranks in the top 20 for jobs.

Because of the lower cost of living, you should expect to receive lower pay. Unless you are working for a national or international firm that has an office in Kansas, you should not expect the same wages and salary as you received in New Jersey. This also applies to professions such as law and medicine.