Kansas City, MO vs St. Louis, MO

St. Louis is moderately more affordable than Kansas City, with a 11.7% lower cost of living index. Kansas City scores 87 compared to 78 for St. Louis, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Kansas City can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Kansas City is $1,186/month compared to $978/month in St. Louis — a 21% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: St. Louis is more affordable at $185,100 median vs $227,000.

Median household income in Kansas City is $67,449 compared to $55,279 in St. Louis (+22%). While Kansas City is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Kansas City spend roughly 21.1% of their income on rent, less than the 21.2% in St. Louis.