City comparison
No. Cleveland's crime index is 341 versus 343 in Kansas City, and its violent crime index is 425 versus 423, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Cleveland is cheaper. Median rent is $1,060 a month versus $1,238 in Kansas City.
Kansas City and Cleveland are closer on paper than many city pairs, so the move comes down to how you weight cost, safety, and climate. Typical rent sits near $1,238 in Kansas City and $1,060 in Cleveland, and median household income lands at $69,166 versus $64,468. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Cleveland costs less and Kansas City pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
Visit both if you can. Cities reveal themselves in the ordinary moments, a Tuesday morning commute, a Saturday errand run, not on a weekend visit.
The move
Kansas City and Cleveland are 698 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,238 a month in Kansas City to $1,060 a month in Cleveland, down $178 a month (14%).
Median household income goes from $69,166 in Kansas City to $64,468 in Cleveland, down $4,698 (7%).
The crime index goes from 343 in Kansas City to 341 in Cleveland, down 2 points (1%).
The move
Cleveland and Kansas City are 698 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,060 a month in Cleveland to $1,238 a month in Kansas City, up $178 a month (17%).
Median household income goes from $64,468 in Cleveland to $69,166 in Kansas City, up $4,698 (7%).
The crime index goes from 341 in Cleveland to 343 in Kansas City, up 2 points (1%).
Kansas City, MO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Cleveland, OH
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Kansas City and Cleveland? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
14% cheaper
Cleveland rent is 14% cheaper than Kansas City
Kansas City
$1,238/mo
Cleveland
Winner$1,060/mo
Typical rent runs $1,060 a month in Cleveland versus $1,238 in Kansas City, so Cleveland is 14% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $2,136, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Cleveland still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Kansas City.
Planning to buy in Cleveland? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
7% higher
Kansas City's median income is 7% higher than Cleveland
Kansas City
Winner$69,166
Cleveland
$64,468
Median household income is $69,166 in Kansas City versus $64,468 in Cleveland, so typical pay runs 7% higher in Kansas City (about $4,698 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
1% lower crime
Cleveland's crime index is 1% lower than Kansas City
Kansas City
343 (100 = avg)
Cleveland
Winner341 (100 = avg)
Cleveland's crime index is 341 versus 343 in Kansas City (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 1% lower in Cleveland. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Cleveland, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Kansas City. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
21% more comfortable
Kansas City weather is 21% more comfortable than Cleveland
Kansas City
Winner58°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 80/100
Cleveland
53°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 66/100
Kansas City averages about 58°F (66°F highs); Cleveland averages about 53°F (58°F highs). Kansas City averages around 58°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Cleveland averages around 53°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Kansas City scores 21% 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 Cleveland 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 7% higher ($69,166), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 58°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Cleveland is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 14% cheaper here at about $1,060 a month. Choose Cleveland if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Cleveland is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 1% lower than Kansas City (341 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.
Bottom line
Weather separates these metros: $1,238/month rent in Kansas City at 58°F versus $1,060 in Cleveland at 53°F. Income runs $69,166 vs $64,468, but the daily feel of the move is the temperature gap.
With only $178 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Median income is $69,166 in Kansas City versus $64,468 in Cleveland.
Most movers who prioritize climate land in Kansas City; Cleveland only makes sense when 53°F matches how you want to live year-round.
Common questions
Ready to move to Cleveland?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Cleveland when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Kansas City and Cleveland, plus other cities in MO and OH.
