7 Things to know and do before moving to Missouri (2024)

1. First steps before moving to Missouri

Find a reliable moving company, truck rental or moving container

For your move to Missouri, you will need to hire a reliable moving company or take on the move yourself. To find the best moving company in Missouri, look for helpful reviews, a professional-looking website, and years of experience.

Planning a move to Missouri? Take a look at our selection of:

• The 5 best moving companies in Kansas City.
• The 5 best moving companies in St. Louis.

Finding a job

As of September 2023, Missouri has an unemployment rate of 2.9%, which increased compared to 2.8% in August 2023.

Jobs that are often in high demand are bartender, hair stylist, kitchen team member, store shopper and medical assistant.

Finding a job in Missouri is easier if you search online for job openings. Popular websites for this include LinkedIn, Indeed, and SimplyHired.

US Bureau of Labor Statistics (Oct 2023)

Getting there

Below are some travel options to get to Missouri from different parts of the country include:

Flying: Flying is the most convenient way to move to Missouri. Book a flight from your departure city to Louis Lambert International Airport, depending on your destination within Missouri.

Train: You can also take the train with Amtrak as an alternative.

Bus: If you want another way to travel, Missouri cities have bus services like Greyhound, and Flixbus, that can get you there.

If you are flying and require assistance with moving your belongings, you can explore options provided by reputable moving companies.

Must dos before your arrival

Moving to Missouri may be exciting and will challenge you in many ways. By knowing these things beforehand, you will be better prepared for your new life in the city.

• If you are moving to Missouri permanently, and you receive a lot of mail (excluding packages), you may want to sign up with USPS’s mail forwarding service. Mail forwarding allows your mail to be redirected to the right address for a given period of time. The fee for regular mail forwarding is only a little over a dollar for 6 months. If you want to extend the service, you will have to pay around $20 for 6 months more. You can begin your mail forwarding process by signing up on USPS’s website or directly at your local Post Office.
• Moving to a new place is an opportunity to start afresh. If you’re moving to Missouri, selling or donating the items you won’t need will go a long way in making your move easier. You can sell your old household items and personal possessions, and anything that will not be useful. Pick out the items that will not be useful for you in Missouri, then decide if you want to sell them on websites like Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace or donate them to a non-profit organization.

2. Upon your arrival in Missouri

Must dos right upon your arrival

• Get familiar with your neighborhood, and make sure to take note of the important emergency numbers.
• If you roam around the city for work or just simply checking on it, it would be great to purchase a daily pass to save money.
• Locate the essential facilities like the nearest hospital, police station, and fire department for your safety and in case of emergency.

You can easily get around in Missouri. There are several options available.

• SMTS (Southeast Missouri Transportation Service)
• OATS
• The Ride

Exchanging your driver’s license

Once you move to Missouri and establish residency, you must transfer your out-of-state driver’s license immediately. In order to transfer your out-of-state driver’s license, you’ll need to visit your local DOR office in person with a completed list of accepted documents. You will also have to surrender your out-of-state license. If your driving license is from another country, you will have to pass the vision, written, and driving tests.

Register your vehicle

If you have just moved to Missouri, you’ll have to register your out-of-state vehicle with the Department of Revenue (DOR)within 30 days. Failure to do so might result in penalties and additional charges.

To get your car registered in Missouri, you need to bring your vehicle title, proof of insurance, Application for Missouri Title and License (Form DOR-108).and some other documents and submit them to your local licensing office.

Submit your vehicle identification number (VIN) and odometer inspection.

Change your address

Along with mail forwarding, you will also have to update your new address with the concerned authorities in Missouri, like the DMV. To exercise your right to vote in Missouri, you can register to vote by mail and in person. To register by mail or in person, you need to submit a completed Missouri Voter Registration Application to your local county clerk.

After your application is processed, you will receive a confirmation within 7 days. In addition to this, you can also submit the voter registration application in person at your local Missouri DOR office while renewing or applying for a driver’s license or ID card.

Changing your address with your employer, bank, doctor, insurer, and service providers so that you can avoid any complications further down the road.

Setting up a bank account

Obtaining a bank account in Missouri is a straightforward process. You only need to present a copy of your valid state or government-issued ID, such as a driver’s license or passport. The bank with most branches in Missouri for easy access is U.S. Bank. Missouri’s residents has access to a whopping 153 offices of U.S. Bank in the state.

