City Comparison

Kansas City vs Peoria

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Kansas City

Missouri
93
Below Average
$220,000
Median Home
$1,100/mo
Median Rent
$57,478
Median Income

Peoria

Illinois
76
Very Affordable
$164,000
Median Home
$1,000/mo
Median Rent
$58,700
Median Income

The Verdict

22.4%

The cost gap between these cities is 22.4%, with Peoria being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Kansas City has equivalent purchasing power to $61,290 in Peoria.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
80
Kansas City
42
Peoria
Groceries
97
Kansas City
97
Peoria
Utilities
95
Kansas City
103
Peoria
Transportation
106
Kansas City
108
Peoria
Healthcare
96
Kansas City
107
Peoria

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Kansas City has the same purchasing power as $61,290 in Peoria.

Conversely, $75,000 in Peoria equals $91,776 in Kansas City.

Living in Kansas City vs Peoria

Housing Costs

Kansas City's housing index of 80 is higher Peoria's 42, translating to median home prices of $220,000 vs $164,000. The $56,000 difference in home prices means roughly $3,636 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,100/mo in Kansas City compared to $1,000/mo in Peoria, a monthly difference of $100.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 97 in Kansas City and 97 in Peoria. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Kansas City vs $461/month in Peoria. 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 95 in Kansas City and 103 in Peoria. Monthly utility bills average approximately $380 in Kansas City vs $412 in Peoria. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 96 in Kansas City and 107 in Peoria. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 11-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $57,478 in Kansas City and $58,700 in Peoria. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $61,804 and $77,237 respectively. Peoria residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,341/month to housing in Kansas City vs $1,370/month in Peoria. In Kansas City, median rent of $1,100/mo fits within this budget. In Peoria, median rent of $1,000/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 38 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Peoria is 22.4% more affordable overall with an index of 76 vs 93.
A $75,000 salary in Kansas City has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $61,290 in Peoria, based on the cost of living difference.
Kansas City's housing index is 80 with median homes at $220,000, while Peoria's is 42 with median homes at $164,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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