Kansas City, KS vs Lawrence, KS
A 2-bedroom in Lawrence costs $176 less per month than Kansas City ($1,182 vs $1,358). Median income is $81,927 in Kansas City and $68,756 in Lawrence. That's a difference of $2,112 per year in housing costs.
Kansas City, Kansas 2-bedroom FMR is $176 above Lawrence, Kansas — a meaningful 15-percent premium. Differences of this size are usually structural rather than transient, reflecting permanent differences in housing supply, labor-market scale, or zoning.
For households weighing a move between the two counties, the FMR gap is one input among several. Cost-of-living adjustments cover housing well but undercount the income-side picture; local wages can offset rent differences, particularly in higher-paying coastal metros where the higher rent comes with higher pay.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | Kansas City | Lawrence |
|---|---|---|
| Studio FMR | $1,095 | $895 |
| 1BR FMR | $1,197 | $1,006 |
| 2BR FMR | $1,358 | $1,182 |
| 3BR FMR | $1,769 | $1,644 |
| 4BR FMR | $2,103 | $1,983 |
| Median Income | $81,927 | $68,756 |
| Rent Burden | 19.9% | 20.6% |
| Actual Median Rent | $1,201 | $1,066 |
| Median Home Value | $265,400 | $281,600 |
| Population | 2.2M | 120K |
| Renter % | 34.4% | 50.5% |
| Vacancy Rate | 7.2% | 6.3% |
| Poverty Rate | 10% | 15.2% |
| YoY Change | +7.9% | +12.1% |
| Min Wage | $7.25/hr | $7.25/hr |
Income Required to Afford a 2-Bedroom
Frequently Asked Questions
Lawrence, KS is more affordable with a 2BR FMR of $1,182/mo, which is $176 less than Kansas City at $1,358/mo. However, when considering local incomes, Kansas City has a rent burden of 19.9% vs 20.6% in Lawrence.
A 2-bedroom in Kansas City, KS costs $1,358/mo at Fair Market Rent, while in Lawrence, KS it's $1,182/mo, a difference of $176/mo or $2,112/year.
To afford a 2BR without spending more than 30% of income on rent: Kansas City requires $54,320/year ($26/hr). Lawrence requires $47,280/year ($23/hr).
Source: HUD Fair Market Rents, 2026.