Kansas City, MO vs Lawrence, KS: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, Lawrence, KS is 2.5% less expensive than Kansas City, MO (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Kansas City works out to about $73,100 in Lawrence, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 17.3% less in Lawrence. Goods are 0.1% lower and other services 0.5% higher.
- Typical asking rent is $1,563 a month in Lawrence and $1,534 in Kansas City, nearly the same (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $336,000 in Lawrence and $325,000 in Kansas City.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (2.9%).
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Housing drives the gap: 17.3% lower in Lawrence than in Kansas City
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Kansas City, MO
- Lawrence, KS
All items Kansas City, MO: 92.5 Lawrence, KS: 90.2
Goods Kansas City, MO: 94.1 Lawrence, KS: 94.0
Housing (rents) Kansas City, MO: 86.6 Lawrence, KS: 71.6
Utilities Kansas City, MO: 89.0 Lawrence, KS: 89.3
Other services Kansas City, MO: 93.4 Lawrence, KS: 93.8
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Kansas City, MO | Lawrence, KS | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 92.5 | 90.2 |
| Goods | 94.1 | 94.0 |
| Housing (rents) | 86.6 | 71.6 |
| Utilities | 89.0 | 89.3 |
| Other services | 93.4 | 93.8 |
| Category | Kansas City | Lawrence | Lawrence vs Kansas City |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 92.5 | 90.2 | −2.5% |
| Goods | 94.1 | 94.0 | −0.1% |
| Housing (rents) | 86.6 | 71.6 | −17.3% |
| Utilities | 89.0 | 89.3 | +0.3% |
| Other services | 93.4 | 93.8 | +0.5% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,534 | $1,563 | +1.9% |
| Typical home value | $325,000 | $336,000 | +3.3% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Kansas City | $75,000 | $73,100 | −2.5% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Kansas City and Lawrence has narrowed since 2008: 5.1 points then, 2.3 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Kansas City, MO
- Lawrence, KS
US average = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Kansas City, MO | Lawrence, KS | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 93.1 | 98.2 |
| 2009 | 95.0 | 97.7 |
| 2010 | 96.0 | 97.5 |
| 2011 | 96.6 | 95.9 |
| 2012 | 96.9 | 96.0 |
| 2013 | 95.8 | 96.1 |
| 2014 | 97.1 | 96.5 |
| 2015 | 98.6 | 93.1 |
| 2016 | 97.2 | 94.1 |
| 2017 | 96.9 | 94.3 |
| 2018 | 94.2 | 94.3 |
| 2019 | 94.9 | 92.2 |
| 2020 | 95.0 | 94.0 |
| 2021 | 93.6 | 92.8 |
| 2022 | 92.0 | 92.2 |
| 2023 | 93.2 | 90.9 |
| 2024 | 92.5 | 90.2 |
Goods
- Kansas City, MO
- Lawrence, KS
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Kansas City, MO | Lawrence, KS | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 92.4 | 98.7 |
| 2009 | 98.9 | 97.7 |
| 2010 | 96.0 | 96.4 |
| 2011 | 96.6 | 96.1 |
| 2012 | 97.8 | 97.2 |
| 2013 | 97.5 | 97.0 |
| 2014 | 97.4 | 98.2 |
| 2015 | 98.8 | 97.8 |
| 2016 | 97.8 | 97.0 |
| 2017 | 98.0 | 95.5 |
| 2018 | 95.1 | 95.0 |
| 2019 | 97.1 | 97.1 |
| 2020 | 95.8 | 95.9 |
| 2021 | 94.0 | 93.8 |
| 2022 | 93.7 | 93.6 |
| 2023 | 96.6 | 96.5 |
| 2024 | 94.1 | 94.0 |
Housing (rents)
- Kansas City, MO
- Lawrence, KS
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Kansas City, MO | Lawrence, KS | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 88.8 | 92.3 |
| 2009 | 85.3 | 91.8 |
| 2010 | 88.2 | 96.3 |
| 2011 | 87.3 | 95.2 |
| 2012 | 85.3 | 91.1 |
| 2013 | 86.9 | 89.0 |
| 2014 | 84.1 | 93.3 |
| 2015 | 87.1 | 76.9 |
| 2016 | 85.3 | 83.1 |
| 2017 | 85.4 | 88.5 |
| 2018 | 83.3 | 83.1 |
| 2019 | 84.6 | 68.7 |
| 2020 | 87.6 | 80.2 |
| 2021 | 84.8 | 78.3 |
| 2022 | 85.6 | 84.8 |
| 2023 | 88.0 | 74.1 |
| 2024 | 86.6 | 71.6 |
Utilities
- Kansas City, MO
- Lawrence, KS
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Kansas City, MO | Lawrence, KS | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 86.3 | 93.8 |
| 2009 | 88.8 | 97.5 |
| 2010 | 90.3 | 91.7 |
| 2011 | 90.4 | 94.1 |
| 2012 | 85.6 | 94.9 |
| 2013 | 86.1 | 95.9 |
| 2014 | 83.8 | 89.1 |
| 2015 | 95.4 | 87.6 |
| 2016 | 95.8 | 86.8 |
| 2017 | 101.0 | 94.2 |
| 2018 | 99.2 | 105.1 |
| 2019 | 97.9 | 101.8 |
| 2020 | 99.0 | 104.7 |
| 2021 | 97.1 | 105.3 |
| 2022 | 98.0 | 107.5 |
| 2023 | 91.4 | 92.8 |
| 2024 | 89.0 | 89.3 |
Other services
- Kansas City, MO
- Lawrence, KS
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Kansas City, MO | Lawrence, KS | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 95.3 | 100.0 |
| 2009 | 95.7 | 99.8 |
| 2010 | 98.8 | 99.1 |
| 2011 | 99.8 | 96.1 |
| 2012 | 100.6 | 96.9 |
| 2013 | 98.2 | 97.7 |
| 2014 | 102.0 | 96.9 |
| 2015 | 102.2 | 95.2 |
| 2016 | 100.6 | 96.3 |
| 2017 | 99.4 | 95.4 |
| 2018 | 96.6 | 97.0 |
| 2019 | 96.6 | 97.0 |
| 2020 | 96.7 | 97.1 |
| 2021 | 95.8 | 96.6 |
| 2022 | 92.3 | 92.9 |
| 2023 | 92.6 | 93.0 |
| 2024 | 93.4 | 93.8 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,563 in Lawrence vs $1,534 in Kansas City
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Kansas City, MO
- Lawrence, KS
