Essentials
- City
- Kansas City, Missouri / Kansas, United States
- Population
- Approx. 508,000 (City), 2.2 Million (Metro Area)
- Internet Speed
- High (Home of Google Fiber); average 250-1000 Mbps widely available
- Currency & Banking
- US Dollar ($). 1 USD = 0.92 EUR. ATM fees approx. $3.00 at non-network banks.
- Tap Water
- Drinkable and high quality (KC Water Services)
- Power
- 120V, 60Hz, 🔌 Type A/B sockets
- SIM Card
- T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon. Mint Mobile (eSIM) approx. $15/month for 5GB.
- Banking for Expats
- Chase, Bank of America, Wise, Revolut
- Accommodation
- Lofts, modern apartments, and historic homes via Airbnb and Zillow
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, cards and mobile payments accepted almost everywhere
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, Landing (furnished apartments starting at $1,800/mo)
- Budget Accommodation
- Hostel KC (approx. $40/night), Hotel Phillips (approx. $140/night)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Country Club Plaza or Power & Light District
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- River Market, Crossroads Arts District, or Westside
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Plexpod Crossroads ($25/day pass), WeWork Corrigan Station ($29/day)
- Best Cafe for Work
- Messenger Coffee Co. (1624 Grand Blvd), Thou Mayest (River Market)
- Networking Events
- 1 Million Cups KC (every Wednesday at Kauffman Foundation)
- Social Events for Expats
- Internations Kansas City, KC International Professionals Facebook Group
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber, Lyft (zTrip for official taxis)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- RideKC Bike & Bird Scooters (approx. $1 unlock + $0.39/min)
- Best Beach Nearby
- Clinton State Park (Lawrence, KS) - 50 mins drive
- Top Regional Airline
- Southwest Airlines (KCI Airport)
- Top International Airline
- Delta, American Airlines, United
- Highway Access
- Major hubs: I-35, I-70, and I-435 loop
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Union Station (Amtrak connectivity)
- Public Transport Passes
- RideKC (The KC Streetcar is FREE; buses are currently zero-fare)
- Regional Travel
- Amtrak Missouri River Runner to St. Louis (approx. $40)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- The University of Kansas Hospital, Saint Luke's Hospital
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- KC Yoga Center ($20/class), Power Life Yoga ($25/class)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Genesis Health Club ($50-70/mo), Onelife Fitness ($45/mo)
- Laundry Services
- The Laundry (1200 Linwood Blvd), approx. $5.00/load
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- DoorDash, UberEats, Grubhub
- Best Local Dish to Try
- KC Style Burnt Ends (Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que, $18.99 Z-Man sandwich)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- The Fix (Midtown), Mud Pie Vegan Bakery
- Best Dessert Spots
- Christopher Elbow Chocolates (Crossroads), Betty Rae's Ice Cream
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Aldi (various locations), City Market (Weekends)
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon (Next day delivery), Walmart.com
- Grocery Delivery
- Instacart, Whole Foods via Amazon Prime
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Power & Light District, Westport, Southwest Boulevard
- Local Brewery
- Boulevard Brewing Company (Tours approx. $10-25)
- Wine Bars
- Tannin Wine Bar & Kitchen, Amigoni Urban Winery
- Street Food Stalls
- Parlor (Food hall at 1707 Locust St)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Baba's Pantry (Palestinian), Kura Revolving Sushi Bar
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- National WWI Museum and Memorial (Entry $18), Union Station
- Museums & Art Venues
- Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art (Free admission), Kemper Museum
- Historical Sites
- American Jazz Museum, Negro Leagues Baseball Museum ($10)
- Religious Sites
- Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral, Islamic Center of Greater KC
- Annual Events
- Plaza Art Fair (September), American Royal World Series of BBQ
- Cultural Districts
- 18th & Vine Jazz District, Crossroads Arts District
- Theater Venues
- Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, Starlight Theatre
- Local Markets
- The City Market (est. 1857 in River Market)
- Music Scene
- Green Lady Lounge, The Blue Room, Knuckleheads Saloon
- Street Art
- Art Alley (Crossroads District, between Cherry and Holmes)
- Cooking Classes
- The Culinary Center of Kansas City ($65-$90/class)
- Art Galleries
- Blue Gallery, Belger Arts Center
- Historic Buildings
- Kansas City City Hall (Observation Deck), The Kansas City Star Building
- Local Heritage
- The Fountains (City of Fountains), BBQ culture heritage
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Loose Park (Midtown), Parkville Nature Sanctuary
- National Parks Nearby
- Gateway Arch National Park (St. Louis, 3.5 hrs drive)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Trolley Track Trail, Line Creek Trail
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Liberty Memorial North Lawn (View of the skyline)
- Birdwatching Locations
- Wyandotte County Lake Park
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Shawnee Mission Park (designated shelter areas)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- UPS Store, FedEx Office, USPS
- Tech Repair Services
- uBreakiFix (Ward Parkway), Apple Leawood
- Table Tennis Spots
- Char Bar (Outdoor courtyard), Chicken N Pickel (NKC)
- Language Classes
- Johnson County Community College (Continuing Ed)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Kansas City Public Library Central Branch (The 'Giant Bookshelf' building)
- Community Centers
- Tony Aguirre Community Center
- Gaming Lounges
- LevelUp Arena, Rewind Video and Tea
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Ameristar Casino, Bally's Kansas City
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $3,200 per m² (e.g., 45 m² = $144,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $2,100 per m² (e.g., 45 m² = $94,500)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $3,000 per m² (e.g., 65 m² = $195,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $1,900 per m² (e.g., 65 m² = $123,500)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $2,800 per m² (e.g., 90 m² = $252,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $1,750 per m² (e.g., 90 m² = $157,500)
- Corporate Tax
- 21% (Federal) + 4.0% (Missouri State)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 0% to 30% depending on tax treaties
- Tax System
- Worldwide income for US citizens; Territorial/Source-based for non-resident aliens
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 37% (Federal) + 4.95% (Missouri)
- VAT
- Sales Tax: Approx. 8.6% (Combined State/Local)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income (GILTI) rules apply
- Property Tax
- Yes, approx. 1.2% of market value annually
- Property Transaction Tax
- Deed Transfer Tax is not applicable in MO, but recording fees apply
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No specific DN visa; local 1% earnings tax applies to those living or working in KC MO