Cost of Living
per year
per month
How Kansas City's prices compare to the US city average across major spending categories.
How far does your salary go in Kansas City?
Your $100,000 in Kansas City has the same purchasing power as $110,779 in the average US city. You'd need $10,779 less here to maintain that standard of living.
Demographics and workforce data from the US Census ACS 5-Year.
bachelor's or higher
Climate, safety, and walkability indicators.
See a side-by-side breakdown of cost of living, housing, and salaries.
Popular comparisons
Sorted by affordability — most affordable first.
Within 10 points of Kansas City's cost index of 90, sorted by closest match.
Wondering whether you should move to Kansas City? It depends on what you're optimizing for, but the city has real arguments in its favor: your dollar carries more weight here and crime statistics come out reassuring, plus 1 more things worth knowing. The data behind each is below.
Kansas City sits at 90 on the composite cost-of-living index — about 10% under the national average. Not the cheapest place in the country, but enough of a discount to notice on rent and groceries every month. Median rent in town runs about $1,044/mo against a typical household income of $56,120, which is the kind of ratio that leaves room to save.
Kansas City reports roughly 2 crime incidents per 100,000 residents, well under the US average of about 3,500 per 100k. As always, citywide numbers paper over real differences between neighborhoods — but the broader trend here is on the calmer end of the US distribution.
The average one-way commute in Kansas City is about 22 minutes — short by US standards (the national average is closer to 27). Over a year of working days, that's hundreds of hours that don't get spent in traffic, which is the kind of thing you notice in the weekend rather than the weekday.
Reasons are pulled from Kansas City's actual data — Census ACS, BLS, BEA, NOAA, EPA AQS, FBI, and Walk Score. We don't list positives that aren't supported by the numbers, which is why different cities show different sections.
Yes — and a lot of it. With winter averages near 22°F, Kansas City sees real accumulation most years. Salt for the steps, tires that handle ice, and a sense of humor about February are the usual costs of admission.
Cold enough to plan around. Winter in Kansas City averages roughly 22°F, with stretches where daytime highs don't break freezing for weeks. Decent insulation, a real coat, and a car that starts in cold weather are non-negotiable.
Hot, but not desert-hot. Summer in Kansas City runs about 87°F on average, with afternoons in the 90s and humidity that varies by region. AC is standard rather than optional.
Kansas City falls in roughly USDA Zone 7. The zone classification is based on average annual minimum temperatures, so it's the right lookup for whether perennials and trees will overwinter here. Note that this is approximate from our winter-temperature data — check the USDA map for the exact zone before betting an expensive plant on it.
Kansas City is at about 978 feet (298 m) above sea level. High enough to be solidly above any coastal concern, low enough that altitude isn't a factor.
By the numbers, yes. Kansas City reports roughly 2 crime incidents per 100,000 residents — well under the US average of about 3,500 per 100k. The big caveat applies as always: every city has neighborhoods that look nothing like the citywide average. But the citywide average here is genuinely good.
Roughly average. Kansas City's cost-of-living index is 90, putting it in the band where rent, groceries, and utilities track the national norm. Not a bargain, not a premium.
Not really — Kansas City is built around the car. Its Walk Score of 7 out of 100 means almost every errand is a drive. Transit Score is 23 out of 100. Living without a car is technically possible but real work; most residents wouldn't try it.
Roughly $63,189 a year would match the lifestyle of someone earning $70,000 in an average US city. That's a starting point, not a target — negotiate higher when you can. Median rent in Kansas City runs about $1,044/mo — keeping housing under 30% of gross income points to a similar floor on what you'd want to earn.