Apartment Hunting in Kansas City
Kansas City - a city so nice they located it twice... One in Kansas and one in Missouri - plus Kansas also has a Manhattan - they've got the geography nuance bases covered better than the Royals. In reality, KC it's just a surprisingly hip city that overlaps a state border, and depending on which side, nicknamed KCK or KCMO.
Located at the confluence of the Kansas and Missouri river, the KCMO side has about 2,000,000 people, and the KCK slice has about 150,000. Kansas City has an impressive yet curiously lesser known pedigree. Jazz behemoth Charlie Parker hailed from KCK. KCMO is tied with Boston for the most medical schools, and second only to Rome, Italy in number of fountains (210).
Thirteen Fortune 1000 companies are in the greater KC area. Known as the BBQ capital of the world, one will also find the National World War I Memorial, Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, internationally recognized art museums, and the nation's cleanest tap water. If that's not enough, get this... Walt Disney studied in Kansas City and founded his first studio there. A little mouse dwelled upon its grounds. Walt liked this mouse and gave him food tidbits and attention. This animal, as legend has it, was the inspiration for Mickey Mouse.
Average Rent in Kansas City
The following rent averages come from current listings on our website. Rent prices listed are averages and may not reflect the cost of specific units. Rental prices can vary depending on factors like size, location, amenities, and availability.
How Much Is Rent for a Studio Apartment in Kansas City?
On average, expect to pay around $1,072 per month for a studio apartment in Kansas City.
How Much Is Rent for a 1-Bedroom Apartment in Kansas City?
The average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Kansas City is approximately $1,209 per month.
How Much Is Rent for a 2-Bedroom Apartment in Kansas City?
In Kansas City, a 2-bedroom apartment typically rents for around $1,520 per month.
How Much Is Rent for a 3-Bedroom Apartment in Kansas City?
A 3-bedroom apartment in Kansas City will cost, on average, $1,803 per month.
Transportation in Kansas City
Kansas City is not known for having a great public transportation system. There was talk, but it was scrapped for a few more BBQ joints (not really, but nobody in KC would complain). Parking and traffic is not especially challenging, and KC gets only a so-so walking score, so keep your car - how else are you going to correctly tailgate at Chiefs games?
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Car: This is the most popular choice, especially for those living in suburbs or outside the core areas. Traffic can be congested during peak hours, but overall it offers flexibility.
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Bus: Kansas City has a well-developed bus system operated by RideKC. It covers a wide area with multiple routes, including the MAX bus rapid transit for faster commutes on major corridors. Fares are affordable, and you can buy tickets through their app.
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Streetcar: The Kansas City Streetcar runs through the downtown area, connecting popular neighborhoods and attractions. It's a convenient and scenic option for shorter trips within the core.
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Ride-sharing: Services like Uber and Lyft are readily available in Kansas City, offering another on-demand option for getting around.
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Biking: Kansas City B-cycle is a public bike-sharing program with stations throughout the city. It's a good choice for short trips, errands, or exploring in nice weather.
Pet-Friendly Apartment Hunting in Kansas City
KC is mildly pet-friendly, but from a Parisian hotel. Lots of "no pet" policies relatively speaking, but they’re not pervasive. As is the usual message, check first, never try to hide your buddy - you'll both be out on your KCsters and the furry ones can handle the cold a lot better than you.
FAQs about Apartments in Kansas City
Still have questions about renting in Kansas City? Here are some of the most commonly asked questions from people who are moving to the city for the first time:
Is rent high in Kansas City?
As of April 2024, the median rate for a one-bedroom apartment in Kansas City was $1,111. Overall, the city ranked 92nd out of the top 100 most expensive cities in the country. We estimate you would need to earn a little over $40,000 to afford a one-bedroom at that rate.
How much do you need to make to live comfortably in Kansas City?
Using a budgeting rule that says rent should not be more than 30% of your income in order to live comfortably, then in Kansas City, you would need to earn around $40,000 a year to afford a one-bedroom at the current median rate of $1,111 or a bit over $50,000 a year for a two-bedroom at $1,311.
Kansas City Neighborhoods
Most of the popular neighborhoods are on the MO side as noted below. That's just the way things go when the MO side is 14 times more populous. It's not a sign of disrespect to Toto or The Jayhawks.
Downtown (CBD)
Downtown KCMO is like a series of cities within a city: The Library District (home to the very Washingtonian KCMO Central Library and the stellar and historic Mainstreet [formerly Empire] theatre), The Garment District (second in size and nostalgia only to NYC) now home to chic and sought after loft housing AND the birthplace of KC BBQ, and Crown Center (headquarters of Hallmark and an accompanying mixed use zone of all things happy in residential, restaurant, and retail). Right next door to Crown Center you’ll find - all things unhappy - a 6,000 employee IRS megacenter. All these downtown KC zones are upscale and busy with city dwellers' favorite options. They’re all within a couple mile radius so they’re considered together. 1 BR from $725 - $1,125 (artist style loft).
Power & Light
This is a subdivision within Downtown KCMO absolutely worth mentioning. While it has a little theoretical overlap with other named KCMO neighborhoods, Power & Light is rather special even unto itself. Using 9 square blocks, the Power and Light District is named for the art deco building therein. That is where the cozy history stops. Now the district is a raging entertainment zone with The Sprint Center, bars, restaurants, and live music venues - a standing outdoor concert plaza being one of those. This place is wild. You need to show I.D. to get onto the streets - not to check age but to collect "demographic information" (this goes for the one block concert area at least, called Kansas City Live!) and there's a dress code (all of P & L). Sounds a little too strict and buttoned up? Try this – there are no open container or specific public intoxication laws. Yup, that's no fictional embellishment, it's as true as "it ain't barbecue without sauce." This is otherwise known as crazy heaven for the no work-boot wearing, drivers license toting, music and food loving individual for whom money may be an object, but Jaeger Bomb consumption is not. Priced more or less like Downtown as it, more or less, is downtown.
The Plaza
Officially Country Club Plaza, The Plaza is south of downtown and is an upscale, low-rise, residential area and shopping district right near KCK (props for KCK, it's not all about KCMO). From a shopper's point of view, The Plaza has a number of firsts, like the claim that it's the country's original shopping center. Of course there are others who lay claim to the title. Not sure why... it's kind of like saying you own the world's largest microchip - it's not that awesome. Either way, The Plaza area is quite a spectacle. Notably influenced by the architecture and layout of Seville, Spain, with all sorts of themed fountains, structures, statues, and mosaics. Country Club Plaza is host to one of the country's most sweeping and beloved holiday lighting displays. 1 BR $700 - $1,000. 2 BR $850 - $1,150.
Westport
Yet another, but smaller, KC entertainment district (who knew Kansas Citians partied like this after the fervor of the Royals' 1985 World Series died down?), with quite a recognized music scene. Westport is North of The Plaza and South of downtown, Westport provides an interesting historical point of view as an outfitting starting point of the Santa Fe trail and the site of a seminal Civil War battle - The Battle of Westport. University of Missouri - Kansas City (UMKC) with its 15,000 students is nearby, thus making Westport a bit collegial. 1 BR from $550 and cresting at around $1,000 for loft in modern building. Add $200 - $350 for 2nd BR.
Piper
A fully KCK neighborhood! A quieter, more family oriented suburb (although Piper does have the Kansas Speedway) has the trappings of a suburb in the city - trees, walking, cycling, hiking, and more interaction with nature. When you wish more interaction with things man-made, there's always the enormous 110-store Legends at Village West Mall. 1BR $550 - $750. 2 BR $700 - $950.
