City cost comparison
St. Louis vs Kansas City
Housing, childcare, healthcare, food, and education — side by side for families weighing St. Louis, MO against Kansas City, MO.
Comparison matrix
Emerald badges flag the cheaper city for each line item; rose marks when the other city wins on cost.
| Metric | St. Louis, MO | Kansas City, MO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| HousingFamily housing premium / month | $675 | $630 | +7% cheaper in Kansas City |
| ChildcareAvg monthly (infant → school-age) | $1,181 | $1,093 | +8% cheaper in Kansas City |
| HealthcareFamily premium share + child OOP / month | $620 | $560 | +11% cheaper in Kansas City |
| FoodPer child / month | $324 | $301 | +8% cheaper in Kansas City |
| EducationAnnual baseline ÷ 12 | $77 | $74 | +4% cheaper in Kansas City |
Illustrative planning baselines (updated 2026-01-15 / 2026-01-15). Verify local rates before major decisions.