Cost of Living in Kansas City, MO (2026)

Kansas City's cost of living is 7% below the US average. $100,000 here is worth about $108,058 nationally. Rent, homes and monthly costs.

Kansas City has a cost-of-living index of 93 against a US average of 100 — about 7% below average. $100,000 of income here is worth roughly $108,058 at the national average.

What it costs to live in Kansas City

MeasureKansas CityUS average
Cost-of-living index93100
Median rent$1,186/mo-
Median home value$227,000-
Median household income$67,449-
Population508,233-

Monthly cost breakdown in Kansas City

Estimates use BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey shares scaled by the local cost-of-living index. Housing uses the city’s median rent; the owning column uses a 30-year mortgage at 6.7% with 10% down on the median home.

CategoryRentingOwning
Housing$1,186$1,318
Transport$853$853
Food$671$671
Healthcare$421$421
Other$1,498$1,498
Total$4,629$4,762

Affordability in Kansas City

Median rent takes about 21.1% of the median household income in Kansas City — comfortably inside the 30% rule of thumb.

The median home costs 3.4x the median household income. Three times income is the traditional comfort line; five times is where affordability usually breaks down.

Highest-paying roles in Kansas City

RoleTypical salaryWorth nationally
Marketing Manager$127,800$138,098
Software Developer$107,570$116,238
Physical Therapist$95,920$103,649
Mechanical Engineer$94,980$102,633
Dental Hygienist$86,335$93,292
Data Scientist$84,450$91,255
Financial Analyst$81,060$87,592
Registered Nurse$79,920$86,360

“Worth nationally” adjusts each salary for Kansas City’s cost of living, so you can compare offers between cities on equal terms.

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Frequently asked questions

Kansas City has a cost-of-living index of 93 against a US average of 100, so it is about 7% below the national average. In practical terms, $100,000 of income in Kansas City has roughly the purchasing power of $108,058 at the national average.

A common benchmark is keeping rent at or under 30% of gross income. At Kansas City's median rent of $1,186/month that implies about $47,440 a year before tax. The median household in Kansas City earns $67,449.

Renting, a single household spends roughly $4,629 a month in Kansas City across housing, transport, food, healthcare and everything else. Buying at the median home price, the estimate is about $4,762 a month including a 30-year mortgage at 6.7% with 10% down.

The median home in Kansas City costs $227,000, which is 3.4x the median household income of $67,449. Lenders traditionally treat 3x as comfortable and about 5x as stretched, so Kansas City is manageable but tight.