Moving from San Francisco, CA to Lee's Summit, MO

A 1859 mi cross-country move between San Francisco and Lee's Summit is 32h 21m on paper and typically three to five days in practice, through 7 states. Nearly every household line β€” rent, taxes, climate, commute β€” usually shifts. This page assembles the federal and Zillow data to make those differences visible on a single screen.

1859 mi Β· 32h 21m by car Β· CA β†’ NV β†’ UT β†’ WY β†’ NE β†’ IA β†’ MO

COL -20.0% Home values -71.2% Ξ” -0.5Β°F annual

Distance & route

Driving
1859 mi
Drive time
32h 21m
States
7
Fuel (25 mpg)
74 gal
Route throughCA β†’ NV β†’ UT β†’ WY β†’ NE β†’ IA β†’ MO
Primary highwaysI 80, I 29, N-2
Major cities en routeSanta Rosa, Richmond, Vallejo, Berkeley, Oakland

Route via OSRM driving profile. Actual time varies with traffic and season.

Cost of living

San FranciscoLee's SummitU.S. avg
All items (RPP)115.61392.543100.0
Rents172.58589.034100.0
Goods108.46594.12100.0
Services194.71886.642100.0

BEA RPP drops from 115.613 in San Francisco to 92.543 in Lee's Summit, a 20.0% cut on the overall price level (2024).

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (MSA-level Β· MSA-level); 2024.

Housing prices

San Francisco β€” typical home
$1,356,662
Lee's Summit β€” typical home
$390,166
San Francisco β€” typical rent
$3,958/mo
Lee's Summit β€” typical rent
$1,634/mo

Expect roughly 20.0% lower home prices β€” ZHVI goes from $1,356,662 to $390,166 moving to Lee's Summit.

YoY change: San Francisco +5.0%, Lee's Summit +2.1%. Snapshot: 2026-03. Data provided by Zillow.

Climate

1991–2020 normalsSan FranciscoLee's Summit
Annual avg temperature56Β°F56Β°F
January avg low46Β°F22Β°F
July avg high62Β°F88Β°F
Annual snowfall0.0"β€”
Annual precipitation20.6"38.3"

Annual average temperatures in San Francisco (56.2Β°F) and Lee's Summit (55.7Β°F) stay within 5Β°F of each other (NOAA normals).

Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (stations: SAN FRANCISCO OCEANSIDE, CA US, LEES SUMMIT MUNI AP, MO US).

Demographics

ACS 5-year 2023San FranciscoLee's Summit
Population836,321102,583
Median household income$141,446$104,989
Median age39.738.6
Bachelor's degree or higher35.1%29.5%
Avg household size2.312.6

Lee's Summit households earn about 20.0% less than San Francisco at the median β€” $141,446 β†’ $104,989 on ACS 2023.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year 2023.

Jobs & wages

San Francisco MSA β€” median wage
$72,050
Lee's Summit MSA β€” median wage
$48,040
San Francisco MSA β€” employment
2,422,210
Lee's Summit MSA β€” employment
1,078,310

Top occupations in Lee's Summit MSA

OccupationEmploymentMedian 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 Missouri

California income tax
13.3% top marginal
Missouri income tax
4.7% top marginal

State income-tax top marginal rates are from the Tax Foundation, updated annually. Check Missouri'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 β€” 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 β€” check WYDOT 511 before departure.

State DOT 511 phone or web services provide real-time road conditions year-round.

Packing & arrival checklist

  • Tornadoes are common April through June β€” identify a safe room or interior space 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 Missouri after establishing residency.

Frequently asked

How much do homes cost in Lee's Summit compared to San Francisco?

Zillow ZHVI (2026-03) puts the typical home value at $390,166 in Lee's Summit vs $1,356,662 in San Francisco β€” a 71.2% lower figure. Data provided by Zillow Research.

How far is Lee's Summit, MO from San Francisco, CA?

The driving distance is 1859 mi and the route typically takes 32h 21m via I 80 and I 29. The trip crosses 7 state(s). Actual time varies with traffic and season.

How does household income compare in San Francisco vs Lee's Summit?

Median household income on the Census ACS 5-year (2023) is $104,989 in Lee's Summit vs $141,446 in San Francisco β€” a 25.8% lower figure. Compare this against the cost-of-living gap above when budgeting.

How does the job market in Lee's Summit compare to San Francisco?

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics show median wages of $48,040 in the Lee's Summit 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.

When is the best time to move from San Francisco to Lee's Summit?

Moving companies usually charge 20–30% less between October and April (off-peak). Memorial Day through Labor Day is peak pricing. For a 1859 mi drive, weather on the route matters too β€” see the timing section above for state-specific winter warnings.

Is Lee's Summit more expensive than San Francisco?

Based on BEA Regional Price Parities (2024), overall price level in Lee's Summit 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.

Plan the move

Estimate costs with our moving cost calculator, or see where else to move from San Francisco.

City profiles: San Francisco, CA Β· Lee's Summit, MO.

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