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Kansas City, MO | Lawrence, KS | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $868 | – | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $881 | – | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $888 | – | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $885 | – | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $898 | – | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $910 | – | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $923 | – | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $922 | $947 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $934 | $934 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $953 | $948 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $960 | $953 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $963 | $965 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $972 | $972 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $990 | $975 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $993 | $974 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $992 | $997 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $1,009 | $1,001 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $1,031 | $985 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $1,032 | $1,000 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $1,031 | $1,025 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $1,050 | $1,040 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,072 | $1,048 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,092 | $1,048 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,083 | $1,063 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,109 | $1,074 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,156 | $1,101 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,179 | $1,117 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,192 | $1,139 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,219 | $1,154 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,269 | $1,189 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,293 | $1,209 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,288 | $1,223 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,307 | $1,254 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,344 | $1,288 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,348 | $1,322 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,356 | $1,310 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,374 | $1,343 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,408 | $1,368 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,419 | $1,391 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,412 | $1,438 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,445 | $1,419 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,470 | $1,465 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,477 | $1,495 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,472 | $1,525 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,490 | $1,531 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,519 | $1,537 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,534 | $1,563 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $336,000 in Lawrence vs $325,000 in Kansas City
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Kansas City, MO
- Lawrence, KS
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Kansas City, MO | Lawrence, KS | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $152K | $170K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $154K | $171K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $157K | $170K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $160K | $173K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $163K | $177K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $166K | $180K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $169K | $180K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $172K | $182K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $176K | $184K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $180K | $188K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $182K | $189K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $185K | $192K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $190K | $195K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $194K | $199K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $197K | $201K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $199K | $201K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $202K | $204K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $205K | $208K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $205K | $210K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $208K | $213K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $213K | $216K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $216K | $219K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $221K | $225K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $232K | $233K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $241K | $241K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $254K | $255K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $258K | $260K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $260K | $263K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $273K | $274K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $285K | $284K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $285K | $285K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $284K | $284K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $286K | $287K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $292K | $294K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $297K | $300K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $299K | $301K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $301K | $303K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $304K | $307K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $306K | $312K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $309K | $318K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $311K | $321K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $310K | $321K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $313K | $324K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $317K | $328K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $320K | $331K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $321K | $332K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $325K | $336K | $366K |
More about each city
- Cost of living in Kansas City, MO
- Cost of living in Lawrence, KS
- Reverse: moving from Lawrence to Kansas City
Related comparisons
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.