Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kansas City, KS
VS
Phoenix, AZ
🏆 Phoenix leads 15 of 23 categories
Kansas City
Kansas
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,120
Violent Crime Index
276⚠ High
Population
155,438
Phoenix
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$72,092 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
1,609,456 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kansas City, KS
Pros
Homes cost $206k less ($133,800 vs $340,200)
Rent averages $278/mo less ($1,044 vs $1,322)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 104°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Phoenix
Cons
Violent crime (1047.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Phoenix by $15,972/yr
Property crime (3606.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.0% vs 5.2%)
Phoenix, AZ
Pros
24% less violent crime than Kansas City
Households earn $15,972 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 40°F
More college-educated — 31.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $340,200
Violent crime (799.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Kansas City
Key Differences at a Glance
Kansas City
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Kansas City
Median Home Value
$206k less
$133,800 vs $340,200
Phoenix
Median Income
$15,972
$72,092 vs $56,120/yr
Phoenix
Violent Crime
24% lower
799.6 vs 1047.2 per 100k
Phoenix
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.2% vs 6.0% unemployment
Phoenix
Summer Heat
13.8°F warmer
July avg high 104.0°F vs 90.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kansas City, KS | Phoenix, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 98.4 |
| Median Home Value | $133,800 ✓ Lower | $340,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,044 ✓ Lower | $1,322 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,120 | $72,092 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.7 min ✓ Shorter | 25.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 14.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 234⚠ High | 171⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 276⚠ High | 210⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 172⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.7% | 31.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.7% | 83.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kansas City | Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.9°F | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F | 104.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.1" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.0" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 155,438 | 1,609,456 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 34.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 56.4% |
| Under 18 | 27.2% ✓ More | 24.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% ✓ More | 11.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kansas City's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Phoenix's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Kansas City is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Phoenix leads 15 of 23 categories. Kansas City wins 8 and Phoenix wins 15. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Kansas City to Phoenix or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($133,800 vs $340,200 median home), income ($56,120 vs $72,092), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kansas City, KS and Phoenix, AZ are about 1,037 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.