City comparison
Yes. Denver's crime index is 271 versus 343 in Kansas City, and its violent crime index is 272 versus 423, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Kansas City is cheaper. Median rent is $1,238 a month versus $1,831 in Denver.
The income gap between Denver and Kansas City is significant: $94,718 median household versus $69,166. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,831 in Denver and $1,238 in Kansas City.
Denver is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Kansas City makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Denver is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Kansas City at $1,238 average has pockets that run $1,038 and others at $1,638: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Denver and Kansas City are 557 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,831 a month in Denver to $1,238 a month in Kansas City, down $593 a month (32%).
Median household income goes from $94,718 in Denver to $69,166 in Kansas City, down $25,552 (27%).
The crime index goes from 271 in Denver to 343 in Kansas City, up 72 points (27%).
The move
Kansas City and Denver are 557 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,238 a month in Kansas City to $1,831 a month in Denver, up $593 a month (48%).
Median household income goes from $69,166 in Kansas City to $94,718 in Denver, up $25,552 (37%).
The crime index goes from 343 in Kansas City to 271 in Denver, down 72 points (21%).
Denver, CO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Kansas City, MO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Denver and Kansas City? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
32% cheaper
Kansas City rent is 32% cheaper than Denver
Denver
$1,831/mo
Kansas City
Winner$1,238/mo
Typical rent runs $1,238 a month in Kansas City versus $1,831 in Denver, so Kansas City is 32% cheaper. That's roughly $593/month back in your pocket ($7,116/year). Over five years that's $35,580 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Denver, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Kansas City is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Denver? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
37% higher
Denver's median income is 37% higher than Kansas City
Denver
Winner$94,718
Kansas City
$69,166
Median household income is $94,718 in Denver versus $69,166 in Kansas City, so typical pay runs 37% higher in Denver (about $25,552 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Denver is the stronger labor market on paper. Kansas City can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
21% lower crime
Denver's crime index is 21% lower than Kansas City
Denver
Winner271 (100 = avg)
Kansas City
343 (100 = avg)
Denver's crime index is 271 versus 343 in Kansas City (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 21% lower in Denver. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Denver is the easier city. Kansas City can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
15% more comfortable
Denver weather is 15% more comfortable than Kansas City
Denver
Winner62°F avg · 71°F highs · comfort 92/100
Kansas City
58°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 80/100
Denver averages about 62°F (71°F highs); Kansas City averages about 58°F (66°F highs). Denver averages around 62°F. Kansas City averages around 58°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Denver scores 15% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Kansas City if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 37% higher ($94,718), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 62°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Denver is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 21% lower than Kansas City (271 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Kansas City
Kansas City is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 32% cheaper here at about $1,238 a month. Choose Kansas City if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Housing separates these metros first: $1,238/month in Kansas City versus $1,831 in Denver. Median income reads $69,166 in Kansas City and $94,718 in Denver, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
Kansas City rent at $1,238/month is still below Denver's $1,831, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 30/100 in Denver and 23/100 in Kansas City.
Pick Kansas City when shaving $593 off rent at $1,238/month is the priority. Otherwise, Denver's case rests on $1,831/month rent with $94,718 local income.
Common questions
Ready to move to Denver?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Denver when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Denver and Kansas City, plus other cities in CO and MO.
