?WhereToHQ

Platte County · Missouri · Midwest · 511k residents

Kansas City, MO: cost of living, taxes & quality of life

Residential facts for Kansas City: housing, taxes, monthly costs, climate, schools, and household income, with the Missouri median as the yardstick. Compare it live against any of 3,000 US cities.

Data coverage: Curated city row; coverage varies by fact.

The median home value in Kansas City is $260,000, 16% above the Missouri median. A two-bedroom rents for about $1,400/mo. Day-to-day costs index at 89 against a national baseline of 100. The median household here earns $65,000 a year.

What the numbers show

Source-confirmed findings

Limited coverage: This profile does not yet have enough source-confirmed local data for a city brief.

This profile does not yet have enough source-confirmed local data for a city brief.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates(2024 ACS 5-year; tables B01003, B15003, B19013, B25077). Geography: Census place where available. This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

WhereToHQ calculates the comparisons. Figures are estimates for context, not a guarantee or personal financial advice. Read the methodology or send a correction.

What makes this place distinctive

A factual snapshot of the place, based on the profile data. It is not a tourism or cultural claim.

A big-hearted crossroads city with serious barbecue, jazz, fountains, and a growing arts district.

Known for: Barbecue, jazz, fountains, sports, and the National WWI Museum.

Calendar note: Kansas City Restaurant Week and the Plaza Lighting Ceremony are signature events.

Story source: Visit KC

  • Scale: A large city with a quarter-million or more residents in the profile data.
  • Setting: The profile places Kansas City about 97 miles from the nearest tracked lake.
  • Climate signal: The profile records 215 sunny days and 11 inches of annual snow.
  • Daily pace: The profile records a walk score of 36 and an average commute of 23 minutes.

WhereToHQ derives these signals from the committed city dataset. Read the methodology for coverage and source limits.

Compare Kansas City for residents

Compare Kansas City side by side

Cost of living index

89

cheaper than 72% of US cities

Median home value

$260,000

+16% vs state mediancheaper than 69% of US cities

2-bedroom rent

$1,400/mo

≈ US median

Median household income

$65,000

−12% vs state medianhigher than 27% of US cities

Housing momentum

How fast Kansas City's housing market is moving, ranked against the US cities we track.

58/100

Steady

Rents YoY: +3.8% (top 31%)Rents MoM: +0.5% (top 30%)Home prices YoY: +1.0% (near US average)
Momentum holding · over 2 yr

Ranks Kansas City's home-price and rent growth against the US cities we cover. The label is relative pace, not a direction, so a market can rank low while some figures still rise. A higher score moves faster, it is not cheaper or better. Not investment or relocation advice.

$a year

Adjusted by Kansas City's cost-of-living index versus the US average.

All facets · Kansas City
Housing — Buy
Median home value$260,000
Price per sq. ft.$165
Property tax rate1.35%
Housing — Rent
1-bedroom rent$1,150/mo
2-bedroom rent$1,400/mo
Taxes
State & local income tax3.95%
Sales tax8.85%
Monthly Costs
Cost of living index89
Groceries index95
Utilities$165/mo
Transit pass$0/mo
Gas price$2.80/gal
Healthcare index95
Childcare (per child)$1,050/mo
Economy & Jobs
Median household income$65,000
Unemployment rate3.7%
Population511k
Quality of Life
Crime index58/100
School rating5.5/10
Walkability36/100
Disaster risk71/100
Avg. commute23 min
Climate
Sunny days / year215 days
July high90°F
January low22°F
Annual snowfall11 in
Market Trends
Home price YoY+1.0%
Home price MoM-0.1%
Rent YoY+3.8%
Rent MoM+0.5%
Location & Access
Ocean coast647 mi
Big lake97 mi
Mountains240 mi
Major airport8 mi
Ski resort219 mi
Compare & explore

Popular comparisons

Nearby

Similar size

Real listings in Kansas City

Homes on Zillow ↗Realtor.com ↗Rentals on Zillow ↗Apartments.com ↗

Links open third-party listing searches. WhereToHQ has no paid relationship with these sites.

Questions & answers
What is the cost of living in Kansas City, MO?
Kansas City indexes at 89 for day-to-day costs against a national baseline of 100, with a typical two-bedroom renting for $1,400/mo and a median home value of $260,000.
How much does a house cost in Kansas City?
The median home value in Kansas City is $260,000, 16% above the Missouri median (compiled estimate; individual listings vary).
How much is rent in Kansas City?
A two-bedroom in Kansas City rents for about $1,400/mo.