Living Cost Compare
Kansas City

Missouri

$1,230/mo est.

vs
New Haven

Connecticut

$1,530/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,230 in Kansas City, MO versus $1,530 in New Haven, CT. Overall, Kansas City, MO is roughly 20% cheaper to live in day-to-day than New Haven, CT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $67,449 in Kansas City, MO and $53,771 in New Haven, CT — about 20% higher in Kansas City, MO. Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax; Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax.

Kansas City, MO
New Haven, CT

Rent

Studio
$961
$1,159
+21% in New Haven, CT
1 Bedroom
$1,031
$1,275
+24% in New Haven, CT
2 Bedroom
$1,211
$1,473
+22% in New Haven, CT
3 Bedroom
$1,381
$1,636
+18% in New Haven, CT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$227,000
$249,000
+10% in New Haven, CT

Income

Median Household Income
$67,449
$53,771
+20% in Kansas City, MO
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$50,820
$60,060
+18% in New Haven, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.7 yr
31.9 yr
+3.8 yr in Kansas City, MO
Homeownership
54.6%
28.4%
+26.2 pp in Kansas City, MO
Bachelor's+ (25+)
37.8%
37.7%
+0.1 pp in Kansas City, MO
Avg Commute
21.9 min
21.0 min
+0.9 min in Kansas City, MO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,557.1
536.3
+66% in Kansas City, MO
Property Crime
4,722.1
3,601.6
+24% 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
52.2°F
+4.5°F in Kansas City, MO
Annual Precipitation
39.1 in
47.1 in
+8.0 in in New Haven, CT

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$3.94/gal
+2% in New Haven, CT

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.2
24.3
+50% in New Haven, CT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$28.78
$23.33
+19% in Kansas City, MO

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.92
+16% in New Haven, CT
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Kansas City, MO
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.90
+2% in New Haven, CT
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.19
+4% in New Haven, CT
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in New Haven, CT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MO / CT)
4.225%
6.35%
+2.1 pp in CT
Income Tax (top rate)
4.70%
6.99%
+2.3 pp in CT

Kansas City vs New Haven — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Kansas City or New Haven?
Kansas City, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,230 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 20% below New Haven, CT's $1,530, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Kansas City than in New Haven?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Kansas City versus $51,000 in New Haven.
Which has lower taxes, Kansas City or New Haven?
Kansas City is taxed under Missouri's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax); New Haven under Connecticut's (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% 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).