Kansas City, MO Relocation Guide (2026)
Cost of living, housing, and income data for Kansas City, sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Salary needed to live in Kansas City →
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Last updated July 2026.
Population in Kansas City, Missouri runs approximately 505,958. Median household income sits at $65,256, landing roughly in line with the benchmark median we track across cities (-9%).
For renters and buyers alike, Kansas City offers a median home value of $208,900 (below the tracked median, -36%) and median rent of $1,131 monthly. Local property taxes and current mortgage rates will shape the real cost of buying.
With home values running about 3.2× median income, Kansas City lands on the affordable side of the housing-cost spectrum. Year-over-year, home values around Kansas City are up 3.15%, a pace in line with a healthy, unremarkable market. FEMA classifies Kansas City's hazard risk as Relatively High. That elevated rating is a major driver of home insurance premiums in the area.
Personal Affordability Check
Renting at $1,131/mo in Kansas City would take 20.8% of your income.
$500/mo under the 30% guideline.
Buying the median home ($208,900) would take 20.5% of your income toward principal & interest.
$407/mo under the 28% guideline.
Cost of housing in Kansas City
Median home value is $208,900 and median gross rent is $1,131/month. For buyers, monthly costs depend heavily on current mortgage rates — worth checking before you commit.
FHFA's county-level home price index for Jackson rose 3.15% over the past year (as of 2025).
HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom unit in the surrounding county is $1,358/month.
Climate & home insurance
FEMA rates Kansas City's overall natural-hazard risk as Relatively High. Risk level is a major driver of home insurance premiums.
Safety
Kansas City reported a violent crime rate of 1375.8 per 100,000 residents in 2025, per FBI data.
Moving to Kansas City
Planning a move to Kansas City? Compare licensed movers and get quotes based on your origin and move date.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in Kansas City, MO?
- For a quick read on Kansas City: homes carry a median value of $208,900, rent runs a median $1,131 monthly, and household income is a median $65,256, all from the US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022).
- How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Kansas City?
- Using the standard 30%-of-income rule of thumb, affording Kansas City's median rent of $1,131/month takes an income of roughly $45,240 a year. See the full salary breakdown (renting and buying) for Kansas City.
- Is it better to rent or buy in Kansas City?
- In Kansas City, comfortably renting the median unit ($1,131/month) takes about $45,240 in annual income, while buying the median home ($208,900) takes roughly $47,795 a year in principal and interest alone (assumes 20% down, a 30-year fixed loan, and current mortgage rates).
- Is Kansas City safe?
- Kansas City's violent crime rate, per FBI reporting for 2025, stands at 1375.8 per 100,000 residents.
See the full salary breakdown for Kansas City →
Cities with a similar cost of living
Matched on median rent and household income within 15% of Kansas City's.