Is it cheaper to live in Kansas City or Tampa?

Kansas City, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,180 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 21% below Tampa, FL's $1,500, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Kansas City than in Tampa?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Kansas City versus $53,000 in Tampa.

Which has lower taxes, Kansas City or Tampa?

Kansas City is taxed under Missouri's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax); Tampa under Florida's (no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax).

Kansas City vs Tampa Cost of Living 2026

Kansas City

Missouri

$1,180/mo est.

Tampa

Florida

$1,500/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 $1,500 in Tampa, FL. Overall, Kansas City, MO is roughly 21% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Tampa, FL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $67,449 in Kansas City, MO and $71,302 in Tampa, FL — about 5% higher in Tampa, FL. Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax; Florida has no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax.

Kansas City, MO

Tampa, FL

Rent

Studio

$961

$1,242

+29% in Tampa, FL

1 Bedroom

$1,031

$1,324

+28% in Tampa, FL

2 Bedroom

$1,211

$1,673

+38% in Tampa, FL

3 Bedroom

$1,381

$1,729

+25% in Tampa, FL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$227,000

$375,300

+65% in Tampa, FL

Income

Median Household Income

$67,449

$71,302

+6% in Tampa, FL

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$50,820

$48,940

+4% in Kansas City, MO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.7 yr

35.6 yr

+0.1 yr in Kansas City, MO

Homeownership

54.6%

50.2%

+4.4 pp in Kansas City, MO

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.8%

44.6%

+6.8 pp in Tampa, FL

Avg Commute

21.9 min

24.7 min

+2.8 min in Tampa, FL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,556.3

443.4

+72% in Kansas City, MO

Property Crime

4,719.3

1,473.2

+69% 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

73.4°F

+16.7°F in Tampa, FL

Annual Precipitation

39.1 in

46.3 in

+7.2 in in Tampa, FL

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.35/gal

$4.25/gal

+2% in Kansas City, MO

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Florida.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.00

about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

13.4

14.9

+11% in Tampa, FL

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.74

$23.62

+50% in Tampa, FL

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.14

$4.16

+1% in Tampa, FL

Bread (lb)

$1.79

$1.73

+3% in Kansas City, MO

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Kansas City, MO

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.97

$6.56

+6% in Kansas City, MO

Chicken (lb)

$2.15

$1.90

+12% in Kansas City, MO

Bananas (lb)

$0.63

$0.61

+3% in Kansas City, MO

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MO / FL)

4.225%

+1.8 pp in FL

Income Tax (top rate)

4.70%

None

+4.7 pp in MO

Kansas City vs Tampa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Kansas City or Tampa?: Kansas City, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,180 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 21% below Tampa, FL's $1,500, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Kansas City than in Tampa?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Kansas City versus $53,000 in Tampa.
Which has lower taxes, Kansas City or Tampa?: Kansas City is taxed under Missouri's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax); Tampa under Florida's (no state income tax 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).