dayblip

Kansas City vs Houston

Cost of living comparison — C2ER 2024-2025 data

Compare a different city:

VS

QUICK ANSWER

Houston is 6% more expensive than Kansas City overall.Kansas City has a cost of living index of 90 vs Houston at 95 (national average = 100). The biggest difference is housing Houston costs 17% less.

Pierre
Built by Pierre — MBA, Business Strategist & AI Consultant, Founder of DayblipAbout the author →
Kansas City
MO
90
COLI index
VS
Houston
TX
95
COLI index

Category Breakdown

CategoryKansas CityHoustonDifference
Overall COLI9095+6%
Housing90105+17%
Groceries101103+2%
Transport102104+2%
Healthcare101101Same
Utilities105112+7%

Median 1BR Rent

Kansas City
$1,150/mo
Houston
$1,350/mo

Median Home Price

Kansas City
$240,000
Houston
$265,000

Median Household Income

Kansas City
$58,649
Houston
$56,019

Share Your Result

Surprised by this number? Share it with friends and family

Frequently Asked Questions

Kansas City is cheaper to live in overall. Kansas City has a cost of living index of 90 while Houston has an index of 95, where 100 represents the US national average. Houston is 6% more expensive than Kansas City overall.

The median 1-bedroom rent in Kansas City is $1,150 per month compared to $1,350 in Houston. The median home price in Kansas City is $240,000 versus $265,000 in Houston. Housing is typically the largest factor in cost of living differences between cities.

Kansas City has a cost of living index of 90 and Houston has an index of 95, both measured against a US national average of 100. An index above 100 means more expensive than the national average — below 100 means cheaper.

To maintain the same purchasing power as a salary in Kansas City, multiply by 1.06. For example a $75,000 salary in Kansas City is equivalent to approximately $79,167 in Houston.

Kansas City has a median household income of $58,649 per year versus $56,019 in Houston. Higher incomes must be weighed against cost of living. Use the Dayblip salary tools to see specific job salaries in both cities.

Whether moving from Kansas City to Houston is worthwhile depends on your salary, lifestyle, and priorities. Houston is 6% more expensive overall — with the biggest difference in housing. Use the Dayblip cost of living calculator to enter your specific salary and see the exact dollar impact.

Last updated: June 2026

Methodology: Cost of living indices from C2ER Cost of Living Index 2024-2025. Rent data from Zillow December 2024. Home price data from Zillow Home Value Index December 2024. Household income from US Census Bureau ACS 2023. National average COLI = 100. Data updated annually.