What is the cost of living in Kansas City, MO?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Kansas City has an overall cost of living index of 98, which is 1.0x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Missouri, Kansas City has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Missouri's index of 90.
The standard of living in Kansas City ranks as #97 most affordable out of the 144 places we measured in Missouri. By definition, that implies Kansas City ranks as the #47 most expensive place in the Show Me State.
For more reading on life in Kansas City, check out:
Kansas City Cost Of Living Vs. Missouri
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Kansas City. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Kansas City is 99.
The Groceries index in Kansas City is 100.
The Health index in Kansas City is 95.
The Housing index in Kansas City is 95.
The Transportation index in Kansas City is 92.
The Utilities index in Kansas City is 95.
| Living Expense | Kansas City | Missouri | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 98 | 90 | 100 |
| Services | 99 | 97 | 100 |
| Groceries | 100 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 95 | 76 | 100 |
| Housing | 95 | 95 | 100 |
| Transportation | 92 | 94 | 100 |
| Utilities | 95 | 96 | 100 |
Kansas City Cost Of Living Compared To Missouri Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Missouri, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Kansas City Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Kansas City, MO Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Missouri, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Kansas City is $250,207.
The Median Rent in Kansas City is $1,238.
The Median Income in Kansas City is $69,166.
The Home Value To Income in Kansas City is 3.6x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Kansas City is 0.21x.
| Statistic | Kansas City | Missouri | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $250,207 | $263,040 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,238 | $1,033 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $69,166 | $70,702 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.6x | 3.7x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.21x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
Kansas City, MO Costs By Category
Detailed Kansas City Services costs vs. Missouri
| Item | Kansas City | Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.42 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $12.03 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $15.57 | $18 |
| Haircut | $20.3 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $33.43 | $45.56 |
Detailed Kansas City Groceries costs vs. Missouri
| Item | Kansas City | Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.31 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.4 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.62 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.24 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $11.48 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $9.39 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.7 | $3.7 |
Detailed Kansas City Health costs vs. Missouri
| Item | Kansas City | Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $96.5 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $90.2 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $100.33 | $113.29 |
Detailed Kansas City Transportation costs vs. Missouri
| Item | Kansas City | Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.17 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $49.17 | $59.92 |
Detailed Kansas City Utilities costs vs. Missouri
| Item | Kansas City | Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $217.1 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $199.94 | $192.25 |
