Abilene, KS vs Macon, MO: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Macon, MO has a modeled overall cost index 4.4% lower than Abilene, KS.

Abilene, KS · modeled 2BR rent
$880 / month
Macon, MO · modeled 2BR rent
$950 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Abilene, KS and Macon, MO using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

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Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $230/month in Macon, MO

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $147,235 in Macon, MO

Regional cost estimates: Abilene, KS uses Wichita, KS. Macon, MO uses Kansas City, MO. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 4.4%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$230
Savings
Annual Impact
$2.8K
Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Abilene, KS

Population:6K
Cost Index:
77.6
100 = national average
Typical Home:$177K

Macon, MO

Population:5K
Cost Index:
74.1
100 = national average
Typical Home:$172K

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Abilene, KS

The Sunflower State

6K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Kansas, this city has a population of 6K residents.

Macon, MO

The Show-Me State

5K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Missouri, this city has a population of 5K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Abilene, KS vs Macon, MO

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Other
↓ 10.5%
Abilene, KS
$1,860
Macon, MO
$1,664
Difference
$196
less
Transportation
↓ 7.6%
Abilene, KS
$1,363
Macon, MO
$1,259
Difference
$104
less
Housing
↑ 4.2%
Abilene, KS
$1,882
Macon, MO
$1,961
Difference
$78.94
more
All Utilities
↓ 4.4%
Abilene, KS
$639
Macon, MO
$611
Difference
$28.33
less
Groceries
↑ 2.0%
Abilene, KS
$1,061
Macon, MO
$1,083
Difference
$21.33
more
Healthcare
↓ 0.4%
Abilene, KS
$695
Macon, MO
$693
Difference
$2.55
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$660
To$650
↓ $10.00
1 Bed
From$670
To$720
↑ $50.00
2 Bed
From$880
To$950
↑ $70.00
3 Bed
From$1,150
To$1,230
↑ $80.00
Abilene, KSZIP-level data

1BR range: $670–$670/mo

Macon, MOZIP-level data

1BR range: $720–$720/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500
Monthly in Abilene, KS
$7,270
Monthly in Macon, MO
$230
Difference

Home Values

Abilene
Macon
$177K
Median Value
$172K
↑ +6.1%
YoY Change
↑ +7.2%
↑ +37.4%
5-Year Change
↑ +45.7%

Homes in Macon are 3% less expensive than Abilene

Calculate payment - AbileneCalculate payment - Macon

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $489
Per year
Monthly Difference
$40.75
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.3%
Rate difference

Abilene, KS

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Kansas State Tax
Effective: 5.6%
$8.4K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 30.3%
$45.4K
Take-Home Pay
$8,714/month
$104.6K

Macon, MO

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Missouri State Tax
Effective: 5.3%
$7.9K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 30.0%
$44.9K
Take-Home Pay
$8,755/month
$105.1K

Additional Tax Information

Abilene, KS Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.7%
Property Tax:1.3%

Macon, MO Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.2%
Property Tax:1.0%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Abilene
Macon
43 Good
Air Quality
46 Good
75.1%
Good Air Days
59.3%
97 High
Climate Risk
97 High
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+3.1°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.3°F
61 days
Heat Days >95°F
44 days
▲+3.1°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.3°F
61 days
Heat Days >95°F
44 days

Before moving from Abilene, KS to Macon, MO

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Macon, MO for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Abilene, KS. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
  3. Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Abilene to Macon moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Macon, MO by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Abilene, KS vs Macon, MO

How do the cost estimates for Abilene, KS and Macon, MO compare?

Macon, MO has a modeled overall cost index 4.4% lower than Abilene, KS. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Abilene, KS, the model estimates $147,235 in Macon, MO. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Abilene, KS and Macon, MO?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $880/month in Abilene, KS and $950/month in Macon, MO. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Kansas and Missouri on TaxTakeHome.com

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