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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Kansas rent up 3% over the past year. Rent in #1-ranked Kansas has increased from $1,379 to $1,418/mo over the past 12 months — a 3% increase. Rising costs may erode its top ranking over time.
#1 Ranked: Kansas — cost index 94, rent $1,418/mo, income $67,449
Kansas rent up 3% over the past year
Family-weighted scoring: income $67,449, healthcare index 97, population 152,933 — balancing career, care, and schools
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
| Rank | City | Cost Index | Median Rent | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kansas | 94 | $1,418 | Details |
| 2 | St Louis | 89 | $1,326 | Details |
| 3 | Independence | 90 | $1,313 | Details |
| 4 | Springfield | 90 | $1,209 | Details |
Kansas rent up 3% over the past year. Rent in #1-ranked Kansas has increased from $1,379 to $1,418/mo over the past 12 months — a 3% increase. Rising costs may erode its top ranking over time.
Finding the right city for a family isn't just about cheap rent — it's about income, healthcare, schools, and room to grow. We scored 4 cities in Missouri on the metrics families care about, and Kansas comes out on top with a cost index of 94, median income of $67,449, and a healthcare index of 97.
A closer look at Kansas: the cost index of 94 breaks down to a Housing index of 85 (strongest category) and a Healthcare index of 97 (weakest). Median rent is $1,418/month — 25% below the national median — while household income sits at $67,449, meaning locals spend about 25% of income on rent. That's within the recommended 30% threshold, though it doesn't leave much room (that's pre-tax, of course).
Worth noting: Missouri — two major metros with small-city price tags. The 4 cities we track here average a cost index of 91 and median income of $57,048. It's a clear buyer's market compared to national norms. The typical rent runs $1,317/month, which is $578 less than the national median.
Bottom line: Kansas leads this ranking for clear, data-backed reasons — but the "best" city depends on your priorities. Click into any city below to see the full detail page with 12-month trend charts, profession-specific salary data, and a breakdown of all five cost categories. If you're seriously considering a move, use our salary calculator to model your specific income against these numbers.
152,933 residents · Missouri
The #1 spot goes to Kansas, and the breakdown explains why. Renters here pay $1,418/month — saving renters $5,724 per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Housing is the standout at index 85, making it one of the cheapest in the country for that category. The weak spot? Healthcare at 97. A 25% rent-to-income ratio keeps most households inside the safe zone.
281,754 residents · Missouri
St Louis earns its position at #2 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 89 cost index sits 23 points below the national baseline, and the $55,279 median income means purchasing power here is amplified by the low cost base. Homes list at $179,917 — $287,453 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. On the cost side, Housing leads the way at 74, while Healthcare trails at 92.
120,922 residents · Missouri
Why Independence ranks #3: the numbers tell a clear story. At 90 on the cost index, residents save roughly 22% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,313/month — whether that matters depends on your situation — while the median household pulls in $59,480/year. The Housing category is particularly strong at 76, though Healthcare (93) lags behind. Home prices average $203,383 — $263,987 below the national median (though the trend is moving in the right direction).
112,544 residents · Missouri
Dive into Springfield's numbers: cost index 90 (22 points below national average), rent $1,209/month, income $45,984, and a home price of $238,992. The city's cost profile isn't flat — Housing is the cheapest category at 76, while Healthcare runs 93. With 112,544 residents, it balances mid-size city convenience with manageable costs.
Kansas ranks #1 in Missouri for this analysis with a cost index of 94 and median income of $67,449.
Kansas scores highest for families due to its below-average cost of living, median rent of $1,418/mo, and competitive median income of $67,449.
Our cost of living index uses real Zillow rent data as the foundation, indexed to 100 (national median). Sub-categories (housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare) are derived from the overall index with regional adjustments. Data is updated monthly.
Kansas (ranked #1) has a cost index of 94 and rent of $1,418/mo, while Springfield (ranked #4) has a cost index of 90 and rent of $1,209/mo — a 4-point difference in cost of living.
City data is refreshed monthly from Census Bureau population estimates, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary data, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Last updated: 2026.
The median 1-bedroom rent in Kansas is $1,418/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $477 below the national median of $1,895/month.
The median home price in Kansas is $245,199, which is 3.6× the local median income. It's on the edge of affordability for median-income households. The national median home price is $467,370.
Missouri has a 4.8% state income tax rate. Combined state and local sales tax averages 8.335%, and the effective property tax rate is 0.88%.
This ranking was generated using data current as of early 2026. Population and income data comes from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5-year estimates). Rent and home price data is from Zillow's monthly releases. Tax rates are from the Tax Foundation's 2025 edition. Rankings are refreshed monthly.