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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,403 per month in Kansas City, MO vs $3,583 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,479 per month in Kansas City, MO vs $5,632 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,554 per month in Kansas City, MO vs $7,681 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

Kansas City, MO is about 33% cheaper than Seattle, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Kansas City, MO and Seattle, WA sit above the global median – Kansas City, MO by 79%, Seattle, WA by 168%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.21 $20.21

$24.97 $24.97

-19.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.7 $80.7

$119 $119

-32.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.15 $12.15

$13.90 $13.90

-12.59%

Cappuccino

$4.87 $4.87

$5.56 $5.56

-12.41%

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

$2.29 $2.29

$3.06 $3.06

-25.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.87 $1.87

$2.47 $2.47

-24.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.06 $6.06

$7.96 $7.96

-23.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.17 $7.17

$8.01 $8.01

-10.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.16 $1.16

$1.34 $1.34

-13.43%

White Bread (500g)

$3.58 $3.58

$5.05 $5.05

-29.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.02 $5.02

$5.36 $5.36

-6.34%

Eggs

$3.57 $3.57

$6.59 $6.59

-45.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.08 $14.08

$25.31 $25.31

-44.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.61 $10.61

$16.19 $16.19

-34.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.74 $12.74

$20.30 $20.30

-37.24%

Apples (1kg)

$4.41 $4.41

$5.97 $5.97

-26.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 $1.52

$2.74 $2.74

-44.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.49 $6.49

$5.36 $5.36

21.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.58 $6.58

$6.61 $6.61

-0.45%

Potato (1kg)

$3.48 $3.48

$3.25 $3.25

7.08%

Onion (1kg)

$3.70 $3.70

$3.79 $3.79

-2.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.73 $2.73

-19.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 $2.78

$2.53 $2.53

9.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.32 $7.32

$11.31 $11.31

-35.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.85 $15.85

$16.28 $16.28

-2.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 $1.97

$2.85 $2.85

-30.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.25 $5.25

$4.16 $4.16

26.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.02 $2.02

$2.69 $2.69

-24.91%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.1 $97.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.56 $2.56

$2.71 $2.71

-5.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.14 $2.14

$1.73 $1.73

23.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.26 $21.26

$29.46 $29.46

-27.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 $0.77

$1.20 $1.20

-35.83%

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

$36.4K $36.4K

$33.6K $33.6K

8.40%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

-0.11%

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

$218 $218

$266 $266

-18.25%

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

$63.2 $63.2

$60.4 $60.4

4.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.6 $52.6

$76.2 $76.2

-30.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$58.1 $58.1

$79.2 $79.2

-26.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.71 $29.71

$40.51 $40.51

-26.66%

Cinema Ticket

$14.87 $14.87

$16.22 $16.22

-8.32%

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

$1,375 $1,375

$2,280 $2,280

-39.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$28.3K $28.3K

$29.6K $29.6K

-4.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.8 $52.8

$69.6 $69.6

-24.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.56 $42.56

$52.6 $52.6

-19.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$120 $120

-13.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$128 $128

$143 $143

-10.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,371 $1,371

$2,378 $2,378

-42.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,029 $1,029

$1,866 $1,866

-44.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,381 $2,381

$4,724 $4,724

-49.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,641 $1,641

$3,510 $3,510

-53.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,556 $2,556

$7,711 $7,711

-66.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,907 $1,907

$5,381 $5,381

-64.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,940 $3,940

$6,493 $6,493

-39.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.5

6.42

1.25%

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

Last update for Kansas City, MO: April 26, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,371 in Kansas City, MO versus $2,378 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 65% 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 $81.0 in Kansas City, MO versus $119 in Seattle, WA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $417 vs $544 – making Kansas City, MO 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, MO vs Seattle, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,403 in Kansas City, MO, $3,583 in Seattle, WA – roughly 49% apart. Seattle, WA costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,605 per month in Kansas City, MO and $5,374 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, MO, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,403 in Kansas City, MO and $3,583 in Seattle, WA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,375 per month in Kansas City, MO and $2,280 in Seattle, WA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Kansas City, MO, where all-in costs run around $2,403, than in Seattle, WA at $3,583. In Kansas City, MO it covers expenses comfortably, while in Seattle, WA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Seattle, WA has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,403 in Kansas City, MO to $3,583 in Seattle, WA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Kansas City, MO. 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.