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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
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.
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.
Kansas rent up 3% over the past year. Rent in #1-ranked Kansas has increased from $1,379 — we had to double-check this one — to $1,418/mo over the past 12 months — a 3% increase. Rising costs may erode its top ranking over time. One to watch.
So, Kansas. Cost index of 94 — this is the part where it gets real — , rent at $1,418/month. It's lower than the national average. Median income is $67,449, which is below the national median. That's about what we'd expect given the state context.
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. Kansas (index 94, rent $1,418); Independence (index 90, rent $1,313); Springfield (index 90, rent $1,209). That alone makes it worth considering. Each city profile below links to the full detail page with 12-month trends, salary breakdowns, and cost category comparisons.
What you won't find on most comparison sites: The 4 cities we track in Missouri paint a clearly affordable picture. Average cost index: 91. Median rent: $1,317/month — we had to double-check this one — . Household income: $57,048. Missouri is known for two major metros with small-city price tags — and the data backs that reputation convincingly (though the trend is moving in the right direction).
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.
#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
| Rank | City | Cost Index | Median Rent | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kansas | 94 | $1,418 | Details |
| 2 | Independence | 90 | $1,313 | Details |
| 3 | Springfield | 90 | $1,209 | Details |
| 4 | St Louis | 89 | $1,326 | Details |
152,933 residents · Missouri
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). And for many people, 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. It lines up with what you'd expect. That's within the recommended 30% threshold, though it doesn't leave much room.
120,922 residents · Missouri
The numbers for Independence are straightforward: 90 on the cost index, $1,313/month rent, $59,480 income. And in most cases, not the most exciting entry in the list, but solid. That alone makes it worth considering.
112,544 residents · Missouri
In plain English: Springfield earns its position at #3 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 90 cost index sits 22 points below the national baseline, and the $45,984 median income means purchasing power here is amplified by the low cost base. Homes list at $238,992 — $228,378 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. On the cost side, Housing leads the way at 76, while Healthcare trails at 93.
281,754 residents · Missouri
Why St Louis ranks #4: 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 — for better or worse — 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.
Cities are ranked by overall cost of living index in descending order. High-cost cities are typically driven by housing prices — a city with an index of 150 has overall costs roughly 50% above the national median, with housing often 2-3× that premium. 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 St Louis (ranked #4) has a cost index of 89 and rent of $1,326/mo — a 5-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.