Cost of Living in Kansas City, MO
Kansas City, MO-KS — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Kansas City, MO to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Kansas City, MO?
With a price level of 92.5 (U.S. average = 100), Kansas City, MO is cheaper than average. In detail, housing costs are 13% below average; everyday goods are 6% below average; utilities are 11% below average; other services such as healthcare and dining are 7% below average. The biggest difference from the national average is in housing.
Prices in Kansas City, MO vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 92.5 | −7.5% |
| Housing | 86.6 | −13.4% |
| Goods | 94.1 | −5.9% |
| Utilities | 89.0 | −11.0% |
| Other services | 93.4 | −6.6% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Kansas City, MO
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,092 | $43,680/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $1,193 | $47,720/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,355 | $54,200/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,765 | $70,600/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,099 | $83,960/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Kansas City, MO
To keep the same standard of living as in an average-priced U.S. city, you would need to earn roughly:
| Salary in an average U.S. city | Equivalent in Kansas City, MO | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $37,000 | $31,108 |
| $60,000 | $55,500 | $45,103 |
| $80,000 | $74,000 | $58,348 |
| $100,000 | $92,500 | $70,494 |
| $150,000 | $138,800 | $100,550 |
Scaled by the BEA price level (pre-tax). Take-home: single filer, Missouri 2026 taxes. For a tax-aware comparison with a specific city, use the calculator above.
A monthly budget on the median wage
A single worker earning Kansas City, MO's median wage of $50,820 takes home about $3,464 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $1,193, which is 34% of take-home pay — above the 30% guideline that financial planners suggest. That leaves about $2,271 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Kansas City, MO
- Federal income tax$3,918
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,151
- Medicare (1.45%)$737
- Missouri income tax$1,451
- Take-home pay$41,563
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.70% state
Kansas City, MO residents also pay the Earnings Tax: about $508 a year on the $50,820 median wage, leaving $41,054. Select “Kansas City, MO” under City income tax above to include it.
Highest-paying jobs in Kansas City, MO
| Job | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Systems Manager | $168,050 | $119,167 | $128,769 |
| Financial Manager | $162,490 | $115,628 | $124,945 |
| Pharmacist | $139,460 | $100,970 | $109,106 |
| Managers, All Other | $136,530 | $99,105 | $107,090 |
| Lawyer | $134,640 | $97,902 | $105,790 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $130,760 | $95,432 | $103,122 |
| Physicians, All Other | $126,260 | $92,568 | $100,027 |
| Software Developer | $124,990 | $91,759 | $99,153 |
| Medical and Health Services Manager | $124,990 | $91,759 | $99,153 |
| Personal Financial Advisor | $123,140 | $90,582 | $97,881 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $105,470 | $79,008 | $85,375 |
| Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | $105,230 | $78,851 | $85,205 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $101,340 | $76,297 | $82,445 |
| Project Management Specialist | $101,050 | $76,107 | $82,239 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $99,630 | $75,174 | $81,232 |
| Civil Engineer | $98,860 | $74,669 | $80,686 |
| Management Analyst | $98,430 | $74,387 | $80,381 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrator | $91,980 | $70,152 | $75,805 |
| General and Operations Manager | $90,490 | $69,174 | $74,748 |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | $90,060 | $68,892 | $74,443 |
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Pay and living costs in Missouri cities
Half of Missouri’s 2,936,050 workers earn less than $47,800 a year and half earn more; the middle 50% earn $36,160–$74,260 (BLS, May 2025). Prices vary a lot within the state: St. Joseph, MO stretches a paycheck furthest, while Springfield, MO is the costliest.
| Metro area | Median pay | Price level | 1-BR rent | Rent share | Left after rent / mo | Buying power* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO | $49,990 | 95.1 | $989 | 29% | $2,422 | $43,049 |
| Kansas City, MO | $50,820 | 92.5 | $1,193 | 34% | $2,271 | $44,912 |
| Springfield, MO | $45,780 | 88.6 | $868 | 28% | $2,278 | $42,614 |
| Columbia, MO | $47,260 | 89.4 | $978 | 30% | $2,261 | $43,460 |
| Joplin, MO | $44,980 | 85.7 | $756 | 24% | $2,339 | $43,334 |
| Jefferson City, MO | $48,030 | 88.0 | $725 | 22% | $2,563 | $44,845 |
| St. Joseph, MO | $47,350 | 86.4 | $832 | 26% | $2,413 | $45,076 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO | $44,470 | 86.1 | $807 | 26% | $2,256 | $42,704 |
*Yearly take-home pay (on each metro’s median wage, single filer) in U.S.-average dollars. Price level: BEA RPP 2024 (U.S. = 100). Rent: HUD FY2026 one-bedroom fair market rent.
