How a Family of Four Can Live Comfortably in Kansas City.
The Kansas City Metro is a pretty comfortable city to live in! But how comfortable are we talking about?
To live comfortably in Kansas City for a family of four, you’ll need to make around $93K a year per household. Your expenses per month might average $5,189+ (gas, groceries, monthly utilities, etc.), and your home size could be 1800+ square feet.
As one of the top local real estate teams in Kansas City, we want to paint a picture for anyone contemplating moving to KCMO. It’s a great place to be!
Continue reading to find out more about Kansas City and what it means to live comfortably in the city.
Quick Overview
- Living Comfortably in KC: What Does It Actually Mean?
- The Median Household Income Needed to Live Comfortably in Kansas City
- 4 Examples of How You Could Live Even More Comfortably in KC
- Moving to Kansas City? Check Out These Kansas City Neighborhoods to Live In
Living Comfortably in KC: What Does It Actually Mean?
For many, comfortable living simply means being able to cover all your expenses in a month and still have some leftover pocket money or savings for leisure.
We have included a chart below that gives you an idea of how much money you have leftover after the average cost of living expenses are taken out.
Example Budget for a Family of Four in Kansas City, MO
The table below is a fictional example of an average family of four and their budget per month.
Total Income | $7,750/mo |
Groceries | -$800/mo |
Restaurants | -$600/mo |
Home Utilities | -$350/mo |
Gas | -$300/mo |
Mortgage (30yr, 3.5 fixed rate on a $265k, 1,800 sq ft. home) | -$1,700/mo |
Entertainment | -$300/mo |
Child Daycare (Per child) | -$634/mo |
Car loan (For 1 car) | -$400/mo |
Gym Membership (For 2 People) | -$105/mo |
Money Left Over | $2,561/mo |
Sources: Average child care expense, grocery expenses, average mortgage cost in Kansas. Depot of Numbers
The Median Household Income Needed to Live Comfortably in Kansas City
A homeowner should make around $93,000 a year to comfortably cover the monthly costs of a home in Kansas City.
Of course, you can make less than that per year, which many people do. Or you could make more than $93k a year! But for our examples, this average salary will give a good guideline for living comfortable in Kansas City, MO
A family of four will spend on average $5,189 or more a month. That includes groceries, utilities, childcare (if both parents work) and school expenses.
On the other hand, singles and couples tend to spend only around $2,000 a month on basic necessities.
Estimated Costs of Living For Specific Age Groups
Age | Avg. Income | Typical Home Cost | Avg. Sq. Ft Per Home | Avg. Eating Budget | Avg. Cost of Activities | Avg. Transportation Costs (car insurance, gas, car payments, etc.) |
25-35 | $48,000 | $120,000 | 1,500 | $1,800 | $900 | $2200-$1900 |
35-45 | $50,000 | $140,000 | 1,700 | $1,750 | $870 | $1900-$1800 |
45-55 | $52,000 | $155,000 | 2,000 | $1,700 | $820 | $1800-$1600 |
55-60 | $51,000 | $160,000 | 2,100 | $1,500 | $790 | $1600-$1700 |
*The information in this table is unsubstantiated and not factual.
4 Examples of How You Could Live Even More Comfortably in KC
It doesn’t cost an arm and a leg to live comfortably in Kansas City, there are always ways to add more flexibility to your leftover expenses. For those wanting to save even more money and stretch their budget, let’s look at ways you can live even more comfortably in Kansas City.
1. Cook at Home
Much of your salary will be used on food and groceries. Eating out is always more expensive in the long run than making your own food at home.
Below is a table that breaks down the costs for basic food items in Kansas City.
Breakdown of Average Costs For Basic Foods in Kansas City
Avg. Milk Per Gallon | Avg. Eggs Per Dozen | Avg. Fruits & Vegetables Per Pound | Avg. Meat Per Pound | Avg. Miscellaneous (bread, snack foods, etc) |
$3.41 | $1.73 | $0.93-$2.44 | $5.30 | $2-$5 |
The average cost of eating out in Kansas City can range between $12-$15 a person at a lower-end restaurant and up to $30-$60 per person for a fancier dining experience. This can be expensive.
