Cost of living in Kansas City, MO-KS
2,270,682 people (Census 2025 estimate). Overall prices are 7.5% below the US average, with housing at 86.6 on BEA’s index (US = 100). A single renter on $60,000 keeps $1,088 a month after 2026 taxes and modeled costs.
Typical household budgets in Kansas City, MO-KS
Computed by MoveMath’s engine with 2026 tax law, HUD Fair Market Rent for the bedrooms each household needs, DOL 2020 childcare prices for Jackson County, MO in current dollars, USDA Moderate-Cost food, one car per adult and $1,000 a month of other spending at US-average prices scaled by local price levels.
| Per month | Single, $60k | Couple + toddler, $110k | Family of four, $83,460 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross income | $5,000 | $9,167 | $6,955 |
| Taxes | $1,005 | $1,635 | $891 |
| Take-home pay | $3,995 | $7,532 | $6,064 |
| Housing | $1,366 | $1,546 | $1,546 |
| Childcare | $0 | $875 | $1,560 |
| Food | $415 | $930 | $1,207 |
| Transportation | $164 | $329 | $329 |
| Sales tax | $25 | $31 | $35 |
| Other goods & services | $937 | $937 | $937 |
| Left over | $1,088 | $2,884 | $449 |
Family of four = two adults, a preschooler and a school-age child at the metro’s median household income ($83,460). Click a column to open it in the budget planner and change any input.
Price levels: Kansas City, MO-KS vs Missouri and the US
BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024. 100 = US average; bars compare the metro (dark) with Missouri statewide (light).
Within Missouri, Kansas City, MO-KS ranks 2nd of 8 metros on overall prices; the state as a whole is at 90.8. The dashed line marks the US average.
Rent and homeownership
| Unit | HUD Fair Market Rent | Income needed at 30% | Share of median income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,257 | $50,280 | 18.1% |
| 1-bedroom | $1,366 | $54,640 | 19.6% |
| 2-bedroom | $1,546 | $61,840 | 22.2% |
| 3-bedroom | $2,020 | $80,800 | 29.0% |
| 4-bedroom | $2,419 | $96,760 | 34.8% |
FY2027 FMRs for Kansas City, MO-KS HUD Metro FMR Area: 40th-percentile gross rent (rent + tenant-paid utilities) for standard-quality units. Census median gross rent, all unit sizes: $1,249 (ACS 2020-2024).
Childcare prices in Jackson County, MO
DOL has no 2022 price for Jackson County, MO; these are the latest published prices, from 2020, adjusted to current dollars with the BLS CPI change since 2020.
| Age band | Center, weekly (2020) | Center, yearly today* | Home-based, weekly (2020) | Home-based, yearly today* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Infant (under 2) | $211 | $14,184 | $156 | $10,478 |
| Toddler (2) | $156 | $10,496 | $116 | $7,831 |
| Preschool (3–4) | $156 | $10,496 | $116 | $7,831 |
| School-age (5–12) | $122 | $8,227 | $121 | $8,121 |
DOL National Database of Childcare Prices, 2020 county medians for full-time care in Jackson County, MO (the metro’s principal county). *52 weeks × 1.2945, the BLS CPI change for day care and preschool from the 2020 average to 2026-08.
Taxes: what you keep in Kansas City
| Single filer, 2026 | $50,000 | $75,000 | $120,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | $3,820 | $7,670 | $17,570 |
| Social Security + Medicare | $3,825 | $5,738 | $9,180 |
| Missouri income tax | $1,368 | $2,534 | $4,661 |
| Local income tax (Kansas City) | $500 | $750 | $1,200 |
| Take-home pay / month | $3,374 | $4,859 | $7,282 |
| Share of pay to taxes | 19.0% | 22.3% | 27.2% |
Mandatory local income tax for residents of Kansas City. State sales tax: 4.225% (state rate only; local rates add on), groceries 1.225%.
Calculate take-home pay for your household in Kansas City, MO-KS
Energy and fuel
EIA: electricity 2025, natural gas 2024, gasoline week ending 2026-10-05. Renters’ utilities are already inside gross rent.
Nearby metros
| Metro | Distance | Price level | 2-BR FMR | Single $60k left over |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City, MO-KS | — | 92.5 | $1,546 | $1,088 |
| Lawrence, KS · compare | 40 mi | 90.2 | $1,272 | $1,335 (+$248) |
| St. Joseph, MO-KS · compare | 46 mi | 86.4 | $1,101 | $1,648 (+$560) |
| Topeka, KS · compare | 62 mi | 88.8 | $1,172 | $1,525 (+$438) |
| Manhattan, KS · compare | 110 mi | 90.2 | $1,107 | $1,514 (+$427) |
| Columbia, MO · compare | 120 mi | 89.4 | $1,076 | $1,546 (+$458) |
| Jefferson City, MO · compare | 133 mi | 88.0 | $962 | $1,770 (+$682) |
Common moves to and from Kansas City, MO-KS
Census ACS metro-to-metro migration flows (ACS 5-year 2016-2020), people who moved in a year.
- Lawrence, KS4,886
- St. Louis, MO-IL3,211
- Wichita, KS3,757
- Lawrence, KS3,591
Frequently asked questions
Is Kansas City, MO-KS expensive to live in?+
BEA’s Regional Price Parities put overall prices in the Kansas City, MO-KS metro at 92.5 (US = 100) in 2024 — 7.5% below the national average and the 230th highest of 387 metros. Housing is 86.6, goods 94.1.
What salary do you need to live in Kansas City, MO-KS?+
A single renter earning $60,000 keeps $3,995 a month after 2026 taxes and has $1,088 left after rent at HUD Fair Market Rent, food, fuel, sales tax and other modeled costs. Use the cost of living calculator to find the salary that matches your current budget.
How much is rent in Kansas City, MO-KS?+
HUD’s FY2027 Fair Market Rent — the 40th-percentile gross rent including utilities — is $1,366 for a 1-bedroom and $1,546 for a 2-bedroom. The Census median gross rent for all units is $1,249.
Does Kansas City have a local income tax?+
Mandatory local income tax for residents of Kansas City. On $75,000 a single filer would owe about $750 a year in local tax under our 2026 data.