Is it cheaper to live in Baltimore or Kansas City?

Kansas City, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,180 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below Baltimore, MD's $1,410, mainly because of electricity costs.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Baltimore than in Kansas City?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Baltimore versus $41,000 in Kansas City.

Which has lower taxes, Baltimore or Kansas City?

Baltimore is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Kansas City under Missouri's (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax).

Baltimore vs Kansas City Cost of Living 2026

Baltimore

Maryland

$1,410/mo est.

Kansas City

Missouri

$1,180/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,410 in Baltimore, MD versus $1,180 in Kansas City, MO. Overall, Kansas City, MO is roughly 16% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Baltimore, MD, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $59,623 in Baltimore, MD and $67,449 in Kansas City, MO — about 12% higher in Kansas City, MO. Maryland has a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% state sales tax; Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax.

Baltimore, MD

Kansas City, MO

Rent

Studio

$1,050

$961

+8% in Baltimore, MD

1 Bedroom

$1,073

$1,031

+4% in Baltimore, MD

2 Bedroom

$1,353

$1,211

+10% in Baltimore, MD

3 Bedroom

$1,555

$1,381

+11% in Baltimore, MD

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$219,300

$227,000

+4% in Kansas City, MO

Income

Median Household Income

$59,623

$67,449

+13% in Kansas City, MO

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$59,070

$50,820

+14% in Baltimore, MD

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.1 yr

35.7 yr

+0.4 yr in Baltimore, MD

Homeownership

47.5%

54.6%

+7.1 pp in Kansas City, MO

Bachelor's+ (25+)

35.4%

37.8%

+2.4 pp in Kansas City, MO

Avg Commute

29.4 min

21.9 min

+7.5 min in Baltimore, MD

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,616.7

1,556.3

+4% in Baltimore, MD

Property Crime

4,202.6

4,719.3

+12% 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

61.4°F

56.7°F

+4.7°F in Baltimore, MD

Annual Precipitation

42.4 in

39.1 in

+3.4 in in Baltimore, MD

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.30/gal

$4.35/gal

+1% in Kansas City, MO

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.00

about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

35.9

13.4

+63% in Baltimore, MD

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$17.19

$15.74

+8% in Baltimore, MD

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.16

$4.14

+1% in Baltimore, MD

Bread (lb)

$1.73

$1.79

+4% in Kansas City, MO

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$3.63

+66% in Kansas City, MO

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.56

$6.97

+6% in Kansas City, MO

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.15

+13% in Kansas City, MO

Bananas (lb)

$0.61

$0.63

+3% in Kansas City, MO

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MD / MO)

4.225%

+1.8 pp in MD

Income Tax (top rate)

6.50%

4.70%

+1.8 pp in MD

Baltimore vs Kansas City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Baltimore or Kansas City?: Kansas City, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,180 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below Baltimore, MD's $1,410, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Baltimore than in Kansas City?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Baltimore versus $41,000 in Kansas City.
Which has lower taxes, Baltimore or Kansas City?: Baltimore is taxed under Maryland's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.50% and a 6% 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).