Kansas City, Kansas
Living in Kansas City, Kansas is about 12% cheaper than the national average, with a cost of living index of 88 (US = 100). Typical rent is $1,534 a month, 21% below the national figure of $1,932, and regular gas costs $3.72 a gallon versus $3.98 nationally as of November 11, 2026. Rent, gas, groceries, electricity and car insurance take about 50% of the area's $60,582 median household income.
Key Numbers
Gas (Regular)
$3.72
National: $3.98
Avg Rent (All)
$1,534
National: $1,932
Grocery Inflation
1.77%
Year-over-year
Fast Food Avg
$12.00
Combo meal
Electricity
15.47¢
per kWh · ~$139/mo
Car Insurance
$173/mo
$2,080/yr
Median Household Income
$60,582
49.9% goes to essentials
Car Insurance
Avg $2,080 in Kansas City. Compare rates:
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Avg rent $1,534/mo in Kansas City. Browse listings:
Grocery Prices
Grocery Prices — 2000 to Present
National BLS averages · submit local prices below ↓
Eggs (dozen)
Avian flu volatility
$0.97 in 2000 → $2.32 BLS avg
$1.99 @ Dillons - Leavenworth Dillons (Nov 2026)
Milk (gallon)
$2.79 in 2000 → $4.10 BLS avg
$3.39 @ Dillons - Leavenworth Dillons (Nov 2026)
Bread (loaf)
$0.91 in 2000 → $1.86 BLS avg
$4.99 @ Dillons - Leavenworth Dillons (Nov 2026)
Ground Beef (lb)
$1.48 in 2000 → $6.75 BLS avg
$6.49 @ Dillons - Leavenworth Dillons (Nov 2026)
Chicken Breast (lb)
$1.06 in 2000 → $2.03 BLS avg
$4.89 @ Dillons - Leavenworth Dillons (Nov 2026)
Bacon (lb)
$2.75 in 2000 → $6.69 BLS avg
$3.99 @ Dillons - Leavenworth Dillons (Nov 2026)
Cheddar Cheese (lb)
$3.84 in 2000 → $6.13 BLS avg
$4.00 @ Dillons - Leavenworth Dillons (Nov 2026)
Pasta (lb)
$0.88 in 2000 → $1.38 BLS avg
$1.49 @ Dillons - Leavenworth Dillons (Nov 2026)
Rice (5 lb)
$2.50 in 2000 → $5.50 BLS avg
$4.72 @ Dillons - Leavenworth Dillons (Nov 2026)
Coffee (12 oz)
$2.65 in 2000 → $6.94 BLS avg
$9.99 @ Dillons - Leavenworth Dillons (Nov 2026)
Orange Juice (64 oz)
Citrus shortage
$5.42 estimate
Potatoes (5 lb)
$1.96 in 2000 → $4.95 BLS avg
$2.99 @ Dillons - Leavenworth Dillons (Nov 2026)
Apples (3 lb)
$5.20 estimate
$3.99 @ Dillons - Leavenworth Dillons (Nov 2026)
Tomatoes (lb)
$1.44 in 2000 → $2.08 BLS avg
$1.79 @ Dillons - Leavenworth Dillons (Nov 2026)
Lettuce (head)
$0.75 in 2000 → $1.96 BLS avg
Cooking Oil (48 oz)
$7.76 estimate
$3.79 @ Dillons - Leavenworth Dillons (Nov 2026)
Yogurt (32 oz)
$4.94 estimate
$4.49 @ Dillons - Leavenworth Dillons (Nov 2026)
Cereal (family size)
$6.20 estimate
$5.00 @ Dillons - Leavenworth Dillons (Nov 2026)
Frozen Pizza
$8.65 estimate
$4.99 @ Dillons - Leavenworth Dillons (Nov 2026)
| Item | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 | 2015 | 2020 | 2022 | 2026 | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eggs (dozen)Avian flu volatility$1.99 @ Dillons - Leavenworth Dillons (Nov 2026) | $0.97 | $1.21 | $1.79 | $2.11 | $1.46 | $1.93 | $2.32 | +137.9% |
| Milk (gallon)$3.39 @ Dillons - Leavenworth Dillons (Nov 2026) | $2.79 | $3.30 | $3.24 | $3.76 | $3.25 | $3.79 | $4.10 | +47.3% |
| Bread (loaf)$4.99 @ Dillons - Leavenworth Dillons (Nov 2026) | $0.91 | $1.00 | $1.36 | $1.48 | $1.35 | $1.55 | $1.86 | +105.2% |
| Ground Beef (lb)$6.49 @ Dillons - Leavenworth Dillons (Nov 2026) | $1.48 | $2.19 | $2.28 | $4.24 | $3.89 | $4.55 | $6.75 | +355.5% |
| Chicken Breast (lb)$4.89 @ Dillons - Leavenworth Dillons (Nov 2026) | $1.06 | $1.03 | $1.26 | $1.55 | $1.41 | $1.62 | $2.03 | +91.3% |
| Bacon (lb)$3.99 @ Dillons - Leavenworth Dillons (Nov 2026) | $2.75 | $3.37 | $3.63 | $5.59 | $5.50 | $7.22 | $6.69 | +143.1% |
| Cheddar Cheese (lb)$4.00 @ Dillons - Leavenworth Dillons (Nov 2026) | $3.84 | $4.21 | $4.72 | $5.40 | $5.20 | $5.32 | $6.13 | +59.6% |
| Pasta (lb)$1.49 @ Dillons - Leavenworth Dillons (Nov 2026) | $0.88 | $0.94 | $1.15 | $1.26 | $1.23 | $1.12 | $1.38 | +57.1% |
| Rice (5 lb)$4.72 @ Dillons - Leavenworth Dillons (Nov 2026) | $2.50 | $2.98 | $3.77 | $3.46 | $3.58 | $4.16 | $5.50 | +120.6% |
| Coffee (12 oz)$9.99 @ Dillons - Leavenworth Dillons (Nov 2026) | $2.65 | $2.29 | $2.86 | $3.55 | $3.13 | $3.85 | $6.94 | +161.3% |
