Home › MO › Kansas City, MO Cost of living in Kansas City, MO Livability score 66 · cost-of-living index 93.2 (US = 100)
How Kansas City compares Where Kansas City falls within the range of all 200 metros (marker = this city).
Cost-of-living index (US=100) 85 118 Cost-of-living index (US=100): 93 — range 85 to 118 across all metros 93 Median home price $149k $1610k Median home price: $330k — range $149k to $1610k across all metros $330k Price per sqft (more house = lower) $88 $1074 Price per sqft (more house = lower): $188 — range $88 to $1074 across all metros $188 Combined sales tax 0.0% 11.5% Combined sales tax: 8.4% — range 0.0% to 11.5% across all metros 8.4% Property tax rate 0.28% 2.76% Property tax rate: 1.14% — range 0.28% to 2.76% across all metros 1.14% Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 110 1,000 Violent crime (per 100k, state avg): 490 — range 110 to 1,000 across all metros 490 Electricity (¢/kWh) 12.3 46.6 Electricity (¢/kWh): 14.0 — range 12.3 to 46.6 across all metros 14.0 Avg summer high (°F) 65° 104° Avg summer high (°F): 89° — range 65° to 104° across all metros 89° Avg winter low (°F) -2° 72° Avg winter low (°F): 22° — range -2° to 72° across all metros 22° Map of Kansas City Grocery stores, parks, golf courses and more — real listings. Toggle categories in the legend.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors · business listings via Google Maps
Cost of living Metric Value Scope US rank Cost-of-living index (US=100) 93.2 metro-area #76 of 200 Grocery index (US=100) 96.6 metro-area #99 of 200 Big Mac price (est.) $5.30 metro-area #74 of 200 Median household income $78,827 metro-area #64 of 200 Median wage (all occupations) $45,704 metro-area #36 of 200
Who lives here Metric Value Scope US rank Median age 37.8 years metro-area #79 of 200 Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) 39.2% metro-area #46 of 200 Foreign-born residents 7.2% metro-area #117 of 200 Homes that are owner-occupied 65.6% metro-area #110 of 200
Economy Metric Value Scope US rank Unemployment rate 4.18% metro-area #32 of 200 Population growth (5-yr) +4.9% metro-area #83 of 200
Housing — what your money buys Metric Value Scope US rank Median home price $329,641 metro-area #92 of 200 Home price ÷ income (affordability) 4.2× metro-area #65 of 200 1-yr home appreciation +3.5% metro-area #41 of 200 Price per square foot $188 metro-area #102 of 200 Typical home size (implied) 1,750 sqft Median rent (monthly) $1,548 metro-area #94 of 200 Homes for sale (inventory) 6,593 Median days on market 5 metro-area #1 of 200
Taxes Metric Value Scope US rank Total tax burden (est. % of income) 9.3% state #58 of 200 Combined sales tax 8.38% state #135 of 200 State income tax (top rate) 4.70% Capital gains tax 4.80% state #109 of 200 High earners No special surtax Social Security in retirement Not taxed — does not tax Social Security benefits Effective property tax rate 1.14% metro-area #123 of 200 Median property tax paid $2,793 metro-area #110 of 200
Health & childcare Metric Value Scope US rank Life expectancy at birth 77.1 years metro-area #81 of 200 Healthcare (annual, single adult) $6,400 state #32 of 200 Uninsured (share of residents) 9.1% metro-area #114 of 200 Primary care providers per 100k 81 metro-area #75 of 200 Childcare (annual, infant, center) $10,000 state #58 of 200
Vehicles & commute Metric Value Scope US rank Annual registration $90 state #74 of 200 Vehicle property tax (annual) 2.55% of value (~$714/yr) state #192 of 200 Emissions testing Required Emissions detail Required in major metro counties DMV & license offices 5 Avg commute to work 23 min metro-area #75 of 200 Commute by driving alone 75.1% metro-area #98 of 200 Solo drivers commuting 30+ min 30.7% metro-area #94 of 200
Utilities & fuel Metric Value Scope US rank Electricity 14.0¢/kWh state #13 of 200 Avg monthly electric bill $126 state #13 of 200 Gasoline $3.00/gal state #24 of 200 Natural gas (avg monthly bill) $72 state #100 of 200 Water & sewer (avg monthly bill) $184 state #187 of 200 Home internet (avg monthly bill) $86 state #182 of 200
Insurance Metric Value Scope US rank Home insurance (annual) $2,400 state #139 of 200 Auto insurance (annual) $1,800 state #83 of 200
