City comparison
Yes. Philadelphia's crime index is 261 versus 343 in Kansas City, and its violent crime index is 252 versus 423, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Kansas City is cheaper. Median rent is $1,238 a month versus $1,397 in Philadelphia.
Safety is where Philadelphia and Kansas City split most clearly. Philadelphia scores 82 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,397 in Philadelphia and $1,238 in Kansas City.
Kansas City is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Philadelphia makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Kansas City is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Philadelphia has rougher pockets and Kansas City has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Philadelphia and Kansas City are 1,034 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,397 a month in Philadelphia to $1,238 a month in Kansas City, down $159 a month (11%).
Median household income goes from $61,953 in Philadelphia to $69,166 in Kansas City, up $7,213 (12%).
The crime index goes from 261 in Philadelphia to 343 in Kansas City, up 82 points (31%).
The move
Kansas City and Philadelphia are 1,034 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,238 a month in Kansas City to $1,397 a month in Philadelphia, up $159 a month (13%).
Median household income goes from $69,166 in Kansas City to $61,953 in Philadelphia, down $7,213 (10%).
The crime index goes from 343 in Kansas City to 261 in Philadelphia, down 82 points (24%).
Philadelphia, PA
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 Philadelphia and Kansas City? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
11% cheaper
Kansas City rent is 11% cheaper than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
$1,397/mo
Kansas City
Winner$1,238/mo
Typical rent runs $1,238 a month in Kansas City versus $1,397 in Philadelphia, so Kansas City is 11% 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 $1,908, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Kansas City still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Philadelphia.
Planning to buy in Kansas City? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
12% higher
Kansas City's median income is 12% higher than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
$61,953
Kansas City
Winner$69,166
Median household income is $69,166 in Kansas City versus $61,953 in Philadelphia, so typical pay runs 12% higher in Kansas City (about $7,213 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, Kansas City is the stronger labor market on paper. Philadelphia can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
24% lower crime
Philadelphia's crime index is 24% lower than Kansas City
Philadelphia
Winner261 (100 = avg)
Kansas City
343 (100 = avg)
Philadelphia's crime index is 261 versus 343 in Kansas City (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 24% lower in Philadelphia. 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, Philadelphia 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
13% more comfortable
Kansas City weather is 13% more comfortable than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
59°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 83/100
Kansas City
Winner63°F avg · 71°F highs · comfort 94/100
Philadelphia averages about 59°F (67°F highs); Kansas City averages about 63°F (71°F highs). Philadelphia averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Kansas City averages around 63°F. Kansas City scores 13% 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 Philadelphia if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Philadelphia is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 24% lower than Kansas City (261 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
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
Kansas City is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 11% 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.
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 12% higher ($69,166), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 63°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Bottom line
Crime and safety tilt toward Philadelphia: Philadelphia scores 31/100 versus 23/100 in Kansas City, with typical rent at $1,397 versus $1,238. I would vet the exact ZIP in Kansas City before trading 8 safety points for housing savings.
With only $159 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Weather averages land near 59°F in Philadelphia and 63°F in Kansas City.
Philadelphia 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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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Philadelphia and Kansas City, plus other cities in PA and MO.