| Orange Juice (64 oz)Citrus shortageLocal estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $3.72 | $5.42 | +45.7% since 2022 |
| Potatoes (5 lb)$2.99 @ Dillons - Leavenworth Dillons (Nov 2026) | $1.96 | $2.29 | $2.81 | $3.34 | $4.01 | $3.96 | $4.95 | +152.6% |
| Apples (3 lb)Local estimate$3.99 @ Dillons - Leavenworth Dillons (Nov 2026) | — | — | — | — | — | $4.49 | $5.20 | +15.8% since 2022 |
| Tomatoes (lb)$1.79 @ Dillons - Leavenworth Dillons (Nov 2026) | $1.44 | $1.66 | $1.84 | $2.09 | $2.22 | $1.89 | $2.08 | +44.4% |
| Lettuce (head) | $0.75 | $0.82 | $0.90 | $1.17 | $1.34 | — | $1.96 | +162.3% |
| Cooking Oil (48 oz)Local estimate$3.79 @ Dillons - Leavenworth Dillons (Nov 2026) | — | — | — | — | — | $5.54 | $7.76 | +40.1% since 2022 |
| Yogurt (32 oz)Local estimate$4.49 @ Dillons - Leavenworth Dillons (Nov 2026) | — | — | — | — | — | $4.15 | $4.94 | +19.0% since 2022 |
| Cereal (family size)Local estimate$5.00 @ Dillons - Leavenworth Dillons (Nov 2026) | — | — | — | — | — | $4.79 | $6.20 | +29.4% since 2022 |
| Frozen PizzaLocal estimate$4.99 @ Dillons - Leavenworth Dillons (Nov 2026) | — | — | — | — | — | $6.31 | $8.65 | +37.1% since 2022 |
Dining & Restaurants
Fast Food Meal
$12.00
Casual Dining
$24.00
Monthly Spend
$400
+4.8% YoYChain Restaurant Meal Prices — 2022 vs. Today
Combo meal / typical order for one
McDonald's
2022: $7.50
$12.00
+60.0%Wendy's
2022: $8.10
$12.96
+60.0%Chipotle
2022: $8.40
$13.44
+60.0%Starbucks
2022: $4.13
$5.04
+22.0%Eating out more? Save on groceries with Ibotta and cook at home more often.
Looking for an Apartment in Kansas City?
Average 1BR: $1,258/mo · 2BR: $1,810/mo
Local Workforce
2024 · BLS QCEWTotal Jobs
94k
Median Weekly Pay
$1,269
$66k/yr
Top Sector
Trade, Transportation & Utilities
Household vs Worker Pay
$61k
household median
Employment by Sector — Kansas City
% of local workforce · avg weekly wage · 5-year growth trend
~$57k/yr
~$83k/yr
~$81k/yr
~$65k/yr
~$30k/yr
Source: BLS QCEW 2024 Annual · County FIPS 20209
Highest Paying Sector
Education & Health Services
$1,601/wk · $83k/yr
Most Workers (lowest wage)
Leisure & Hospitality
$575/wk · $30k/yr
Kansas City Cost of Living FAQ
Is Kansas City, KS expensive to live in?
Kansas City has a cost of living index of 88, where 100 is the US average, so it is about 12% cheaper than average. It is the most expensive of the 5 Kansas cities we track.
What is the average rent in Kansas City, KS?
Typical rent in Kansas City is $1,534 a month for all home types as of September 2026, 21% below the national figure of $1,932. One bedroom units average about $1,258 and two bedrooms about $1,810. Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index for the metro area.
Is rent going up in Kansas City?
Rent in Kansas City rose 3.9% over the past year, faster than the 2.7% change nationally.
How much is gas in Kansas City?
Regular unleaded costs about $3.72 a gallon in Kansas City as of November 11, 2026, based on the AAA average for Kansas. That is 7% below the national average of $3.98.
How much is electricity in Kansas City?
Homes in Kansas pay an average of 15.5 cents per kWh (EIA), versus 18.4 cents nationally. At 900 kWh a month, a typical bill in Kansas City is about $139.
How much is car insurance in Kansas City?
Full coverage car insurance averages $2,080 a year in Kansas, or about $173 a month (Bankrate and NAIC state average), compared with $2,150 a year nationally.
How much do you need to live in Kansas City?
Median household income in the Kansas City area is $60,582 (Census ACS 2023, county level). Rent, gas, groceries, electricity and car insurance add up to about $30,235 a year, or 50% of that income. Groceries are counted at $5,846 a year, the average household spend on food at home in the region (BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey).
How does Kansas City compare with the rest of Kansas?
Rent in Kansas City is 13% above the $1,363 average across the 5 Kansas cities we track, and its cost of living index of 88 compares with a state average of 86.
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