CostIndexUSA

Kansas City, MO vs McAllen, TX Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

MO
Kansas City
92.5
overall index
$1,450/mo rent
More AffordableTX
McAllen
85.9
overall index
$1,100/mo rent

McAllen is moderately cheaper than Kansas City — 7.1% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Kansas City, you would need $74,300 in McAllen. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing35.5%
Kansas City
86.6
McAllen
55.9
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Kansas City
94.1
McAllen
93.8
🚗 Transportation+3.2%
Kansas City
98
McAllen
101.1
🏥 Healthcare+3.0%
Kansas City
88.7
McAllen
91.4
Utilities8.8%
Kansas City
89
McAllen
81.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Kansas City to see what you'd need to earn in McAllen to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in McAllen, TX
$74,300
$5,700 less needed in McAllen

Formula: salary × (85.9 ÷ 92.5) = salary × 0.9286. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Kansas City, MO

Median Home Price
$312,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,450
Housing Index
86.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.9×

McAllen, TX

Median Home Price
$188,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,100
Housing Index
55.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.2×

Kansas City has 35.5% lower housing costs compared to McAllen.

Income & Job Market

Kansas City, MO

Median Household Income
$79,800
Per Capita Income
$45,500
Unemployment Rate
2.9%
Population
508,394
Top Industries
FinanceHealthcareManufacturingLogisticsGovernment

McAllen, TX

Median Household Income
$53,700
Per Capita Income
$30,600
Unemployment Rate
5.6%
Population
142,212
Top Industries
International TradeHealthcareRetailGovernmentEducation

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Kansas City, MO
4.6×income-to-rent ratio

78% of income left after rent (median)

McAllen, TX
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

75% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.