CostIndexUSA

Kansas City, MO vs Mesa, AZ Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableMO
Kansas City
92.5
overall index
$1,450/mo rent
AZ
Mesa
103.3
overall index
$1,725/mo rent

Kansas City is moderately cheaper than Mesa — 11.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Kansas City, you would need $89,300 in Mesa. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+40.0%
Kansas City
86.6
Mesa
121.2
🛒 Groceries+1.0%
Kansas City
94.1
Mesa
95
🚗 Transportation+11.4%
Kansas City
98
Mesa
109.2
🏥 Healthcare+11.4%
Kansas City
88.7
Mesa
98.8
Utilities+4.8%
Kansas City
89
Mesa
93.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Mesa, AZ
$89,300
$9,300 more needed in Mesa

Formula: salary × (103.3 ÷ 92.5) = salary × 1.1168. 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×

Mesa, AZ

Median Home Price
$442,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,725
Housing Index
121.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.4×

Mesa has 40.0% higher housing costs compared to Kansas City.

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

Mesa, AZ

Median Household Income
$85,700
Per Capita Income
$48,800
Unemployment Rate
3.8%
Population
518,012
Top Industries
TechnologyHealthcareRetailManufacturingAerospace

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)

Mesa, AZ
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

76% 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.