Kansas CityMoney Index August 2026
"Midwest stability, modern wages."
Kansas City — Money Index — Key Facts
- Cost of Living: 91. Kansas City's cost of living sits at 91 — basically the US baseline (100 = US average).
- Median Household: $62k. Kansas City households earn about $62k — roughly 17% below the US average.
- Kansas City Quirk. KC's cost of living sits about 10% below the national average.
- 22-Minute Commute. Kansas City's one-way commute is just 22 minutes — 5 minutes shorter than the US average. That's ~169 hours a year behind the wheel instead of ~207.
- Work-Life Balance: 62/100. Kansas City scores 62/100 on work-life balance — one of the more livable big US metros.
- 13% Savings Rate. Kansas City households save about 13% of income — close to the US average.
- Happiness Score: 69/100. Residents rate life in Kansas City a 69/100 — roughly the US average.
- 11% of Land Is Parks. Roughly 11% of Kansas City's land is parkland — about the big-city median.
- Financial Stress: 50/100. Money stress in Kansas City sits at 50/100 — calmer than most big US cities.
- 55% Own Their Home. Only 55% of Kansas City households own — well below the US average of ~65%. Most residents are still renting.
Kansas City has a diversified economy and very low housing costs — a quiet wealth-building powerhouse.
With a median household income of ~$62k, a 13% savings rate, and a cost-of-living index of 91, Kansas City ranks #18 of 50 US cities in our overall money index.
Green space & commute
Two underrated money levers: how long you spend getting to work, and how much nature you can reach without paying for it.
About 11% of Kansas City's land is parkland — roughly in line with the typical big US city.
- • Source: Trust for Public Land ParkScore
- • Parks lower stress and lift nearby property values
- • Free recreation = zero-cost lifestyle upgrade
Kansas City has a short ~22-minute one-way commute — well below the US average of ~27 minutes. Time saved compounds: 10 minutes less per day ≈ 80 hours and a few hundred dollars in fuel every year.
- • Source: US Census ACS mean one-way travel time
- • Owning a car runs ~$10k/year on average in the US
- • 10 fewer commute minutes/day ≈ 80 hours back per year
Typical Kansas City household budget
Modeled split of $100 of after-tax income, scaled to Kansas City's cost of living and savings rate.
How Kansas City feels about money
Four Kansas City money truths
Kansas City's savings rate runs 13% — automate even one extra percentage point and you compound serious money over a decade.
Kansas City is cheaper than the US average — your paycheck stretches noticeably further than in coastal metros.
Owning unlocks fixed housing costs and equity. Renters here can still build wealth — just channel the difference into index funds and a high-yield savings account.
Missouri residents in Kansas City report a 69/100 happiness score with stress at 50/100 — money habits and lifestyle here track that mix closely.
"KC's cost of living sits about 10% below the national average."
Money lessons from Kansas City
- 1
Low cost = silent raise
- 2
Stay invested through every cycle
- 3
Buy 1 home, keep it 30 years
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Kansas City money FAQ
Is Kansas City, Missouri a good city for saving money?+
Kansas City households save about 13% of income, with a happiness score of 69/100 and a work-life balance score of 62/100. Kansas City has a diversified economy and very low housing costs — a quiet wealth-building powerhouse.
What is the median household income in Kansas City?+
The median household income in Kansas City, Missouri is roughly $62,000 per year. About 50% of households have a 3-month emergency fund.
How affordable is Kansas City?+
Kansas City's cost of living index sits at 91 (100 = US average). Homeownership stands at 55%.
How long is the average commute in Kansas City?+
Kansas City has a short ~22-minute one-way commute — well below the US average of ~27 minutes. Time saved compounds: 10 minutes less per day ≈ 80 hours and a few hundred dollars in fuel every year.
How much urban green space does Kansas City have?+
About 11% of Kansas City's land is parkland — roughly in line with the typical big US city.
What money personality fits Kansas City?+
The Steady Hand — Calm, consistent, and remarkably hard to rattle.
What's surprising about money in Kansas City?+
KC's cost of living sits about 10% below the national average.
