Living Cost Compare
Cambridge

Massachusetts

$2,810/mo est.

vs
Kansas City

Missouri

$1,230/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $2,810 in Cambridge, MA versus $1,230 in Kansas City, MO. Overall, Kansas City, MO is roughly 56% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Cambridge, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $126,469 in Cambridge, MA and $67,449 in Kansas City, MO — about 47% higher in Cambridge, MA. Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax; Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax.

Cambridge, MA
Kansas City, MO

Rent

Studio
$2,236
$961
+57% in Cambridge, MA
1 Bedroom
$2,496
$1,031
+59% in Cambridge, MA
2 Bedroom
$2,980
$1,211
+59% in Cambridge, MA
3 Bedroom
$3,325
$1,381
+58% in Cambridge, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$1,040,500
$227,000
+78% in Cambridge, MA

Income

Median Household Income
$126,469
$67,449
+47% in Cambridge, MA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$66,620
$50,820
+24% in Cambridge, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
30.5 yr
35.7 yr
+5.2 yr in Kansas City, MO
Homeownership
33.7%
54.6%
+20.9 pp in Kansas City, MO
Bachelor's+ (25+)
80.2%
37.8%
+42.4 pp in Cambridge, MA
Avg Commute
26.1 min
21.9 min
+4.2 min in Cambridge, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
436.7
1,557.1
+257% in Kansas City, MO
Property Crime
2,657.6
4,722.1
+78% 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
51.5°F
56.7°F
+5.2°F in Kansas City, MO
Annual Precipitation
43.8 in
39.1 in
+4.7 in in Cambridge, MA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.07/gal
$3.85/gal
+5% in Cambridge, MA

Area: Massachusetts vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
29.6
16.2
+45% in Cambridge, MA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$30.66
$28.78
+6% in Cambridge, MA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.66
+14% in Cambridge, MA
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$3.63
+66% in Kansas City, MO
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.77
+2% in Cambridge, MA
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$2.10
+4% in Cambridge, MA
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.62
+11% in Cambridge, MA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MA / MO)
6.25%
4.225%
+2.0 pp in MA
Income Tax (top rate)
9.00%
4.70%
+4.3 pp in MA

Cambridge vs Kansas City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cambridge or Kansas City?
Kansas City, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,230 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 56% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cambridge than in Kansas City?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $100,000 a year in Cambridge versus $41,000 in Kansas City.
Which has lower taxes, Cambridge or Kansas City?
Cambridge is taxed under Massachusetts's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% 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).