Living in Kansas City, MO
Big city in Missouri
Kansas City is a big city in Missouri, home to about 508,000 people, with 1.9 million living within 31 mi. Day to day, there is some transit, though many people drive. Life moves at a moderate pace, and homes are a mix of apartments and houses.
In short: Barbecue, jazz and some of the most affordable big-city living in the country. Car-based.
Is Kansas City a good place to live? Pros and cons
👍 Pros
- Strong healthcare: 11 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
- Affordable housing: a typical 3-bedroom home is about $247k and rents for $1,770 a month
- Dog-friendly: 31 dog parks within 9 mi
- Low natural disaster risk: 7 federally declared disasters since 2000
👎 Cons
- Higher crime: violent crime is 3.8× the US rate (FBI 2019)
- Fewer outdoor escapes: no big hills or water close by
- Fewer family amenities than most places
Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Kansas City ranks against your own priorities.
Key facts
Living in Kansas City: common questions
What is the cost of living in Kansas City?
A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $247k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $1,770 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are below the US average (index 93, where the US is 100).
What are taxes like in Kansas City?
Missouri collects about $1,262 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 1.12% of their home's value in property tax each year.
Is Kansas City safe?
Violent crime is well above the national rate (3.8× in FBI 2019 data).
What is the weather like in Kansas City?
Kansas City has cold winters: winter days average around 43°F and summer days around 88°F, with roughly 11″ of snow a year.
Does Kansas City get natural disasters?
Natural disaster risk is moderate, mainly from flooding, tornadoes and heat waves: 7 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 1.17 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.
What is the nearest major airport to Kansas City?
The nearest major airport is MCI, about 15 mi away.
How Kansas City scores
Each bar compares Kansas City with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).
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Nearby
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Is Kansas City right for you?
Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.