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Mohamed Oun
Kansas City
#27 of 124
North America

Kansas City

MO, United States

Salary & Cost of Living

View purchasing power ranking

How do salaries and expenses in Kansas City compare to San Francisco?

Purchasing Power Comparison

An engineer in Kansas City is 23% worse off vs in San Francisco

This shows how far a software engineer's salary goes in Kansas City compared to San Francisco, taking into account both salary differences and cost of living.

Median Salary
$101,250
-$172K (-63%) vs San Francisco
Based on 164 data points from levels.fyi
Net Salary
$76,839
-$96K (-56%) vs San Francisco
Tax Rate: 24%

Community Insights

New
7.2/10

Kansas City presents a compelling case for software engineers prioritizing financial freedom and homeownership over the hustle of a major coastal hub. With a cost of living ranked #61 and top-tier housing affordability, a developer's salary here offers a luxurious lifestyle that is hard to match elsewhere. The "Silicon Prairie" vibe is grounded and friendly, with reliable infrastructure like Google Fiber supporting a healthy remote work culture.

However, the trade-offs are distinct. The city struggles with safety issues, ranking low globally, which requires careful neighborhood selection (often discussed in terms of the historic Troost Avenue divide). Life here is heavily car-dependent due to significant sprawl and a lack of robust public transit. While the weather can be volatile, the warmth of the community and the world-class BBQ scene often make up for the humidity and storms.

The Good

Living Environment

Weather•Safety•Pollution•Events

A quick look at climate, safety, pollution, and tech community compared to San Francisco.

Rankings

Home Affordability

Top 3%

#4

of 124 cities

≈2.3 yrs to buy 80m²

Current value

Tax Rate

Top 19%

#23

of 124 cities

24%

Current value (lower is better)

Pollution Score

Top 22%

#27

of 124 cities

33.3/100

Current value (lower is better)

Housing Affordability

View affordability ranking

How affordable is housing for a software engineer in Kansas City compared to San Francisco?

Avg. Property Price
$2,255 / m²
77% cheaper than San Francisco
View detailed property prices on Numbeo

Salary Converter

Enter your annual gross salary (before taxes) to see what you would need to earn in Kansas City to maintain the same standard of living.

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Cost of Living
42% cheaper than San Francisco
View detailed cost breakdown on Numbeo

Top Paying Companies in Kansas City

Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City logo
Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City
Oracle logo
Oracle
Garmin logo
Garmin
Exceptional Housing Affordability: Ranked #5 globally for affordability, allowing engineers to buy homes quickly (approx. 2.2 years of net salary).
  • High Purchasing Power: Strong salary-to-cost ratio (#24 ranking) means a median SWE salary of ~$103k goes much further than in coastal hubs.
  • Silicon Prairie Tech Scene: Home to major tech employers like Garmin and Oracle Cerner, plus a growing startup ecosystem.
  • Google Fiber: Widespread availability of gigabit internet makes it excellent for remote work.
  • Minimal Traffic: Commutes are significantly shorter and less stressful compared to major US tech hubs.
  • Cultural & Food Scene: World-famous BBQ, a rich jazz heritage, and a strong sports culture (Chiefs/Royals) provide a distinct local vibe.

    • The Bad

    • Car Dependency: Public transportation is widely criticized as inadequate; living here essentially requires a vehicle due to urban sprawl.
    • Safety Concerns: Ranked #103 for safety; residents frequently mention property crime and advise avoiding specific areas (often citing "East of Troost").
    • Weather Extremes: Located in Tornado Alley, the city experiences hot, humid summers and icy winters with unpredictable storms.
    • Limited Tech Diversity: The job market is dominated by a few large legacy companies (healthcare/fintech) rather than a diverse array of cutting-edge startups.
    • Urban Sprawl: The metro area is vast, meaning amenities can be far apart and walkability is low outside of specific pockets like the Plaza or Crossroads.

    Moving Here

    Hard

    Moving to Kansas City is logistically simple but legally complex for non-US citizens due to national visa caps (H1B/L1). For those with legal status, finding housing is very easy and fast. The community is broadly welcoming and friendly ("Midwest nice"), though the city remains somewhat segregated. English is the exclusive language of business and daily life.

    Who Is This City For?

    Ideal for remote workers wanting a large home office, families seeking suburban stability (e.g., Overland Park), and engineers in health-tech or GIS (Garmin).

    Avoid if you rely on public transit, prioritize walkability, or are highly sensitive to violent crime statistics.

    Updated 1/20/2026

    Weather4.6/10-47% vs San Francisco
    Safety41+5%
    Pollution33-32%
    Events0-100%
    4.6/10TechCities weather score vs 8.7/10 in San Francisco

    0–10 composite (higher is better) combining temperature comfort, sunshine hours, rainy-day count, and humid days. See methodology for weighting and data sources.

    Weather snapshot

    Average High
    19°C(vs 19°C in San Francisco)
    Average Low
    9°C(vs 12°C in San Francisco)
    Sunshine Hours
    2,810h/yr-252h/yr(-8%)
    Hottest Month High
    32°C(vs 22°C in San Francisco)
    Coldest Month Low
    -4°C(vs 8°C in San Francisco)
    Rainy Days
    89/yr+40/yr(+82%)

    Community & Quality

    Kansas City community pulse

    Kansas City has 0 Luma events listed.

    100% fewer events than San Francisco.

    Purchasing Power

    Top 22%

    #27

    of 124 cities

    Net Income

    Middle of the pack

    #42

    of 124 cities

    $76,839/yr

    Current value

    Comfortable Weather

    Middle of the pack

    #51

    of 124 cities

    46/100 weather score

    Current value

    Cost of Living

    Middle of the pack

    #61

    of 124 cities

    51/100

    Current value (lower is better)

    Community Events

    Bottom 24%

    #95

    of 124 cities

    0 events on luma

    Current value

    Safety Index

    Bottom 18%

    #103

    of 124 cities

    41.4/100

    Current value

    SWE Affordability
    2.3 years
    2.2 years quicker than San Francisco
    Muggy Days
    64/yr+63/yr(+31650%)
    Cloud Cover
    41%(vs 34% in San Francisco)