City comparison
No. Colorado Springs's crime index is 200 versus 343 in Kansas City, and its violent crime index is 204 versus 423, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Kansas City is cheaper. Median rent is $1,238 a month versus $1,648 in Colorado Springs.
Safety is where Kansas City and Colorado Springs split most clearly. Colorado Springs scores 143 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,238 in Kansas City and $1,648 in Colorado Springs.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Kansas City costs less and Colorado Springs 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.
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
Kansas City and Colorado Springs are 550 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,238 a month in Kansas City to $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs, up $410 a month (33%).
Median household income goes from $69,166 in Kansas City to $84,818 in Colorado Springs, up $15,652 (23%).
The crime index goes from 343 in Kansas City to 200 in Colorado Springs, down 143 points (42%).
The move
Colorado Springs and Kansas City are 550 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs to $1,238 a month in Kansas City, down $410 a month (25%).
Median household income goes from $84,818 in Colorado Springs to $69,166 in Kansas City, down $15,652 (18%).
The crime index goes from 200 in Colorado Springs to 343 in Kansas City, up 143 points (72%).
Kansas City, MO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Colorado Springs, CO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Kansas City and Colorado Springs? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
25% cheaper
Kansas City rent is 25% cheaper than Colorado Springs
Kansas City
Winner$1,238/mo
Colorado Springs
$1,648/mo
Typical rent runs $1,238 a month in Kansas City versus $1,648 in Colorado Springs, so Kansas City is 25% cheaper. That's roughly $410/month back in your pocket ($4,920/year). Over five years that's $24,600 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 Colorado Springs, 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 Kansas City? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
23% higher
Colorado Springs's median income is 23% higher than Kansas City
Kansas City
$69,166
Colorado Springs
Winner$84,818
Median household income is $84,818 in Colorado Springs versus $69,166 in Kansas City, so typical pay runs 23% higher in Colorado Springs (about $15,652 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, Colorado Springs 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
42% lower crime
Colorado Springs's crime index is 42% lower than Kansas City
Kansas City
343 (100 = avg)
Colorado Springs
Winner200 (100 = avg)
Colorado Springs's crime index is 200 versus 343 in Kansas City (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 42% lower in Colorado Springs. 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, Colorado Springs 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
11% more comfortable
Kansas City weather is 11% more comfortable than Colorado Springs
Kansas City
Winner58°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 80/100
Colorado Springs
55°F avg · 63°F highs · comfort 72/100
Kansas City averages about 58°F (66°F highs); Colorado Springs averages about 55°F (63°F highs). Kansas City averages around 58°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Colorado Springs averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Kansas City scores 11% 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 Colorado Springs if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Kansas City is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 25% 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.
Pick Kansas City if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (58°F) beat Colorado Springs on this page's weather index by 11%. Colorado Springs may pay more or cost less, but Kansas City is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Colorado Springs is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 23% higher here ($84,818). Start with Colorado Springs if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Colorado Springs is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 42% lower than Kansas City (200 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
Kansas City carries the heavier crime signal on this page (23/100 safety vs 39/100 in Colorado Springs). That 16-point spread matters more than the $410 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Colorado Springs still pays more locally ($84,818 median income vs $69,166), which can offset the lease if your field pays Colorado Springs rates.
Median income is $84,818 in Colorado Springs versus $69,166 in Kansas City.
Colorado Springs clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Kansas City deserves a serious look only when you already know the Kansas City block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Kansas City and Colorado Springs, plus other cities in MO and CO.
