Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kansas City, KS
VS
Pittsburgh, PA
🏆 Pittsburgh leads 12 of 23 categories
Kansas City
Kansas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,120
Violent Crime Index
276⚠ High
Population
155,438
Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.4
Median Household Income
$60,187 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
303,843 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kansas City, KS
Pros
Homes cost $38k less ($133,800 vs $171,800)
Rent averages $109/mo less ($1,044 vs $1,153)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cons
Violent crime (1047.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3606.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Pittsburgh by $4,067/yr
Pittsburgh, PA
Pros
59% less violent crime than Kansas City
More college-educated — 46.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
Households earn $4,067 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 90°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Snowy winters — about 44" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Kansas City
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 94.4 (100 = US avg)
Kansas City
Median Home Value
$38k less
$133,800 vs $171,800
Kansas City
Summer Heat
7.2°F warmer
July avg high 90.2°F vs 83.0°F
Pittsburgh
Median Income
$4,067
$60,187 vs $56,120/yr
Pittsburgh
Violent Crime
59% lower
427.2 vs 1047.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kansas City, KS | Pittsburgh, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 94.4 |
| Median Home Value | $133,800 ✓ Lower | $171,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,044 ✓ Lower | $1,153 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,120 | $60,187 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.7 min ✓ Shorter | 23.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 17.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 234⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 276⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 172⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.4:1 | 11.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.7% | 46.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.7% | 93.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kansas City | Pittsburgh SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.9°F ✓ Warmer | 36.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.1" ✓ Drier | 41.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.0" ✓ Less | 44.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 155,438 | 303,843 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.1 ✓ Older | 33.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 47.4% |
| Under 18 | 27.2% ✓ More | 14.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kansas City's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Pittsburgh's 94.4 (US average = 100).
Kansas City is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pittsburgh leads 12 of 23 categories. Kansas City wins 11 and Pittsburgh wins 12. 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 Pittsburgh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($133,800 vs $171,800 median home), income ($56,120 vs $60,187), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kansas City, KS and Pittsburgh, PA are about 788 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.