Cost of Living in Kansas City, MO
| Cost of Living in Kansas City, MO | Compared to State Average | Compared to National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (Buy and Rent) | 14% higher | 7% lower |
| Utilities (Monthly) | 14% higher | 8% higher |
| Food | 2% lower | 3% lower |
| Healthcare | 10% lower | 16% lower |
| Transportation | 10% lower | 12% lower |
| Goods & Services | 3% lower | 9% lower |
The cost of living in Kansas City, MO is 2% higher than the state average and 6% lower than the national average. Kansas City, MO housing is 7% cheaper than the U.S average, while utilities are about 8% pricier. When it comes to basic necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 9% less in Kansas City, MO than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 9% less .
Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry cost 16% less here compared to the U.S. average. At the same time, non-necessary expenses such as entertainment and grooming services are 9% cheaper in Kansas City, MO.
Housing is the most significant expense for most American households. The cost of living in a certain city takes into account both the price of rent and the price of a home. The average monthly rent in Kansas City is $1,298, while home prices circle around $438,584.
Both owning and renting come with utility expenses. These costs include basic services such as energy and telecommunications. In Kansas City, energy bills cost around $216.81 per month.
Food is the most important necessity and its cost varies around the country. This section includes the prices of everyday foods such as produce, meat and dairy. A bottle of milk costs about $4.65 in Kansas City, a dozen eggs go for around $3.64 and a pound of potatoes circles around $5.03.
The benchmark for this category is based on the prices of family doctor visits and specialized services such as optometry. In Kansas City, an optometry check-up costs around $96.70, while a dentist appointment is priced $100.40 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $3.05 in Kansas City, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $49.20.
The cost of clothing tells you how much more or less money you need to buy basic items such as jeans, shirts or slacks in a new city. A men's shirt costs around $35.59 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $32.12.
The cost of entertainment and everyday services is based on common expenses in each category. For a movie ticket in Kansas City, you should budget around $11.90 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $20.35, while dry cleaning costs about $16.32.
The cost of living also takes median household income into account, so you can estimate how much more or less you could be earning in a new city by comparing it to the income in your current area. In Kansas City, the median household income is $65,256.