Fresno vs Kansas City: Cost of Living (2026)
A side-by-side comparison of Fresno, CA and Kansas City, MO, using US Census Bureau data.
| Metric | Fresno, CA | Kansas City, MO |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 541,528 | 505,958 |
| Median household income | $63,001 | $65,256 |
| Median home value | $321,800 | $208,900 |
| Median rent (/mo) | $1,227 | $1,131 |
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.
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compare-top (set NEXT_PUBLIC_ADSENSE_CLIENT to serve real ads)Comparing Fresno, CA and Kansas City, MO comes down to what you value most. Kansas City has the lower median home value, and Kansas City has the lower median rent.
Kansas City has the higher median household income, which affects how far a paycheck stretches against local housing costs. The table below breaks down the key numbers side by side, all sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Frequently asked questions
- Is it cheaper to live in Fresno or Kansas City?
- By median home value, Kansas City is the cheaper of the two ($208,900 vs $321,800). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
- Which has higher salaries, Fresno or Kansas City?
- Median household income is $63,001 in Fresno versus $65,256 in Kansas City, per the US Census Bureau.