Instead, you could enjoy the occasional take-out or even attend a few cooking classes to spice up your mad chef skills, but be mindful of the cost you are spending each month on restaurants. It can add up quickly!
2. Buy, Don’t Rent
Renters spend, on average, up to $4,000 more a year vs. homeowners, which translates to about $300 more a month.
Not only is it more expensive to rent, but there are also a lot of uncertainties that fall under renting a property versus owning. At any point, your cost of rent could go up without notice or your landlord may decide to sell the property you live in.
If you’re considering purchasing a home, getting pre-qualified for a loan is your first step. We encourage you to reach out to our trustworthy KC mortgage lender to find out what steps you need to take now to help prepare you for your future home.
3. Go Out but Don’t Go Overboard
You can’t claim you live comfortably if you don’t make some room for your hobbies and going out. Kansas City has so many fun activities to offer to all demographics and ages. If you want to save extra money each month, we suggest not going overboard in the city.
As long as you’re not spending too much and still have some money to fall back on at the end of the month, you can call your life comfortable. So don’t worry too much about the exact amount of money you should have. That’s entirely up to an individual person.
4. Drive Less or Use Public Transportation
Owning a car costs a lot more than you think. Gas alone could exceed $300 per month easily. Add monthly insurance and your car loan and the cost is significant!
By using public transportation, you are avoiding the cost of gas, car insurance and monthly car payments, but you are also passing up on the convenience of owning your own car.
Not everyone should or can use public transportation, but it is an option!
What Owning A Car Looks Like In Kansas City
Avg. Cost Per Car | Avg. Monthly Car Payment | Avg. Cost of Insurance Yearly | Avg. Cost of Gasoline |
$17k-$28k | $281-$487 | $2,184 | $2,184 |
*These car loan numbers are based on a 60-month term, $2k down, and an interstate rate of 4.68%.
Public transportation is not free so there are some costs to consider when using public transportation as well.
The base bus fare is $1.50 and $50 for a monthly bus pass. You can also purchase multiple different types of passes. When using RideKC, you can track your bus and plan your trip in advance by going to their website.
Map of RideKC Routes: Public Transportation
Source: RideKC.com
If public transportation is not for you, that’s okay. There are plenty of other ways to save a few dollars here and there. Just limit the driving!
Moving to Kansas City? Check Out These Kansas City Neighborhoods to Live In
Houses in Kansas City neighborhoods cost over $200,000 on average. Those neighborhoods are quiet, safe and mostly populated by diverse demographics and people.
You will have neighborhoods like Maple Park where a home costs are around $150,000 on average. Those neighborhoods are busier with the younger crowd, cafes and clubs.
We have listed a few neighborhoods below with some general information on what the average home cost is in each neighborhood, the reported crimes in those areas and what the population is.
6 Neighborhoods In Kansas City to Consider
Neighborhood | Avg. Cost Per Home | Reported Crimes in 2020 | Population |
Bristol Park | $238,000 | 8 | 1,200 |
Maple Park | $150,000 | 24 | 28,513 |
Fountain Hills | $280,000 | 2 | 2,620 |
Blue Springs | $234,000 | 0 | 52,575 |
Hyde Park | $231,000 | 32 | 8,660 |
Blue Hills | $110,000 | 35 | 7,692 |
Read More:
- Is Kansas City a Good Place to Live?
- Is Living in Kansas City Expensive? Everything You Need to Know
Summary: Living Comfortably in Kansas City
You can live very comfortably in Kansas City, all without having to make a six-figure income. That’s why we love the midwest!
Thousands of people make $93K a year per household and do just fine. While the average monthly expense for a family of four is around $5,189, getting that number lower would be even that much more significant.
It’s much easier to live more comfortably in Kansas City than in a lot of other US cities. If you have been contemplating a move to KC, we highly recommend it, but you better act fast before it’s too late.
Looking for a Home in Kansas City?
We’d love to help you find the home of your dreams in Kansas City! We are one of the city’s top real estate teams (#8 out of 12,000+ agents currently, but who’s counting?) that have a strong reputation for trustworthiness and hustle. We’ll work hard for you.
Click here to contact our team and hire us. Or, give us a call at 816-716-5172.
Editor’s note: This blog was originally published in May 2021 and has been updated for accuracy and current numbers.