Moving to Wichita on a Budget: A Practical Guide

Moving to a new city is a lot of decisions at once, and most of them cost money. Working through them in the right order keeps the total down.

1. Sort out housing first

Housing is the largest number in the budget and the one that shapes everything else. In Wichita, one-bedroom apartments at Eagle Trace Apartments are about 600 square feet at $700 per month, and two-bedroom apartments are 900 to 1,000 square feet at $800 per month.

Take the smaller apartment if you will not use a second room, or share a two-bedroom to split the rent. Our floor plans page shows how both layouts work, and our guide to apartments in south Wichita explains who each size suits.

Before you commit anywhere, ask the office what is included in the rent, what the deposit is and which fees apply. Those details vary between properties, so confirm rather than assume. At Eagle Trace, the office is open Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

2. Plan what the move actually costs

Most of the expense lands in a single month, which is why it catches people out:

• Deposit and first month's rent
• The truck, van or movers, priced for the date you actually need
• Boxes, tape and packing supplies
• Any utility deposits or connection fees for your new address

Ask the leasing office what is due at move-in so you can plan for it in one month instead of guessing as the date approaches.

If you are still deciding between the two sizes, give both layouts some thought before you commit. Over a year, the difference between $700 and $800 a month is $1,200, and it is worth knowing exactly what that extra room costs you.

3. Keep the move itself cheap

• Declutter before you pack. Every box you do not move is money saved on a truck or movers.
• Get quotes for the date you need. Weekends and the end of the month are the most expensive times to move.
• Ask around before hiring help. Friends and family with a free Saturday are the cheapest crew there is.
• Collect free boxes from local shops instead of buying them.
• If you are moving into an apartment rather than a house, measure the doorways and stairwells. A sofa that will not fit through the door is an expensive discovery.

4. Set up the essentials

Set up electricity and internet to begin on your move-in date rather than before, so you are not paying for an empty apartment. Ask the leasing office which services the property uses and what they recommend.

In the first week, submit a change of address, update your bank and any subscriptions, and sort out renter's insurance if you need it. Our apartment moving checklist walks through all of this in order.

5. Get to know the city without spending much

Wichita has plenty to do that costs nothing, which helps while the budget is recovering. The Keeper of the Plains, the 44-foot sculpture where the Arkansas and Little Arkansas rivers meet, is free to visit, and the river paths run for miles through the middle of the city.

Old Town, the restored warehouse district downtown, is good for an evening out, and Sedgwick County Zoo and Exploration Place are the usual family choices. Our blog has local guides to parks, restaurants, museums and markets across the city if you want a longer list.

6. Move-in day and the first week

Keep the first day simple. Pack an open-first box with the things you need immediately: bedding, towels, toilet paper, a phone charger, basic tools and something to eat, so you are not hunting through cartons at midnight.

Walk through the apartment when you arrive and note anything that is already damaged, with photos and the date. It takes ten minutes and protects your deposit when you eventually move out. Then set up the kitchen and the bathroom first, because those are the rooms you use every day.

7. Keep the monthly costs down

The habits that made the move cheap also keep the month cheap:

• Split the rent if you can.
• Right-size: pay for the rooms you will actually use.
• Keep the commute short if fuel and time are part of your budget.
• Track your first two months, then adjust.

Ask what is included in your rent rather than assuming, and budget for what is not.

8. Ready to look?

The fastest way to decide between a one-bedroom and a two-bedroom is to see both. Get in touch and we will walk you through the layouts, the parking and the grounds. When you are ready, you can apply online.

Call 316-524-3296 to check current availability.