Living Cost Compare
Anaheim

California

$2,090/mo est.

vs
Kansas City

Missouri

$1,180/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $2,090 in Anaheim, CA versus $1,180 in Kansas City, MO. Overall, Kansas City, MO is roughly 44% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Anaheim, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $90,583 in Anaheim, CA and $67,449 in Kansas City, MO — about 26% higher in Anaheim, CA. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$1,929
$961
+50% in Anaheim, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,764
$1,031
+42% in Anaheim, CA
2 Bedroom
$2,171
$1,211
+44% in Anaheim, CA
3 Bedroom
$2,653
$1,381
+48% in Anaheim, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$771,700
$227,000
+71% in Anaheim, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$90,583
$67,449
+26% in Anaheim, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$55,850
$50,820
+9% in Anaheim, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.9 yr
35.7 yr
+0.2 yr in Anaheim, CA
Homeownership
45.9%
54.6%
+8.7 pp in Kansas City, MO
Bachelor's+ (25+)
28.8%
37.8%
+9.0 pp in Kansas City, MO
Avg Commute
28.2 min
21.9 min
+6.3 min in Anaheim, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
597.4
1,556.3
+161% in Kansas City, MO
Property Crime
2,234.6
4,719.3
+111% in Kansas City, MO

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
67.1°F
56.7°F
+10.4°F in Anaheim, CA
Annual Precipitation
13.4 in
39.1 in
+25.6 in in Kansas City, MO

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.89/gal
$4.35/gal
+26% in Anaheim, CA

Area: Los Angeles vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
$2.00
about equal

Adult base one-way fare — OCTA vs RideKC (KCATA) (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
33.4
13.4
+60% in Anaheim, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.72
$15.74
+24% in Anaheim, CA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.37
$4.14
+5% in Anaheim, CA
Bread (lb)
$2.10
$1.79
+15% in Anaheim, CA
Eggs (doz)
$2.25
$3.63
+61% in Kansas City, MO
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.23
$6.97
+4% in Anaheim, CA
Chicken (lb)
$2.14
$2.15
+1% in Kansas City, MO
Bananas (lb)
$0.74
$0.63
+15% in Anaheim, CA

Average prices — West vs Midwest (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CA / MO)
7.25%
4.225%
+3.0 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
4.70%
+8.6 pp in CA

Anaheim vs Kansas City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Anaheim or Kansas City?
Kansas City, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,180 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 44% below Anaheim, CA's $2,090, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Anaheim than in Kansas City?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $71,000 a year in Anaheim versus $41,000 in Kansas City.
Which has lower taxes, Anaheim or Kansas City?
Anaheim is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); Kansas City under Missouri's (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).