Living Cost Compare
Kansas City

Missouri

$1,180/mo est.

vs
Los Angeles

California

$2,010/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,180 in Kansas City, MO versus $2,010 in Los Angeles, CA. Overall, Kansas City, MO is roughly 41% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Los Angeles, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $67,449 in Kansas City, MO and $80,366 in Los Angeles, CA — about 16% higher in Los Angeles, CA. Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax; California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax.

Kansas City, MO
Los Angeles, CA

Rent

Studio
$961
$1,468
+53% in Los Angeles, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,031
$1,688
+64% in Los Angeles, CA
2 Bedroom
$1,211
$2,148
+77% in Los Angeles, CA
3 Bedroom
$1,381
$2,489
+80% in Los Angeles, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$227,000
$879,500
+287% in Los Angeles, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$67,449
$80,366
+19% in Los Angeles, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$50,820
$55,850
+10% in Los Angeles, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.7 yr
36.9 yr
+1.2 yr in Los Angeles, CA
Homeownership
54.6%
36.3%
+18.3 pp in Kansas City, MO
Bachelor's+ (25+)
37.8%
37.8%
about equal
Avg Commute
21.9 min
31.1 min
+9.2 min in Los Angeles, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,556.3
730.5
+53% in Kansas City, MO
Property Crime
4,719.3
1,501.2
+68% 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
56.7°F
67.0°F
+10.3°F in Los Angeles, CA
Annual Precipitation
39.1 in
21.2 in
+17.8 in in Kansas City, MO

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.35/gal
$5.89/gal
+35% in Los Angeles, CA

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Los Angeles.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
$1.75
+13% in Kansas City, MO

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
13.4
33.4
+148% in Los Angeles, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.74
$20.72
+32% in Los Angeles, CA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.14
$4.37
+6% in Los Angeles, CA
Bread (lb)
$1.79
$2.10
+17% in Los Angeles, CA
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.25
+38% in Kansas City, MO
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.97
$7.23
+4% in Los Angeles, CA
Chicken (lb)
$2.15
$2.14
+1% in Kansas City, MO
Bananas (lb)
$0.63
$0.74
+18% in Los Angeles, CA

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

State Taxes

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

Kansas City vs Los Angeles — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Kansas City or Los Angeles?
Kansas City, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,180 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 41% below Los Angeles, CA's $2,010, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Kansas City than in Los Angeles?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Kansas City versus $68,000 in Los Angeles.
Which has lower taxes, Kansas City or Los Angeles?
Kansas City is taxed under Missouri's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax); Los Angeles under California's (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% 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).