Kansas City, MO vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City, MO | 92.5 | $1,193 | $50,820 | 1,096,110 |
| Nashville, TN | 96.3 | $1,530 | $50,390 | 1,099,300 |
| Cincinnati, OH | 95.4 | $1,043 | $50,170 | 1,101,030 |
| Indianapolis, IN | 95.7 | $1,242 | $49,340 | 1,105,170 |
| Columbus, OH | 95.5 | $1,179 | $51,340 | 1,105,580 |
| Sacramento, CA | 106.7 | $1,812 | $59,750 | 1,080,590 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 94.7 | $1,058 | $49,650 | 1,114,490 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Kansas City, MO expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Kansas City, MO-KS metro area are 92.5% of the U.S. average, with housing at 86.6%. It is the #230 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Kansas City, MO?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $55,526 in Kansas City, MO (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $50,820.
Can you afford Kansas City, MO on the median wage?
A single worker on the $50,820 median wage takes home about $3,464 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $1,193 would take 34% of that.
How much is rent in Kansas City, MO?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Kansas City, MO are $1,092 for a studio, $1,193 for one bedroom, $1,355 for two bedrooms and $1,765 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
Top salaries by field in Kansas City, MO
Management Occupations
- Computer and Information Systems Manager — $168,050
- Financial Manager — $162,490
- Managers, All Other — $136,530
- Medical and Health Services Manager — $124,990
- Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary — $105,230
- General and Operations Manager — $90,490
Business and Financial Operations Occupations
- Personal Financial Advisor — $123,140
- Project Management Specialist — $101,050
- Management Analyst — $98,430
- Business Operations Specialists, All Other — $90,060
- Accountant and Auditor — $80,040
- Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators — $78,090
- Compliance Officer — $77,650
- Human Resources Specialist — $75,190
Computer and Mathematical Occupations
- Software Developer — $124,990
- Computer Occupations, All Other — $105,470
- Computer Systems Analyst — $101,340
- Network and Computer Systems Administrator — $91,980
- Computer User Support Specialist — $60,210
Architecture and Engineering Occupations
- Mechanical Engineer — $99,630
- Civil Engineer — $98,860
Community and Social Service Occupations
- Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors — $60,690
- Child, Family, and School Social Workers — $49,880
- Social and Human Service Assistant — $45,860
Legal Occupations
- Lawyer — $134,640
- Paralegal and Legal Assistant — $63,880
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $62,570
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $61,200
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $61,060
- Substitute Teachers, Short-Term — $40,440
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $36,520
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Pharmacist — $139,460
- Nurse Practitioner — $130,760
- Physicians, All Other — $126,260
- Registered Nurse — $83,040
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse — $64,420
- Clinical Laboratory Technologist and Technician — $59,230
- Pharmacy Technician — $45,360
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Dental Assistant — $48,190
- Medical Assistant — $45,300
- Nursing Assistant — $39,710
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $32,780
Protective Service Occupations
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $62,960
- Firefighter — $60,770
- Security Guard — $41,810
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $39,210
- Cooks, Restaurant — $37,370
- Waiter and Waitress — $36,080
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $36,080
- Dishwasher — $34,800
- Food Preparation Worker — $32,230
- Bartender — $30,300
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $30,200
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
- Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker — $41,450
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners — $36,350
- Maid and Housekeeping Cleaner — $34,920
Personal Care and Service Occupations
- Exercise Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor — $38,550
- Animal Caretaker — $32,150
- Childcare Worker — $31,770
- Amusement and Recreation Attendant — $28,680
Sales and Related Occupations
- Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents — $79,410
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products — $66,250
- Insurance Sales Agent — $65,410
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel — $64,950
- First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers — $48,620
- Retail Salesperson — $34,320
- Cashier — $30,700
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $66,780
- Executive Secretary and Executive Administrative Assistant — $64,460
- Postal Service Mail Carrier — $61,010
- Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks — $53,360
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — $50,940
- Billing and Posting Clerk — $49,980
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive — $46,810
- Office Clerks, General — $45,640
Construction and Extraction Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $84,100
- Electrician — $76,860
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $76,150
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $64,060
- Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher — $62,250
- Carpenter — $61,810
- Construction Laborer — $50,500
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
- First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers — $79,060
- Industrial Machinery Mechanic — $68,770
- Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers — $62,680
- Bus and Truck Mechanic and Diesel Engine Specialist — $62,570
- Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic — $53,790
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $48,860
Production Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $77,080
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — $63,000
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — $57,370
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $54,990
- Packaging and Filling Machine Operator and Tender — $47,530
- Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers — $45,240
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $63,610
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $60,170
- Bus Drivers, School — $48,110
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $47,350
- Light Truck Driver — $45,290
- Packers and Packagers, Hand — $44,460
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $41,700
- Stocker and Order Filler — $36,850