Disaster risk & supplemental insurance Metric Value Scope US rank Main natural hazards Notable hazards: tornadoes, earthquakes — separate flood/quake/windstorm policies may be needed. FEMA National Risk Index (0–100, higher = more risk) 87.7 — Relatively Moderate metro-area #81 of 200 Flood insurance (annual, NFIP) $750 state #90 of 200 Earthquake insurance (annual) $400 state #163 of 200
Climate & air quality Metric Value Scope US rank Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner) 53 metro-area #157 of 200 Cooling degree-days (AC load) 1,500 metro-area #110 of 200 Homes with air conditioning (state) 95% state #27 of 200 Heating degree-days (heat load) 4,700 metro-area #116 of 200 Days per year ≥ 90°F 41 metro-area #120 of 200 Days per year ≥ 100°F 3 metro-area #158 of 200 Avg summer high (state) 89°F metro-area #113 of 200 Avg winter low 22°F metro-area #130 of 200 Annual precipitation 39.3" metro-area #74 of 200 Annual snowfall 18.2" metro-area #120 of 200 Sunshine (% of possible) 60% metro-area #85 of 200 Plant hardiness zone 6b Frost window 04-20 → 10-20
Safety Metric Value Scope US rank Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 490 state #153 of 200 Property crime (per 100k, state avg) 2,600 state #157 of 200
Local amenities & recreation Metric Value Scope US rank Grocery stores 35 metro-area #133 of 200 Parks 53 Hiking areas 28 Golf courses 25 Shooting ranges 7 Lakes 12
Permits Metric Value Scope US rank Building permit difficulty (1–5) 2 state #1 of 200 Permit detail Generally easy
US rank = this metro's position among all 200 metros (1 = best: cheapest / safest / highest income, etc.). Childcare is a family cost, not included in the salary-equivalence total.
Top employers in Kansas City Major public and private employers in the Kansas City, MO area.
Salaries by occupation in Kansas City Local median pay, BLS OEWS. All occupations →
Occupation Median pay Dentists $160,160 Pharmacists $136,160 Financial Managers $134,520 Human Resources Managers $129,630 Marketing Managers $127,800 Lawyers $126,950 Physician Assistants $123,890 Software Developers $107,570 Construction Managers $105,420 Physical Therapists $95,920 Mechanical Engineers $94,980 General & Operations Managers $89,060 Data Scientists $84,450 Civil Engineers $83,360 Dental Hygienists $82,880 Registered Nurses $79,920 Accountants & Auditors $78,500 Web Developers $73,890 Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters $64,180 Electricians $63,960 Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $60,710 Carpenters $59,470 Real Estate Sales Agents $59,430 Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $57,110 Elementary School Teachers $54,520 Graphic Designers $53,960 Welders, Cutters & Solderers $49,540 Medical Assistants $40,530
Find a job in Kansas City Cities in the Kansas City area Kansas City (505,958) → Overland Park (196,676) → Kansas City (155,438) → Olathe (142,114) → Independence (122,218) → Lee's Summit (101,728) → Shawnee (67,671) → Blue Springs (58,720) → Lenexa (57,497) → Leavenworth (37,193) → Leawood (33,784) → Liberty (30,299) → Raytown (29,772) → Gladstone (26,964) → Grandview (25,921) → Belton (24,241) → Gardner (23,488) → Raymore (23,232) → Prairie Village (22,922) → Grain Valley (15,688) → Lansing (11,254) → Merriam (11,070) → Excelsior Springs (10,546) → Kearney (10,491) → Smithville (10,416) → Harrisonville (10,024) →
What your paycheck is really worth, city by city — cost of living, taxes,
housing and pay across 200 US metros and 3,220 towns.
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Estimates for guidance only — not financial or legal advice. Live/official data:
cost-of-living & grocery (BEA RPP); home price, rent, inventory, days-on-market (Zillow);
income & property tax (US Census ACS); electricity (US EIA); plant-hardiness (USDA);
crime (FBI UCR); local grocery, park, hiking, golf, shooting-range, lake & DMV
counts from Google Maps public listings.
Taxes (Tax Foundation) and insurance, emissions, permits, climate, wages and fuel use
sourced state/metro figures.
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