Living Cost Compare
Red building at night time — Kansas City, MO

Cost of Living in Kansas City, MO

Population 508,090 · Missouri

~$1,200/mo est.1BR $1,031Home $227,000
Photo: Tianyi Ma / Unsplash

The cost of living in Kansas City, MO is driven mostly by housing. A one-bedroom apartment rents for around $1,031 a month — about the same as the $1,080 median across the 112 large US cities we track. Studios average $961 and two-bedrooms $1,211.

Median household income here is $67,449, about the same as the $69,423 median of the cities we track. Adding typical electricity and heating to one-bedroom rent, a rough monthly baseline for one person is about $1,200 before food and transport. Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax.

Rent1BR $1,031
Studio
$961
1 Bedroom
$1,031
2 Bedroom
$1,211
3 Bedroom
$1,381
Buying a Home$227,000
Median Home Value
$227,000
Income$67,449
Median Household Income
$67,449
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$50,820

Household income: Census ACS, city. Metro median wage: BLS OEWS, all occupations, 2025 (metro area).

GroceriesMidwest
Milk (gal)
$4.31
Bread (lb)
$1.66
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
Bananas (lb)
$0.62

Average prices, Midwest (BLS, 2026-07-01). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

Utilities13.7¢/kWh
Electricity
13.7¢/kWh
Natural Gas
$24.13/MCF

Residential, state-level averages (EIA, 2026-05-01). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Gas$3.94/gal
Regular Gasoline (Midwest (PADD 2))
$3.94/gal

EIA weekly retail average, week of 2026-08-17.

Public Transit$2.00
Base Fare (RideKC (KCATA))
$2.00

Adult base one-way fare on the primary agency (2026). Fares returned June 2026 after years fare-free.

State Taxes (MO)4.225% sales
State Sales Tax
4.22%
State Income Tax (top rate)
Up to 4.70%

State-level rates. Local sales taxes may add more. Income tax shown is the top marginal rate; most filers pay less.

Crime1,557.1 violent
Violent Crime (per 100k/yr)
1,557.1
Property Crime (per 100k/yr)
4,722.1

FBI Crime Data Explorer, Kansas City Police Department (2024). Offenses per 100,000 residents per year. Agency reporting practices vary, so cross-city comparisons are approximate.

People & LifestyleAge 35.7 yrs
Median Age
35.7 yrs
Homeownership
54.6%
Bachelor's+ (25+)
37.8%
Avg Commute
21.9 min
Climate56.7°F
Avg Annual Temperature
56.7°F
Annual Precipitation
39.1 in

Kansas City cost of living — FAQ

Is Kansas City expensive to live in?
Kansas City is around the middle of the 112 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $1,031 per month ranks #64 of 112 and is about the same as the $1,080 median.
What is the average rent in Kansas City?
Average rent in Kansas City, MO runs a studio around $961, a one-bedroom around $1,031, a two-bedroom around $1,211, a three-bedroom around $1,381 per month (US Census ACS).
How much do you need to earn to live in Kansas City?
To keep a one-bedroom rent of $1,031 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year. The median household income here is $67,449.
How much does it cost to live in Kansas City per month?
A rough monthly baseline for one person in Kansas City is about $1,200 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Compare Kansas City with nearby cities

Kansas City vs SpringfieldKansas City vs BellevueKansas City vs LincolnKansas City vs OmahaKansas City vs WichitaKansas City vs Des Moines

Nearby cities

Springfield, MO 148 miBellevue, NE 159 miLincoln, NE 163 miOmaha, NE 165 miWichita, KS 178 miDes Moines, IA 179 mi

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981-2010 (climate); EIA (gas, utilities); BLS Average Price Data (groceries) & OEWS (metro wage); transit agencies (fares); FBI Crime Data Explorer (crime); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes). Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + utilities; not a full cost of living.