Sunnyvale vs Kansas City: Cost of Living (2026)

A side-by-side comparison of Sunnyvale, CA and Kansas City, KS, using US Census Bureau data.

MetricSunnyvale, CAKansas City, KS
Population154,573155,438
Median household income$174,506$56,120
Median home value$1,680,700$133,800
Median rent (/mo)$2,990$1,044

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.

Comparing Sunnyvale, CA and Kansas City, KS comes down to what you value most. Kansas City has the lower median home value, and Kansas City has the lower median rent.

Sunnyvale 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 Sunnyvale or Kansas City?
By median home value, Kansas City is the cheaper of the two ($133,800 vs $1,680,700). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
Which has higher salaries, Sunnyvale or Kansas City?
Median household income is $174,506 in Sunnyvale versus $56,120 in Kansas City, per the US Census Bureau.

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