Cost of Living in Kansas City, MO
Kansas City, MO scores 90 on the cost-of-living index — about 10% cheaper than the US average of 100, and #64 of 77 US cities we track.
Compare your salary: Kansas City vs any US city
Enter where you live now and what you earn — see the equivalent salary needed in Kansas City to keep the same standard of living.
To live the way $100,000 affords in Kansas City, MO, you would need about $207,778 in New York City, NY — roughly 107.8% more.
| Category | Kansas City | New York City | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall index | 90 | 187 | +108% |
| Housing | 79 | 287 | +263% |
| Groceries | 96 | 137 | +43% |
| Utilities | 95 | 130 | +37% |
| Transportation | 95 | 120 | +26% |
| Healthcare | 97 | 128 | +32% |
Kansas City cost-of-living breakdown
| Category | Index | vs US avg |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 90 | −10% |
| Housing | 79 | −21% |
| Groceries | 96 | −4% |
| Utilities | 95 | −5% |
| Transportation | 95 | −5% |
| Healthcare | 97 | −3% |
Note These are approximate comparative estimates on a US-average = 100 scale (the C2ER/ACCRA and BestPlaces convention). Category sub-indices are modeled from the overall composite. Actual costs vary by neighborhood, household and lifestyle — treat the numbers as directional.
Frequently asked questions
Is Kansas City expensive to live in?
Kansas City, MO has a cost-of-living index of 90, where the US average is 100. That makes it about 10% cheaper than a typical US city, and ranks it #64 of 77 cities in our index. Housing is the biggest single factor, with a housing index of 79.
What is the cost-of-living index for Kansas City?
The overall index is 90 (US average = 100). By category: housing 79, groceries 96, utilities 95, transportation 95 and healthcare 97. A value above 100 means costlier than average; below 100 means cheaper.
How much salary do I need to live in Kansas City?
It depends on where you're moving from. Use the calculator above: enter your current city and salary, and it scales your pay by the ratio of the two cities' indices to show the equivalent salary needed in Kansas City to keep the same standard of living.
How is the Kansas City cost-of-living index calculated?
It is a comparative estimate on the same US-average = 100 scale used by the C2ER/ACCRA Cost of Living Index and BestPlaces, spanning housing, groceries, utilities, transportation and healthcare. Category sub-indices are modeled from the overall composite. These are approximate estimates — actual costs vary by neighborhood, household and lifestyle.
Which is the cheapest category in Kansas City?
In Kansas City, housing is the most affordable category relative to the US average (index 79), while healthcare is the priciest (index 97).