Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Kansas City, KS Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Kansas City, KS

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,852 per month in New York, NY vs $2,709 in Kansas City, KS, rent included.

A couple spends around $7,370 per month in New York, NY vs $4,123 in Kansas City, KS, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,889 per month in New York, NY vs $5,538 in Kansas City, KS, rent included.

New York, NY costs about 79% more than Kansas City, KS, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both New York, NY and Kansas City, KS sit above the global median – New York, NY by 252%, Kansas City, KS by 96%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.42 $25.42

$24.16 $24.16

5.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$142 $142

$78.9 $78.9

79.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.97 $13.97

$12.25 $12.25

14.04%

Cappuccino

$6.42 $6.42

$5.93 $5.93

8.26%

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

$3.91 $3.91

$3.23 $3.23

21.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 $2.96

$2.54 $2.54

16.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$4.97 $4.97

57.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.86 $9.86

$7.60 $7.60

29.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 $1.33

$1.16 $1.16

14.66%

White Bread (500g)

$4.73 $4.73

$3.34 $3.34

41.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.89 $6.89

$5.36 $5.36

28.54%

Eggs

$5.63 $5.63

$4.31 $4.31

30.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.39 $17.39

$13.60 $13.60

27.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.02 $15.02

$9.82 $9.82

52.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.97 $17.97

$13.76 $13.76

30.60%

Apples (1kg)

$6.02 $6.02

$4.16 $4.16

44.71%

Banana (1kg)

$2.15 $2.15

$1.54 $1.54

39.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.89 $5.89

$6.09 $6.09

-3.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.21 $6.21

$5.49 $5.49

13.11%

Potato (1kg)

$3.40 $3.40

$3.08 $3.08

10.39%

Onion (1kg)

$4.26 $4.26

$3.74 $3.74

13.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.39 $2.39

11.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.43 $2.43

$2.14 $2.14

13.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$18.70 $18.70

$9.63 $9.63

94.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.72 $19.72

$16.92 $16.92

16.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.24 $3.24

$1.80 $1.80

80.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.91 $3.91

$3.84 $3.84

1.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.95 $2.95

$1.51 $1.51

95.36%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$139 $139

$56.0 $56.0

148.22%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.03 $3.03

$5.05 $5.05

-40.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.22 $2.22

$1.34 $1.34

65.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.33 $41.33

$41.60 $41.60

-0.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.88 $0.88

22.73%

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

$35.3K $35.3K

-0.04%

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

$25.0K $25.0K

$24.7K $24.7K

1.18%

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

$236 $236

$202 $202

17.06%

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

$73.5 $73.5

$53.6 $53.6

37.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.1 $76.1

$65.2 $65.2

16.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$128 $128

$112 $112

14.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$63.5 $63.5

$64.6 $64.6

-1.78%

Cinema Ticket

$23.19 $23.19

$15.26 $15.26

51.97%

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

$3,340 $3,340

$455 $455

634.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$59.9K $59.9K

$21.4K $21.4K

180.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.8 $72.8

$61.1 $61.1

19.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.1 $54.1

$43.75 $43.75

23.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$106 $106

11.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$126 $126

$146 $146

-13.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,467 $4,467

$1,489 $1,489

200.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,988 $2,988

$1,238 $1,238

141.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$9,222 $9,222

$2,806 $2,806

228.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$5,537 $5,537

$2,197 $2,197

151.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$18.9K $18.9K

$2,250 $2,250

739.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,621 $6,621

$2,178 $2,178

203.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,327 $5,327

$3,190 $3,190

67.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.49

6.12

6.05%

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

Last update for New York, NY: September 7, 2026

Last update for Kansas City, KS: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,467 in New York, NY versus $1,489 in Kansas City, KS. 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 67% higher in New York, NY, 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 $142 in New York, NY versus $79.0 in Kansas City, KS. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $512 vs $399 – 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

New York, NY vs Kansas City, KS: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

New York, NY costs about 79% 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 $7,278 per month in New York, NY and $4,063 in Kansas City, KS. 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 $3,340 per month in New York, NY and $455 in Kansas City, KS. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 28% more in New York, NY, 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 $4,852 in New York, NY and $2,709 in Kansas City, KS. 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 $2,709 versus $4,852 in New York, NY. 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, New York, NY makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.