Cost of Living Comparison Between Scottsdale, AZ and Kansas City, MO Cost of Living Comparison Between Scottsdale, AZ and Kansas City, MO

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,961 per month in Scottsdale, AZ vs $2,448 in Kansas City, MO, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,384 per month in Scottsdale, AZ vs $3,615 in Kansas City, MO, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,807 per month in Scottsdale, AZ vs $4,782 in Kansas City, MO, rent included.

Scottsdale, AZ costs about 21% more than Kansas City, MO, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Scottsdale, AZ and Kansas City, MO sit above the global median – Scottsdale, AZ by 116%, Kansas City, MO by 78%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.20 $20.20

$25.08 $25.08

-19.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.4 $89.4

$80.6 $80.6

10.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.25 $13.25

$12.20 $12.20

8.61%

Cappuccino

$5.30 $5.30

$5.95 $5.95

-10.92%

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

$2.88 $2.88

$3.23 $3.23

-10.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.30 $2.30

$2.59 $2.59

-11.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.94 $5.94

$6.92 $6.92

-14.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.22 $8.22

$7.90 $7.90

4.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.96 $0.96

$1.24 $1.24

-22.58%

White Bread (500g)

$4.31 $4.31

$3.49 $3.49

23.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.15 $5.15

$5.12 $5.12

0.59%

Eggs

$4.77 $4.77

$4.44 $4.44

7.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.73 $13.73

$14.39 $14.39

-4.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.52 $11.52

$9.68 $9.68

19.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.96 $16.96

$13.48 $13.48

25.82%

Apples (1kg)

$4.50 $4.50

$4.49 $4.49

0.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 $1.81

$1.60 $1.60

13.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.80 $3.80

$4.31 $4.31

-11.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.08 $4.08

$5.44 $5.44

-25.00%

Potato (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$3.07 $3.07

-6.84%

Onion (1kg)

$2.81 $2.81

$3.33 $3.33

-15.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.10 $2.10

$2.42 $2.42

-13.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$2.15 $2.15

16.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.77 $10.77

$7.82 $7.82

37.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.40 $13.40

$15.35 $15.35

-12.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.41 $2.41

$1.99 $1.99

21.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.16 $3.16

$3.89 $3.89

-18.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.25 $2.25

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.82 $43.82

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 $2.67

$2.43 $2.43

9.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.38 $1.38

$1.21 $1.21

14.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.83 $35.83

$59.2 $59.2

-39.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.91 $0.91

19.78%

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

$36.1K $36.1K

$34.6K $34.6K

4.30%

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

$25.8K $25.8K

$24.4K $24.4K

5.92%

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

$206 $206

$203 $203

1.26%

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

$61.8 $61.8

$64.5 $64.5

-4.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$73.4 $73.4

$71.2 $71.2

3.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.95 $34.95

$45.37 $45.37

-22.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.18 $10.18

$32.06 $32.06

-68.25%

Cinema Ticket

$13.57 $13.57

$15.08 $15.08

-10.01%

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

$1,225 $1,225

$1,175 $1,175

4.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.1K $20.1K

$21.3K $21.3K

-5.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 $56.2

$60.9 $60.9

-7.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.20 $45.20

$43.14 $43.14

4.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.6 $98.6

$106 $106

-6.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 $121

$148 $148

-17.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,383 $2,383

$1,413 $1,413

68.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,583 $1,583

$1,067 $1,067

48.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,151 $3,151

$2,647 $2,647

19.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,801 $2,801

$1,752 $1,752

59.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,703 $3,703

$2,609 $2,609

41.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,724 $4,724

$1,942 $1,942

143.26%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,659 $5,659

$3,967 $3,967

42.65%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.08

6.12

-0.65%

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

Last update for Scottsdale, AZ: August 29, 2026

Last update for Kansas City, MO: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,383 in Scottsdale, AZ versus $1,413 in Kansas City, MO. 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 43% higher in Scottsdale, AZ, 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 $89.0 in Scottsdale, AZ versus $81.0 in Kansas City, MO. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $409 vs $394 – 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

Scottsdale, AZ vs Kansas City, MO: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,961 in Scottsdale, AZ, $2,448 in Kansas City, MO – roughly 21% apart. Scottsdale, AZ costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,442 per month in Scottsdale, AZ and $3,672 in Kansas City, MO. 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 $2,961 in Scottsdale, AZ and $2,448 in Kansas City, MO. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,225 per month in Scottsdale, AZ and $1,175 in Kansas City, MO. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,961 in Scottsdale, AZ and $2,448 in Kansas City, MO. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Kansas City, MO has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,448 in Kansas City, MO to $2,961 in Scottsdale, AZ. 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, Scottsdale, AZ makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.