Cost of living index

Kansas City, MO

92.5 / 100

Living in Kansas City, MO is 7.5% cheaper than the US average — the #229 of 387 highest nationally.

Median rent: $1,201/mo

Median home value: $265,400

Figures — including the cost index, median rent, and median home value — cover the wider Kansas City, MO metropolitan area, not individual neighbourhoods or city boundaries.

Winter
43° / 25°F
(6° / -4°C)
3.9 in precip
Spring
66° / 46°F
(19° / 8°C)
11.1 in precip
Summer
88° / 70°F
(31° / 21°C)
14.4 in precip
Fall
68° / 49°F
(20° / 9°C)
8.8 in precip

30-year climate normals (1991–2020) from KANSAS CITY DOWNTOWN AP, via NOAA.

The Kansas City, MO metro area has an overall price level of 92.5 compared with the national average of 100, meaning everyday costs run about 7.5% lower than a typical US metro. Housing tells the sharper story: at 86.6 it is 13.4% below the national average. Housing rents are often one of the largest sources of difference between metro areas, so this figure can have a significant impact when comparing locations.

Overall#229 of 387
92.5
Goods#286 of 387
94.1
Housing rents#150 of 387
86.6
Utilities#186 of 387
89.0
Other services#361 of 387
93.4

Kansas City, MO is moved down the most by housing rents, at 86.6 vs a US average of 100, while the closest to average is goods.

Browse Missouri →See the cheapest and most expensive US metros →

Figures on this page come from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities dataset, 2024 — the most recent year published. An index of 100 marks the national average; a metro above 100 has higher prices than a typical US metro, below 100 lower. Median rent and median home value are from the US Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) 2023 5-year estimates, and seasonal weather is from NOAA’s 1991–2020 climate normals. These are regional figures only, not a complete personal budget — they don’t account for individual spending habits, taxes, or household circumstances. See the full methodology for how the index and salary-equivalent estimates are calculated.

Compare My City is an independent project and is not operated by, endorsed by, or affiliated with the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the Census Bureau, or NOAA.

Is Kansas City, MO an expensive place to live?

Kansas City, MO has an overall cost-of-living index of 92.5, where 100 is the US average. That makes it about 7.5% cheaper than the country as a whole.

Is housing expensive in Kansas City, MO?

Housing rents in Kansas City, MO score 86.6 against a US average of 100 — roughly 13.4% below average. Housing rents are often the main driver of differences in overall price levels between metro areas.

How does Kansas City, MO compare to the US average cost of living?

Overall prices in Kansas City, MO sit at 92.5 versus 100 for the US average, with housing at 86.6. Figures come from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis for 2024.