Living Cost Compare
Chicago

Illinois

$1,440/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 $1,440 in Chicago, IL versus $1,180 in Kansas City, MO. Overall, Kansas City, MO is roughly 18% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Chicago, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $75,134 in Chicago, IL and $67,449 in Kansas City, MO — about 10% higher in Chicago, IL. Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% 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.

Chicago, IL
Kansas City, MO

Rent

Studio
$1,186
$961
+19% in Chicago, IL
1 Bedroom
$1,258
$1,031
+18% in Chicago, IL
2 Bedroom
$1,406
$1,211
+14% in Chicago, IL
3 Bedroom
$1,554
$1,381
+11% in Chicago, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$315,200
$227,000
+28% in Chicago, IL

Income

Median Household Income
$75,134
$67,449
+10% in Chicago, IL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,720
$50,820
+7% in Chicago, IL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.7 yr
35.7 yr
about equal
Homeownership
45.5%
54.6%
+9.1 pp in Kansas City, MO
Bachelor's+ (25+)
43.3%
37.8%
+5.5 pp in Chicago, IL
Avg Commute
33.5 min
21.9 min
+11.6 min in Chicago, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
539.8
1,556.3
+188% in Kansas City, MO
Property Crime
3,489.9
4,719.3
+35% 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
52.7°F
56.7°F
+4.0°F in Kansas City, MO
Annual Precipitation
38.0 in
39.1 in
+1.1 in in Kansas City, MO

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.82/gal
$4.35/gal
+10% in Chicago, IL

Area: Chicago vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.50
$2.00
+20% in Chicago, IL

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
18.9
13.4
+29% in Chicago, IL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$12.10
$15.74
+30% in Kansas City, MO

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.14
$4.14
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.79
$1.79
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$3.63
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.97
$6.97
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.15
$2.15
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.63
$0.63
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IL / MO)
6.25%
4.225%
+2.0 pp in IL
Income Tax (top rate)
4.95%
4.70%
+0.3 pp in IL

Chicago vs Kansas City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Chicago or Kansas City?
Kansas City, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,180 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% below Chicago, IL's $1,440, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Chicago than in Kansas City?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $50,000 a year in Chicago versus $41,000 in Kansas City.
Which has lower taxes, Chicago or Kansas City?
Chicago is taxed under Illinois's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% 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).