Quality of life in Kansas City is top notch globally, report says. What makes it great?
From our barbecue to our art to our championship sports teams, we know what makes Kansas City such a satisfying place to call home.
But the rest of the world is starting to catch on. According to a report by online cost-of-living database Numbeo, Kansas City ranks among the best cities in the world for quality of life in 2020.
Of 232 cities around the world, Kansas City, Mo., ranks 18th, the report says — and 8th nationally.
The best in the world? Canberra, Australia, according to Numbeo.
The report looked at factors including purchasing power, safety, health care, cost of living, price-to-income ratio, commute time, pollution and climate.
Kansas City saw its best ranking — 2nd in the world, behind Detroit — in property price-to-income ratios, the report says. Numbeo says it looked at factors including loan affordability, mortgage-to-income ratios and price-to-rent ratios.
Kansas City also ranked high — 10th in the world — in purchasing power which contrasts inhabitants’ ability to buy goods and services with the average wage in the city, the report says. With a score of 134.95, Kansas Citians can afford to buy about 35% more goods and services than residents of New York City with an average salary.
Kansas City also scored well for health care (18th in the world) traffic commute time (21st) and pollution (56th).
The city finished middle of the pack in safety and cost of living — its two lowest rankings, the report says.
The top 10 cities for quality of life across the world are listed below. Click here for the full rankings.
- Canberra, Australia
- Adelaide, Australia
- Raleigh, N.C.
- Wellington, New Zealand,
- Madison, Wisc.
- Zurich, Switzerland
- Columbus, Ohio
- Charlotte, N.C.
- Brisbane, Australia
- Austin, Texas