City Comparison

Kansas City vs Sugar Land

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Kansas City

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

Sugar Land

Texas
110
Above Average
$456,000
Median Home
$1,625/mo
Median Rent
$128,400
Median Income

The Verdict

15.5%

Living in Kansas City costs 15.5% less than Sugar Land. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Kansas City, you would need $88,710 in Sugar Land.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
80
Kansas City
128
Sugar Land
Groceries
97
Kansas City
99
Sugar Land
Utilities
95
Kansas City
96
Sugar Land
Transportation
106
Kansas City
101
Sugar Land
Healthcare
96
Kansas City
96
Sugar Land

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Kansas City has the same purchasing power as $88,710 in Sugar Land.

Conversely, $75,000 in Sugar Land equals $63,409 in Kansas City.

Living in Kansas City vs Sugar Land

Housing Costs

Kansas City's housing index of 80 is lower Sugar Land's 128, translating to median home prices of $220,000 vs $456,000. The $236,000 difference in home prices means roughly $15,336 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,100/mo in Kansas City compared to $1,625/mo in Sugar Land, a monthly difference of $525.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 97 in Kansas City and 99 in Sugar Land. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Kansas City vs $470/month in Sugar Land. 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 96 in Sugar Land. Monthly utility bills average approximately $380 in Kansas City vs $384 in Sugar Land. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 96 in Kansas City and 96 in Sugar Land. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $57,478 in Kansas City and $128,400 in Sugar Land. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $61,804 and $116,727 respectively. Sugar Land 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 $2,996/month in Sugar Land. In Kansas City, median rent of $1,100/mo fits within this budget. In Sugar Land, median rent of $1,625/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 48 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Kansas City is 15.5% more affordable overall with an index of 93 vs 110.
A $75,000 salary in Kansas City has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $88,710 in Sugar Land, based on the cost of living difference.
Kansas City's housing index is 80 with median homes at $220,000, while Sugar Land's is 128 with median homes at $456,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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