I'm a millennial who moved from New York to Kansas City. I don't have to work 5 jobs, and I pay less rent for a bigger apartment.

• Jackie Nguyen, 35, was living in New York City but landed in Kansas City, Missouri, in 2020.
• Nguyen, who'd been on Broadway, chose to stay after COVID lockdowns ended and opened a coffee shop.
• Nguyen said she loves how far her money goes and the more relaxed pace of life in Kansas City.

I actually ended up in Kansas City because of the pandemic. I wasn't planning on coming.

I was born and raised in San Diego, lived in LA for a year, and then lived in New York for 10 years. I always thought I'd be in one of the big coastal cities.