Duluth vs Kansas City
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Duluth
Kansas City
The Verdict
Duluth is 8.6% less expensive than Kansas City overall. A household earning $75,000 in Duluth would need approximately $82,059 in Kansas City to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Duluth has the same purchasing power as $82,059 in Kansas City.
Conversely, $75,000 in Kansas City equals $68,548 in Duluth.
Living in Duluth vs Kansas City
Housing Costs
Duluth's housing index of 88 is higher Kansas City's 80, translating to median home prices of $268,000 vs $220,000. The $48,000 difference in home prices means roughly $3,120 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,025/mo in Duluth compared to $1,100/mo in Kansas City, a monthly difference of $75.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 99 in Duluth and 97 in Kansas City. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Duluth vs $461/month in Kansas City. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 94 in Duluth and 95 in Kansas City. Monthly utility bills average approximately $376 in Duluth vs $380 in Kansas City. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 123 in Duluth and 96 in Kansas City. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 27-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $68,800 in Duluth and $57,478 in Kansas City. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $80,941 and $61,804 respectively. Duluth residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,605/month to housing in Duluth vs $1,341/month in Kansas City. In Duluth, median rent of $1,025/mo fits within this budget. In Kansas City, median rent of $1,100/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Healthcare, where the gap is 27 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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