Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kansas City, KS
VS
San Francisco, CA
🏆 San Francisco leads 14 of 23 categories
Kansas City
Kansas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,120
Violent Crime Index
276⚠ High
Population
155,438
San Francisco
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
117.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,689 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
851,036 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kansas City, KS
Pros
Homes cost $1215k less ($133,800 vs $1,348,700)
Rent averages $1272/mo less ($1,044 vs $2,316)
24% cheaper overall cost of living than San Francisco
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Smaller class sizes — 15.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Francisco by $80,569/yr
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
San Francisco, CA
Pros
Households earn $80,569 more per year on average
43% less violent crime than Kansas City
More college-educated — 59.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 62°F vs 90°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 40°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,348,700
Higher rents — median is $2,316/mo
Violent crime (596.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 24% higher than Kansas City
Key Differences at a Glance
Kansas City
Cost of Living
24% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 117.1 (100 = US avg)
Kansas City
Median Home Value
$1215k less
$133,800 vs $1,348,700
Kansas City
Summer Heat
28.4°F warmer
July avg high 90.2°F vs 61.8°F
San Francisco
Median Income
$80,569
$136,689 vs $56,120/yr
San Francisco
Violent Crime
43% lower
596.5 vs 1047.2 per 100k
San Francisco
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kansas City, KS | San Francisco, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 117.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $133,800 ✓ Lower | $1,348,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,044 ✓ Lower | $2,316⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,120 | $136,689 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.7 min ✓ Shorter | 31.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 23.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 234⚠ High | 169⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 276⚠ High | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 172⚠ High ✓ Safer | 187⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.7% | 59.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.7% | 88.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kansas City | San Francisco Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.9°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F ✓ Warmer | 61.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.1" | 30.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 155,438 | 851,036 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 39.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 38.6% |
| Under 18 | 27.2% ✓ More | 13.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kansas City's cost of living index is 93.3 vs San Francisco's 117.1 (US average = 100).
Kansas City is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Francisco leads 14 of 23 categories. Kansas City wins 9 and San Francisco wins 14. 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 San Francisco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($133,800 vs $1,348,700 median home), income ($56,120 vs $136,689), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kansas City, KS and San Francisco, CA are about 1,528 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.