Living Cost Compare
Augusta

Georgia

$1,120/mo est.

vs
Kansas City

Missouri

$1,200/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,120 in Augusta, GA versus $1,200 in Kansas City, MO. Overall, Augusta, GA is roughly 7% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Kansas City, MO, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $53,134 in Augusta, GA and $67,449 in Kansas City, MO — about 21% higher in Kansas City, MO. Georgia has a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax; Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$784
$961
+23% in Kansas City, MO
1 Bedroom
$916
$1,031
+13% in Kansas City, MO
2 Bedroom
$1,035
$1,211
+17% in Kansas City, MO
3 Bedroom
$1,230
$1,381
+12% in Kansas City, MO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$162,900
$227,000
+39% in Kansas City, MO

Income

Median Household Income
$53,134
$67,449
+27% in Kansas City, MO
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$45,990
$50,820
+11% in Kansas City, MO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.9 yr
35.7 yr
+0.8 yr in Kansas City, MO
Homeownership
50.9%
54.6%
+3.7 pp in Kansas City, MO
Bachelor's+ (25+)
24.2%
37.8%
+13.6 pp in Kansas City, MO
Avg Commute
20.6 min
21.9 min
+1.3 min in Kansas City, MO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
546.7
1,557.1
+185% in Kansas City, MO
Property Crime
3,652
4,722.1
+29% 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
65.2°F
56.7°F
+8.5°F in Augusta, GA
Annual Precipitation
46.5 in
39.1 in
+7.5 in in Augusta, GA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.94/gal
+2% in Kansas City, MO

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.8
13.7
+14% in Augusta, GA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$33.28
$24.13
+27% in Augusta, GA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Kansas City, MO
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Augusta, GA
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in Kansas City, MO
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in Kansas City, MO
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in Kansas City, MO
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (GA / MO)
4%
4.225%
+0.2 pp in MO
Income Tax (top rate)
5.19%
4.70%
+0.5 pp in GA

Augusta vs Kansas City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Augusta or Kansas City?
Augusta, GA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below Kansas City, MO's $1,200, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Augusta than in Kansas City?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $37,000 a year in Augusta versus $41,000 in Kansas City.
Which has lower taxes, Augusta or Kansas City?
Augusta is taxed under Georgia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% 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).