Kansas City vs San Antonio: Cost of Living Comparison
How does the cost of living in Kansas City, Kansas compare to San Antonio, Texas? Below is a side-by-side breakdown of housing costs, income, wages, and taxes using official government data.
Summary: Kansas City is the more affordable city overall. Housing costs are 32% lower in Kansas City compared to San Antonio, while rent is 12% lower. TX has no state income tax.
| Metric | Kansas City, KS | San Antonio, TX | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | |||
| Median Home Value | $133,800 | $198,000 | -32.4% |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,044 | $1,189 | -12.2% |
| Income | |||
| Median Household Income | $56,120 | $59,593 | -5.8% |
| Per Capita Income | $27,034 | $31,148 | -13.2% |
| Taxes | |||
| State Income Tax Rate | 5.7% | None | same |
| Combined Sales Tax | 8.7% | 8.2% | +6.5% |
| Demographics | |||
| Population | 155,438 | 1,445,662 | -89.2% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2022), Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey. State/local tax rates from Tax Foundation (2024).
Rent vs. Buy Calculator — Kansas City
Default home price from Census ACS median. Mortgage rate: 6.38% (Freddie Mac PMMS, March 2026). Property tax est. 1.1%, insurance est. 0.35% of home value annually.
Rent vs. Buy Calculator — San Antonio
Default home price from Census ACS median. Mortgage rate: 6.38% (Freddie Mac PMMS, March 2026). Property tax est. 1.1%, insurance est. 0.35% of home value annually.
Key Takeaways
- Housing: The median home in Kansas City costs $133,800 compared to $198,000 in San Antonio — a 32% discount.
- Rent: Median rent is $1,044/mo in Kansas City vs $1,189/mo in San Antonio.
- Income: Median household income is $56,120 in Kansas City and $59,593 in San Antonio.
- Taxes: Texas has no state income tax, while Kansas has a 5.7% rate.
Methodology
This comparison uses data from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (2022) for median household income, median home value, median gross rent, per capita income, and population. State and local tax rates are sourced from the Tax Foundation. Mortgage rates are from the Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (updated weekly).