City Comparison

Kansas City vs Youngstown

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Kansas City

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

Youngstown

Ohio
82
Very Affordable
$102,000
Median Home
$725/mo
Median Rent
$34,600
Median Income

The Verdict

13.4%

Living in Youngstown costs 13.4% less than Kansas City. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Kansas City, you would need $66,129 in Youngstown.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
80
Kansas City
41
Youngstown
Groceries
97
Kansas City
98
Youngstown
Utilities
95
Kansas City
96
Youngstown
Transportation
106
Kansas City
101
Youngstown
Healthcare
96
Kansas City
90
Youngstown

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Kansas City has the same purchasing power as $66,129 in Youngstown.

Conversely, $75,000 in Youngstown equals $85,061 in Kansas City.

Living in Kansas City vs Youngstown

Housing Costs

Kansas City's housing index of 80 is higher Youngstown's 41, translating to median home prices of $220,000 vs $102,000. The $118,000 difference in home prices means roughly $7,668 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,100/mo in Kansas City compared to $725/mo in Youngstown, a monthly difference of $375.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 97 in Kansas City and 98 in Youngstown. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Kansas City vs $466/month in Youngstown. 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 Youngstown. Monthly utility bills average approximately $380 in Kansas City vs $384 in Youngstown. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 96 in Kansas City and 90 in Youngstown. 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 $34,600 in Youngstown. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $61,804 and $42,195 respectively. Kansas City residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,341/month to housing in Kansas City vs $807/month in Youngstown. In Kansas City, median rent of $1,100/mo fits within this budget. In Youngstown, median rent of $725/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 39 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Youngstown is 13.4% more affordable overall with an index of 82 vs 93.
A $75,000 salary in Kansas City has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $66,129 in Youngstown, based on the cost of living difference.
Kansas City's housing index is 80 with median homes at $220,000, while Youngstown's is 41 with median homes at $102,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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