Living Cost Compare
Kansas City

Missouri

$1,180/mo est.

vs
Philadelphia

Pennsylvania

$1,400/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 $1,400 in Philadelphia, PA. Overall, Kansas City, MO is roughly 16% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Philadelphia, PA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $67,449 in Kansas City, MO and $60,698 in Philadelphia, PA — about 10% higher in Kansas City, MO. Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax; Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax.

Kansas City, MO
Philadelphia, PA

Rent

Studio
$961
$1,126
+17% in Philadelphia, PA
1 Bedroom
$1,031
$1,189
+15% in Philadelphia, PA
2 Bedroom
$1,211
$1,394
+15% in Philadelphia, PA
3 Bedroom
$1,381
$1,406
+2% in Philadelphia, PA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$227,000
$232,400
+2% in Philadelphia, PA

Income

Median Household Income
$67,449
$60,698
+10% in Kansas City, MO
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$50,820
$54,310
+7% in Philadelphia, PA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.7 yr
35.1 yr
+0.6 yr in Kansas City, MO
Homeownership
54.6%
52.3%
+2.3 pp in Kansas City, MO
Bachelor's+ (25+)
37.8%
34.6%
+3.2 pp in Kansas City, MO
Avg Commute
21.9 min
32.0 min
+10.1 min in Philadelphia, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,556.3
916.8
+41% in Kansas City, MO
Property Crime
4,719.3
4,614.3
+2% 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
57.1°F
+0.4°F in Philadelphia, PA
Annual Precipitation
39.1 in
48.5 in
+9.4 in in Philadelphia, PA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.35/gal
$4.30/gal
+1% in Kansas City, MO

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
$2.50
+25% in Philadelphia, PA

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
13.4
20.9
+56% in Philadelphia, PA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.74
$16.67
+6% in Philadelphia, PA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.14
$4.14
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.79
$1.92
+7% in Philadelphia, PA
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.25
+38% in Kansas City, MO
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.97
$6.90
+1% in Kansas City, MO
Chicken (lb)
$2.15
$2.02
+6% in Kansas City, MO
Bananas (lb)
$0.63
$0.68
+7% in Philadelphia, PA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MO / PA)
4.225%
6%
+1.8 pp in PA
Income Tax (top rate)
4.70%
3.07%
+1.6 pp in MO

Kansas City vs Philadelphia — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Kansas City or Philadelphia?
Kansas City, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,180 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below Philadelphia, PA's $1,400, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Kansas City than in Philadelphia?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Kansas City versus $48,000 in Philadelphia.
Which has lower taxes, Kansas City or Philadelphia?
Kansas City is taxed under Missouri's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax); Philadelphia under Pennsylvania's (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% 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).