CostIndexUSA

Charlotte, NC vs Kansas City, MO Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

NC
Charlotte
97.3
overall index
$1,700/mo rent
More AffordableMO
Kansas City
92.5
overall index
$1,450/mo rent

Kansas City is slightly cheaper than Charlotte — 4.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Charlotte, you would need $76,100 in Kansas City. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing11.3%
Charlotte
97.6
Kansas City
86.6
🛒 Groceries2.6%
Charlotte
96.6
Kansas City
94.1
🚗 Transportation4.9%
Charlotte
103.1
Kansas City
98
🏥 Healthcare4.9%
Charlotte
93.3
Kansas City
88.7
Utilities≈ Equal
Charlotte
89.2
Kansas City
89

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Charlotte to see what you'd need to earn in Kansas City to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Kansas City, MO
$76,100
$3,900 less needed in Kansas City

Formula: salary × (92.5 ÷ 97.3) = salary × 0.9507. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Charlotte, NC

Median Home Price
$380,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,700
Housing Index
97.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.6×

Kansas City, MO

Median Home Price
$312,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,450
Housing Index
86.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.9×

Charlotte has 11.3% lower housing costs compared to Kansas City.

Income & Job Market

Charlotte, NC

Median Household Income
$81,300
Per Capita Income
$46,300
Unemployment Rate
3.6%
Population
879,709
Top Industries
FinanceHealthcareManufacturingTechnologyEnergy

Kansas City, MO

Median Household Income
$79,800
Per Capita Income
$45,500
Unemployment Rate
2.9%
Population
508,394
Top Industries
FinanceHealthcareManufacturingLogisticsGovernment

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Charlotte, NC
4.0×income-to-rent ratio

75% of income left after rent (median)

Kansas City, MO
4.6×income-to-rent ratio

78% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.