Cost of Living Comparison Between Kansas City, KS and Seattle, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Kansas City, KS and Seattle, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,673 per month in Kansas City, KS vs $3,598 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,965 per month in Kansas City, KS vs $5,539 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,258 per month in Kansas City, KS vs $7,479 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

Kansas City, KS is about 26% cheaper than Seattle, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Kansas City, KS and Seattle, WA sit above the global median – Kansas City, KS by 99%, Seattle, WA by 168%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.01 $20.01

$24.80 $24.80

-19.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.8 $63.8

$118 $118

-45.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.16 $12.16

$13.77 $13.77

-11.69%

Cappuccino

$5.20 $5.20

$5.71 $5.71

-8.93%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$3.05 $3.05

-20.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 $1.93

$2.50 $2.50

-22.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.93 $4.93

$7.83 $7.83

-37.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.94 $6.94

$7.88 $7.88

-11.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.00 $1.00

$1.35 $1.35

-25.93%

White Bread (500g)

$3.46 $3.46

$5.06 $5.06

-31.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.05 $5.05

$5.39 $5.39

-6.31%

Eggs

$4.60 $4.60

$6.85 $6.85

-32.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.94 $10.94

$25.07 $25.07

-56.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.93 $10.93

$15.85 $15.85

-31.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.72 $12.72

$20.59 $20.59

-38.22%

Apples (1kg)

$5.22 $5.22

$6.14 $6.14

-14.98%

Banana (1kg)

$2.03 $2.03

$2.82 $2.82

-28.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.40 $6.40

$5.51 $5.51

16.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.82 $5.82

$6.74 $6.74

-13.65%

Potato (1kg)

$4.23 $4.23

$3.15 $3.15

34.29%

Onion (1kg)

$3.59 $3.59

$3.82 $3.82

-6.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.25 $2.25

$2.69 $2.69

-16.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.33 $2.33

$2.64 $2.64

-11.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.77 $9.77

$11.65 $11.65

-16.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.01 $17.01

$15.69 $15.69

8.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 $1.79

$2.93 $2.93

-38.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.22 $5.22

$4.24 $4.24

23.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.48 $1.48

$2.82 $2.82

-47.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.0 $54.0

$100 $100

-46.12%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.91 $4.91

$2.60 $2.60

88.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.56 $1.56

$1.72 $1.72

-9.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$40.62 $40.62

$30.22 $30.22

34.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 $0.82

$1.19 $1.19

-31.09%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$30.3K $30.3K

$32.7K $32.7K

-7.50%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.7K $25.7K

$26.1K $26.1K

-1.56%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$192 $192

$263 $263

-26.92%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$53.7 $53.7

$60.9 $60.9

-11.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.3 $53.3

$75.9 $75.9

-29.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$115 $115

$79.6 $79.6

44.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$65.4 $65.4

$39.89 $39.89

63.83%

Cinema Ticket

$15.05 $15.05

$16.27 $16.27

-7.50%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,056 $1,056

$2,281 $2,281

-53.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$28.5K $28.5K

$29.3K $29.3K

-2.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.49 $48.49

$68.6 $68.6

-29.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.24 $35.24

$52.0 $52.0

-32.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.7 $89.7

$116 $116

-22.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 $124

$143 $143

-13.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,380 $1,380

$2,336 $2,336

-40.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,293 $1,293

$1,863 $1,863

-30.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,377 $3,377

$4,628 $4,628

-27.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,138 $2,138

$3,477 $3,477

-38.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,211 $2,211

$7,766 $7,766

-71.53%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,195 $2,195

$5,232 $5,232

-58.04%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,197 $3,197

$6,617 $6,617

-51.69%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.54

6.42

1.87%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Kansas City, KS: May 31, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,380 in Kansas City, KS versus $2,336 in Seattle, WA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 107% higher in Seattle, WA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $64.0 in Kansas City, KS versus $118 in Seattle, WA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $412 vs $547 – making Kansas City, KS the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Kansas City, KS vs Seattle, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Seattle, WA costs about 35% more than Kansas City, KS, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,009 per month in Kansas City, KS and $5,397 in Seattle, WA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Kansas City, KS, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $1,056 per month in Kansas City, KS and $2,281 in Seattle, WA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 33% more in Seattle, WA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,673 in Kansas City, KS and $3,598 in Seattle, WA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kansas City, KS costs $2,673 versus $3,598 in Seattle, WA. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Kansas City, KS. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Seattle, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.