Getting health insurance

Getting health insurance is an excellent way to get peace of mind when it comes to your health. With health insurance, you will not have to worry about spending a ton of money in case of a health-related emergency. The state of Missouri proposes a website to help you with your health insurance search. Simply choose Missouri as your state and create an account.

Numbeo (Oct 2023) & EHealthInsurance (Oct 2023)

3. Best places to live in Missouri

If you are a couple, you might want to consider living in Clayton. It offers an urban feel, a thriving nightlife, a diverse culture, and a lot of amenities.

If you are a family, you might want to consider Chesterfield. Chesterfield offers good housing facilities, safe parks for kids, great schools, and it’s a great place to raise a family.

If you are single, you should consider moving to Richmond Heights. Richmond Heights offers a dense suburban feel and a strong job market. That’s why a lot of young professionals live here. In addition to this, it also provides a lot of amenities.

Setting up home services

Setting up essential home services like electricity, water, and internet in Missouri is a straightforward process.

• The Missouri Public Service Commission is responsible for regulating investor-owned electric, steam, natural gas, water, and sewer and telephone companies. Visit their website and search for electricity, water, and gas providers and even reach out to them if you have any inquiry.

• The best internet providers in Missouri will have bundling options, various speeds, and multiple package options at reasonable prices.

Should you rent or buy?

The average Missouri home value is $239,406, increased by 3.3% from 2022. Missouri’s price per square foot to buy an apartment outside the center is $410.00.

Finding an apartment for rent in Missouri is easy, utilize websites like Zillow, Apartmentguide, and Apartments.com. When seeking a house, these websites—Zillow, Realtor, and Century21—will assist you in your search for a home in Missouri.

Cost of rent in Missouri

Cost of buying a property in Missouri

Numbeo (Oct 2023)&Zillow (Oct 2023)

Consider getting home insurance

Getting home insurance is essential, whichever state you are residing in. It is a kind of financial protection that will cover for your expenses if a natural disaster damages your home. Residents in Missouri are at a high risk of tornadoes, flooding, severe storms and ice storms. Therefore, getting home insurance will prove to be valuable.

4. Cost of living in Missouri

Numbeo (Oct 2023)

5. The weather in Missouri

On average, there are 206 sunny days per year in Missouri. The highest temperature in summer is 88° and the winter low is 20 degrees. Missouri averages 13 inches of snow per year and 43 inches of rain. Overall, the climate in Missouri is a humid continental climate, with summers being hot and humid and winters being snowy and cold. However, the southern part of the state endures a humid subtropical climate.

6. What to do as a local in Missouri

After you are done settling into your new home in Missouri, you will probably want to familiarize yourself with the state and all its attractions. Some of the most popular activities and locations in Missouri include:

Missouri Botanical Garden – The oldest and most prestigious botanical gardens in the US.

St. Louis Zoo – A perfect place to visit with your kids.

The Gateway Arch – A famous attraction in St. Louis, Missouri.

Some common grocery stores in Missouri are: Aldi, Safeway, and Albertsons

The two most popular big chain stores are Walmart and Costco.

Must-visit food places in Missouri are Barn-B-Que Smokehouse and Pappo’s Pizzeria.

Visit the popular cities in Missouri: St. Louis, Kansas City, Springfield, and Jefferson City.

7. Fun facts about Missouri

• Fun Fact #1: The state is sometimes called “the Mother of the West.
• Fun Fact #2: Missouri is named after the Missouri River, which is the longest river in the USA.
• Fun Fact #3: The Mississippi and the Missouri River are the two longest rivers in the state.

Conclusion

Missouri features beautiful landscapes, from the Ozark Mountains to the Missouri River, providing opportunities for outdoor activities and nature exploration. Additionally, the state offers family-oriented activities and events, making it a suitable place for raising children.

While moving to Missouri has its pros and cons, checking the cost of living is essential to making sure you will live comfortably in this city and call it home. It’s a good idea to research specific neighborhoods within the state and consider your priorities to determine if Missouri is the right fit for you and your family.

Need a trusted moving company for the area? Discover the 5 best movers in Missouri.