States › Missouri › Kearney

Is Kearney, MO expensive to live in?

CheapRent takes 19 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$1,7681% higher than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$111,756about $9,313/month · 28% higher than U.S. average
🔑 House price$298,40010% lower than U.S. average

Rent is higher than in 56% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs under 3 years of household income, which is easy by U.S. standards.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $70,720 a year. That is $34 an hour at a full-time job.

Is rent cheaper than other Missouri cities?

No. Rent here is more expensive than in most of Missouri. It is number 117 of 142 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Kearney
$1,768
Smithville
$1,463
Bolivar
$901
Bellefontaine Neighbors
$1,744
Excelsior Springs
$825
Maryville
$985
Bridgeton
$1,512

How much do households earn in Kearney?

Under $25k
8.5%
$25k–50k
15.0%
$50k–100k
35.1%
$100k–150k
25.6%
$150k+
14.4%

Share of households by yearly income. 40.0% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in Kearney

SizeKearneyU.S. average
1 bedroom$543$1,324
2 bedrooms$961$1,509
3 bedrooms$1,734$1,698

Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.

How expensive is Kearney overall?

Everyday prices in Missouri overall are 9% below the U.S. average (index 90.8, U.S. = 100).

Housing
70
Goods (food, clothes…)
96
Utilities
79
Other services
95
U.S. average
100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Kearney, so the Missouri figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in Kearney

🏛️ Property tax$2,940a year · 0.99% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$142a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Kearney

Commute to work23.5 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree36.8%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home74.5%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line3.6%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment2.6%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Kearney?

Renting is cheaper right now: about $302 a month less.

Renting
$1,768
Owning
$2,070

Owning assumes a typical $298,400 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $29,840 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Kearney, MO?

Renting in Kearney costs a median of about $1,768 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Missouri median is $1,285.

How much do I need to make to live in Kearney?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $70,720 a year, or $34 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Kearney cheap or expensive?

Kearney is rated Cheap: rent takes 19.0% of the typical household income of $111,756. It ranks 117th cheapest of 142 Missouri cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Kearney?

The median homeowner in Kearney pays $2,940 a year in property taxes, about 0.99% of the median home value.

Is Kearney more expensive than the national average?

Overall prices in Missouri are 9% below the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

How much does a house cost in Kearney?

The median home value in Kearney is $298,400, about 2.7 times the typical yearly household income.

10,885 people live in Kearney. Numbers are typical (middle) values.