St. Louis vs Kansas City
St. Louis, MO · Kansas City, MO
St. Louis is 7% cheaper than Kansas City overall.
Home Price
St.: $205,000
Kansas: $270,000
Monthly Rent
St.: $900/mo
Kansas: $1,146/mo
COL Index
St.: 86
Kansas: 92
Median Income
St.: $61,400
Kansas: $67,800
Side-by-Side Comparison
Median Home Price
Monthly Rent (Median)
Median Household Income
Property Tax Rate
Cost of Living Index
100 = national average
Avg. Commute
Unemployment Rate
Median Age
What This Means For You
Buying Power
A $100,000 salary in St. Louis has the same purchasing power as $106,977 in Kansas City — based on each city's cost of living index.
Housing
Homes in Kansas City are 32% cheaper (-$65,000 less). That's a significant down payment and monthly payment difference.
Renting
Renting in St. Louis saves you $246/month — $2,952 per year. Median rent: $900/mo in St. Louis vs $1,146/mo in Kansas City.
Property Taxes
On a median-priced home, St. Louis owners pay roughly $2,050/year in property taxes vs $2,700/year in Kansas City. Rates are comparable.
Local Earnings
Median household income is $61,400 in St. Louis and $67,800 in Kansas City. St. Louis residents earn 10% more — but remember to factor in cost of living.
Daily Commute
Average commute is 24 minutes in St. Louis vs 23 minutes in Kansas City. Commute times are nearly identical.
Salary Equivalence
To maintain the same lifestyle when moving from St. Louis to Kansas City, here's the salary you'd need:
| Salary in St. Louis | Equivalent in Kansas City | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $53,488 | +$3,488 |
| $75,000 | $80,233 | +$5,233 |
| $100,000 | $106,977 | +$6,977 |
| $150,000 | $160,465 | +$10,465 |
| $200,000 | $213,953 | +$13,953 |
* Calculated using cost of living indices (national average = 100). Does not account for state income tax differences.
Run the Numbers
Mortgage Calculator
See monthly payments for homes in either city
Rent vs Buy
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in these markets?
Cost of Living
Full cost of living comparison tool
Home Appreciation
Project future home value growth
Affordability Calculator
How much home can you afford?
Property Tax Calculator
Estimate taxes in St. Louis or Kansas City
St. Louis Calculators
Kansas City Calculators
Related Comparisons
St. Louis vs Kansas City: Common Questions
Is St. Louis or Kansas City cheaper to live in?
Based on cost of living indices, St. Louis is cheaper overall. St. Louis has a COL index of 86 while Kansas City scores 92 (national average = 100).
How do home prices compare between St. Louis and Kansas City?
The median home price in St. Louis is $205,000 vs $270,000 in Kansas City — a difference of $65,000 (32%).
What salary do I need in Kansas City to match my St. Louis income?
Use the salary equivalence table above. For example, a $100K salary in St. Louis is equivalent to $106,977 in Kansas City in terms of purchasing power.
Which city has lower property taxes?
Kansas City has a lower property tax rate (1% vs 1%). On a median-priced home, that means paying $2,050/year vs $2,700/year.
Cost of living data sourced from Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) Cost of Living Index, U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey, and Zillow Research. Tax rates from Tax Foundation and state revenue agencies. Last updated: March 2025.