Wichita, KS Cost Of Living

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2023-11-15

Cost Of Living In Wichita, KS Summary

Cost of living in Wichita research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Wichita is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in Kansas, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Wichita is 91, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Wichita is 0.9x lower than the national average.

  • Wichita ranks as the #37 cheapest in Kansas out of 63.

  • Wichita ranks as the #1,804 cheapest out of 6,412 in the US.

  • The median home value in Wichita is $145,300.

  • The median income in Wichita is $56,374.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
91
Wichita's Overall Cost Of Living
0.9x
Lower Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Wichita, KS?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Wichita has an overall cost of living index of 91, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.

Compared to Kansas, Wichita has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than Kansas's index of 87.

The standard of living in Wichita ranks as #37 most affordable out of the 63 places we measured in Kansas. By definition, that implies Wichita ranks as the #26 most expensive place in the Sunflower State.

For more reading on life in Wichita, check out:

37 out of 63
In Kansas
1,804 out of 6,412
In America

Wichita Cost Of Living Vs. Kansas

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Wichita. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Wichita is 99.

  • The Groceries index in Wichita is 95.

  • The Health index in Wichita is 93.

  • The Housing index in Wichita is 69.

  • The Transportation index in Wichita is 94.

  • The Utilities index in Wichita is 100.

Living Expense Wichita Kansas National Average
Overall 91 87 100
Services 99 90 100
Groceries 95 95 100
Health 93 98 100
Housing 69 70 100
Transportation 94 93 100
Utilities 100 102 100
For more reading on cost of living around Kansas, check out:
Wichita Cost of Living Vs. KS

Wichita, KS Housing Cost Breakdown

Housing swings affordability the most between places in Kansas, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2017-2021. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Wichita is $145,300.

  • The Median Rent in Wichita is $856.

  • The Median Income in Wichita is $56,374.

  • The Home Value To Income in Wichita is 2.6x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Wichita is 0.18x.

Statistic Wichita Kansas United States
Median Home Value $145,300 $164,800 $244,900
Median Rent $856 $912 $1,163
Median Income $56,374 $64,521 $69,021
Home Value To Income 2.6x 2.6x 3.5x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.18x 0.17x 0.2x
Search Homes For Sale In Wichita, KS
$145,300
Median Home Value
$856
Median Rent
$56,374
Median Income

Wichita, KS Costs By Category

Detailed Wichita Services Costs Vs. Kansas

Item Wichita Kansas
Shampoo $1.0 $1.06
Movie $9.37 $10.68
Bowling $12.85 $14.67
Haircut $20.69 $18.62
Beauty Salon $39.58 $39.05

Detailed Wichita Groceries Costs Vs. Kansas

Item Wichita Kansas
Ground Beef $4.62 $4.22
Fried Chicken $1.23 $1.39
Milk $1.75 $2.05
Potatoes $2.94 $3.29
Pizza $10.01 $10.62
Beer $8.57 $9.38
Toothpaste $2.05 $2.34

Detailed Wichita Health Costs Vs. Kansas

Item Wichita Kansas
Optometrist $148.22 $108.57
Doctor $100.2 $116.17
Dentist $86.82 $99.13

Detailed Wichita Transportation Costs Vs. Kansas

Item Wichita Kansas
Gasoline $2.03 $2.22
Tire Balancing $46.0 $50.07

Detailed Wichita Utilities Costs Vs. Kansas

Item Wichita Kansas
All Electricity $156.49 $167.67
Phone $188.68 $175.64

Wichita SnackAbility

7
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
6/10
Housing
6
Affordability
8
Diversity
9
Safety
N/A
Amenities
9
Education
8
Commute
9

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Wichita

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Wichita. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Derby, KS has a cost of living index of 93, 1.0x Wichita.

  • Andover, KS has a cost of living index of 98, 1.1x Wichita.

  • Haysville, KS has a cost of living index of 90, 1.0x Wichita.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Wichita
Derby, KS 25,365 93 1.0x
Andover, KS 15,162 98 1.1x
Haysville, KS 10,887 90 1.0x
Valley Center, KS 8,365 90 1.0x
Bel Aire, KS 8,148 94 1.0x
Mulvane, KS 5,676 90 1.0x
Maize, KS 5,469 96 1.1x

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