Median rent is 6% lower in Kansas City ($1,238/mo vs $1,324/mo). Buying is cheaper in San Antonio, where the median home runs $235,700 versus $242,900. Households earn more in Kansas City ($69,166 vs $65,056 a year). Taken together, Kansas City is the more affordable choice with a cost index of 93.2 against 94.3 — about 1% lower overall prices. After adjusting income for local prices, a typical paycheck stretches further in Kansas City, MO.
Cost of living verdict
Kansas City is 1% cheaper overall
Cost of Living Index: 93.2 in Kansas City vs 94.3 in San Antonio (US national average = 100)
City A
Kansas City, MO
City B
San Antonio, TX
How much would you need to earn in San Antonio, TX to maintain your standard of living from Kansas City, MO?
Equivalent salary in San Antonio, TX
$75,905
You'd need $905 more (1% higher).
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each metro area. This estimates overall purchasing power; it does not account for taxes or take-home pay differences.
Metric
Kansas City
Missouri
San Antonio
Texas
Population
Median Household Income
Annual
Median Gross Rent
Per month
Median Home Value
Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: Census ACS, BEA, HUD Fair Market Rents, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Median rent is modestly lower in Kansas City at $1,238/mo compared to $1,324/mo in San Antonio (6% gap). Median home values are within 3% of each other: $242,900 in Kansas City and $235,700 in San Antonio.
Metric
Kansas City
San Antonio
Software Developer
Registered Nurse
Elementary Teacher
Electrician
Accountant
Higher wage highlighted · BLS OEWS 2023 (metro-level data)
State tax data is not yet available for these cities.
Kansas City
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
San Antonio
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Kansas City has cleaner air on average: 57.0 AQI (Moderate) compared to 71.0 AQI (Moderate) in the other city. Lower AQI means cleaner, healthier air.
Pick Kansas City if you prioritize higher median household income ($69,166/yr).
Pick Kansas City if you prioritize cleaner air quality (avg AQI 57.0).
Kansas City is cheaper overall, with a cost of living index of 93.2 versus 94.3 (US average = 100). That means prices run about 1% lower in Kansas City.
Median rent is $1,238/mo in Kansas City, MO and $1,324/mo in San Antonio, TX. Kansas City, MO has the lower rent by about 6%.
Median household income is $69,166 in Kansas City, MO and $65,056 in San Antonio, TX. Kansas City, MO has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Kansas City, MO has better air quality on average: 57.0 AQI versus 71.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
To maintain the same purchasing power, a salary of $100,000 in Kansas City, MO is equivalent to roughly $101,207 in San Antonio, TX (using the BEA Regional Price Parity ratio). Use the salary calculator above for any income amount.
Data last updated: June 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
