Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos vs Kansas City

Cost of Living Comparison

Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos

Gross Salary $70,000
Tax -$7,241
Rent (2BR) -$22,224
Net Income $40,535

To match your lifestyle in Kansas City, you'd need:

$48,332

The Verdict

Cost of Living Index

Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos 126.4
Kansas City 88.0
Cheaper Avg (100) Pricier

Purchasing Power

Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos $32,079
Kansas City $52,817

Kansas City

Gross Salary $70,000
Tax -$7,241
Rent (2BR) -$16,296
Net Income $46,463

To match your lifestyle in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, you'd need:

$103,595

The Bottom Line

On a $70,000 salary, you would have $5,928 more per year in Kansas City compared to Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos. You'd pay $0 less in taxes in Kansas City, while housing costs 27% less. The cost of living in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos is 26% above avg, while Kansas City is 12% below avg, making Kansas City the more affordable city overall. Your $70,000 salary in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos feels like earning $48,332 in Kansas City once you factor in taxes, rent, and cost of living. For K-12 education, Kansas City has a better pupil-teacher ratio (0:1 vs 0:1). College is more affordable in Kansas City ($22,621 vs $17,636 avg in-state tuition).

K-12 Schools

Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos
Kansas City
Schools
541
713
Enrollment
345,378
354,348
Pupil:Teacher
0:1
0:1
Charter %
13.8%
5.5%
Title I %
0%
0%

Colleges & Universities

Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos
Kansas City
Institutions
31
39
In-State Tuition
$22,621
$17,636
Out-of-State
$28,276
$18,887
Grad Rate
58.5%
56.7%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos or Kansas City more expensive?

Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos is more expensive with a cost of living index of 126.4 vs 88.0 (national average = 100).

What salary in Kansas City equals $70,000 in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos?

You would need to earn approximately $48,332 in Kansas City to maintain the same purchasing power as a $70,000 salary in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, after accounting for taxes, rent, and cost of living differences.

How much is rent in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos vs Kansas City?

Average annual rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $22,224 in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos and $16,296 in Kansas City—housing is 27% less in Kansas City.