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) | 3% higher | 15% lower |
| Utilities (Monthly) | 8% higher | 3% lower |
| Food | 2% lower | 3% lower |
| Healthcare | 18% lower | 22% lower |
| Transportation | 7% lower | 12% lower |
| Goods & Services | 14% lower | 12% lower |
The cost of living in Kansas City, MO is 5% lower than the state average and 11% lower than the national average. Kansas City, MO housing is 15% cheaper than the U.S average, while utilities are about 3% less pricey. When it comes to basic necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 3% cheaper in Kansas City, MO than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 12% less .
Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry cost 22% less here compared to the U.S. average. At the same time, non-necessary expenses such as entertainment and grooming services are 12% 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 $1,334, while home prices circle around $434,284.
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 $204.87 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 $4.77 in Kansas City, a dozen eggs go for around $4.71 and a pound of potatoes circles around $5.55.
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 $93.87, while a dentist appointment is priced $111.53 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $2.79 in Kansas City, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $51.70.
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 $32.30 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $25.62.
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 $11.36 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $23.07, while dry cleaning costs about $17.64.
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 $69,166.