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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
In plain English: the numbers are clear: 4 of 4 cities in Missouri beat the national cost-of-living benchmark of 112. Kansas stands out at 94 on the index, with rent of $1,418/month and household income of $67,449. Assembled from 2026 Census, Zillow, and BLS data (not adjusted for inflation, but sti…
| Rank | City | Median Income | Cost Index | Median Rent | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kansas | $67,449 | 94 | $1,418 | Details |
| 2 | Independence | $59,480 | 90 | $1,313 | Details |
| 3 | St Louis | $55,279 | 89 | $1,326 | Details |
| 4 | Springfield | $45,984 | 90 | $1,209 | Details |
#1 Ranked: Kansas — cost index 94, rent $1,418/mo, income $67,449
Kansas rent up 3% over the past year
4 of 4 cities come in below the national cost-of-living average of 112
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
In plain English: the numbers are clear: 4 of 4 cities in Missouri beat the national cost-of-living benchmark of 112. Kansas stands out at 94 on the index, with rent of $1,418/month and household income of $67,449. Assembled from 2026 Census, Zillow, and BLS data (not adjusted for inflation, but still telling).
Real talk: Kansas is one of the cheaper options here. It's fine. Not great, not bad. Rent is $1,418/month, which is lower than most cities in this ranking. The cost index is 94. Income sits at $67,449. That's about what we'd expect given the state context.
Look, the ranking uses a composite of 2026 data from Census Bureau population/income surveys, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary benchmarks, and Tax Foundation tax rates. You get the picture. Kansas (index 94, rent $1,418); Independence (index 90, rent $1,313); St Louis (index 89, rent $1,326). Each city profile below links to the full detail page with 12-month trends, salary breakdowns, and cost category comparisons.
In plain English: before making assumptions, look at this: Kansas rent up 3% over the past year. And more often than not, take it or leave it — the data is what it is. 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. For dual-income households, this multiplies into serious savings.
In plain English: Zoom into the category breakdown, and the plot thickens: State context matters: Missouri's 4 cities average a 91 cost index with $1,317/month median rent and $57,048 household income. That tracks. Two major metros with small-city price tags. The methodology section explains how we weighted each factor — it matters.
Bottom line: Kansas leads this ranking for clear, data-backed reasons — but the "best" city depends on your priorities. About what you'd guess. 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 (not adjusted for inflation, but still telling).
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Kansas | 4.8% | 8.335% | 0.88% | $49,160 |
2Independence | 4.8% | 8.335% | 0.88% | $49,160 |
3St Louis | 4.8% | 8.335% | 0.88% | $49,160 |
4Springfield | 4.8% | 8.335% | 0.88% | $49,160 |
152,933 residents · Missouri
Real talk: Kansas comes in at #1. Rent is $1,418 — we had to double-check this one — a month. Household income is $67,449. The cost of living index is 94. No major red flags in that number.
120,922 residents · Missouri
What does daily life actually cost in Independence? Start with the 26% rent-to-income ratio — tight but manageable for most households. Nothing too surprising there. On the category level, Housing (index 76) is where the real savings show up, while Healthcare (index 93) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $59,480 and homes at $203,383 round out a profile that ranks #2 for clear reasons.
281,754 residents · Missouri
In plain English: Why St Louis ranks #3: the numbers tell a clear story. At 89 on the cost index, residents save roughly 23% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,326/month while the median household pulls in $55,279/year. The Housing category is particularly strong at 74, though Healthcare (92) lags behind. Home prices average $179,917 — $287,453 below the national median (not adjusted for inflation, but still telling).
112,544 residents · Missouri
Real talk: at $1,209/month for rent and a cost index of 90, Springfield is pretty much what you'd expect from a mid-size city in this part of the country. And for the typical household, standard stuff, really. Income is $45,984. Take it or leave it — the data is what it is.
Cities are ranked by median household income from Census ACS data. We also show cost-adjusted purchasing power (income ÷ cost index) to reveal which high-income cities actually deliver the most real-world spending power. All data is sourced from federal agencies and verified research institutions. Cost of living indices are normalized to 100 (national median) using Zillow rent as the primary signal, with sub-category adjustments derived from regional BLS price data. Rankings are updated monthly as new data is released.
Kansas ranks #1 in Missouri for this analysis with a cost index of 94 and 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.