CostIndexUSA

Kansas City, MO vs New York, NY Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableMO
Kansas City
92.5
overall index
$1,450/mo rent
NY
New York
112.6
overall index
$3,225/mo rent

Kansas City is significantly cheaper than New York — 21.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Kansas City, you would need $97,400 in New York. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+71.6%
Kansas City
86.6
New York
148.6
🛒 Groceries+17.2%
Kansas City
94.1
New York
110.3
🚗 Transportation+13.4%
Kansas City
98
New York
111.1
🏥 Healthcare+13.3%
Kansas City
88.7
New York
100.5
Utilities+42.7%
Kansas City
89
New York
127

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in New York, NY
$97,400
$17,400 more needed in New York

Formula: salary × (112.6 ÷ 92.5) = salary × 1.2173. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Kansas City, MO

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

New York, NY

Median Home Price
$703,000
Median Monthly Rent
$3,225
Housing Index
148.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.2×

New York has 71.6% higher housing costs compared to Kansas City.

Income & Job Market

Kansas City, MO

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

New York, NY

Median Household Income
$95,200
Per Capita Income
$54,300
Unemployment Rate
5.2%
Population
8,336,817
Top Industries
FinanceTechnologyMediaReal EstateHealthcare

Affordability at a Glance

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

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

78% of income left after rent (median)

New York, NY
2.5×income-to-rent ratio

59% 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.