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Kansas City, Missouri sits at the confluence of the Missouri and Kansas rivers on the state's western border, with a city population of roughly 510,000 and a metro area of approximately 2.2 million. The city is nationally recognized for its jazz heritage, world-class barbecue, and the Country Club Plaza, one of the oldest outdoor shopping centers in the United States. UMKC, the Kansas City Art Institute, and several other colleges anchor a substantial student population in the midtown and Westport corridors. The cost of living is well below the national average, making Kansas City an attractive city for students stretching their housing budgets.
Immediately surrounding UMKC, the most convenient, with everything from historic brick walk-ups to newer complexes near the Country Club Plaza.
Just north, with a lively mix of bars, restaurants, and shops and a solid stock of rentals popular with upperclassmen and graduate students.
Smaller neighborhoods between downtown and the Plaza, with a range of price points and building types.
Residential neighborhoods farther south with quieter surroundings, house-style rentals, and neighborhood coffee shops and dining.
Here's what you need to know about getting around Kansas City.
The KC Streetcar runs free of charge along a 3.5-mile Main Street corridor connecting the River Market district through downtown and midtown to the Crown Center and UMKC-adjacent areas, making it a practical option for students living along that spine. The RideKC bus network extends service across much of the metro, though frequency and coverage outside the urban core can be limited and transfers add significant travel time. Students relying solely on transit for all daily needs will find gaps, particularly for reaching suburban areas, grocery stores outside walkable zones, and the broader metro.
The neighborhoods immediately surrounding UMKC, including Volker, Westport, and the Country Club Plaza area, are among the most walkable parts of Kansas City with a dense mix of restaurants, shops, and services within comfortable walking distance. The city has expanded its protected bike lane network in midtown and near the Plaza, and the RideKC Bike bikeshare system provides dock-based rentals throughout the urban core. Students living in Midtown will find biking and walking genuinely viable for daily errands and campus commutes, especially in milder weather.
Kansas City is broadly car-friendly with ample surface parking and structured garages available throughout most neighborhoods at relatively low cost compared to coastal cities. UMKC maintains on-campus parking permits for students, though permit costs and availability vary by lot and demand is higher near central academic buildings. Street parking in Westport and near the Plaza can be competitive on evenings and weekends, but residential side streets in Volker and Midtown generally offer manageable daily parking.
Common questions from students searching for housing.
Yes, Kansas City has a cost of living well below the national average, and rents in the neighborhoods closest to UMKC are reasonable by major-city standards. Students can find one-bedroom apartments in Midtown for roughly $900 to $1,400 per month depending on the building and amenities.
Browse student housing near each Kansas City-area university.