Cost of Living in Kansas Cities: These Are the Top 5

Updated On October 6, 2023
Kansas Topeka Capitol

Kansas is a state in the Midwestern United States.

This fast-growing Midwest metro is an excellent place to live.

Here you can find many job opportunities, affordable housing, top-rated colleges, and pro sports events.

Furthermore, in this Sunflower State (or as someones say the Jayhawk State, nicknames for Kansas), there is a lot of art, culture, and history.

It’s no wonder why people love this city.

The capital city in this state is Topeka, while the largest city is Wichita.

But what about the actual cost of living in this state?

Moreover, in the text below, we will discuss the most expensive five cities in Kansas.

Keep reading, and you will find everything you need to know about the cost of living in this beautiful state.

The Cost of Living in Kansas

The cost of living in Kansas State is $1300, which is 1.15 times less expensive than the average in the United States.

Additionally, Kansas State is in 45th place of most expensive cities in the US.

Below you can see each cost separately, such as housing, utility, food, transportation, and other prices.

Housing and Utility Costs

The main expense in your monthly financial budget is housing costs.

Usually, housing cost has a direct impact on the cost of living in Kansas.

Basically, housing costs in this state are 1.8 percent lower than the national average.

Moreover, the average rent in Kansas is $1,340 per month.

However, there are neighborhoods throughout the city where you’ll find apartments for much higher – almost $1,000 more.

On the other side, there are apartments for much less price.

If you look for apartments in the River Market area, you’ll be happy to learn that the average rent in that neighborhood is $2,500.

On the other hand, if you look in the River View neighborhood, you’ll find an average rental rate of around $700 per month.

After housing, utility costs take up another large portion of your monthly budget in Kansas.

Overall, utility costs here are almost the same as the national average.

The monthly average energy prices are around $160.

That is low costed price compared to other parts of the country.

Other utility costs which influence the monthly budget are cell phone service – between $10 and $90, water and sewage -average $110.00 per month, internet -average $60 per month, and cable – $25 to $65.

Transport Cost

Kansas has multiple forms of transportation for everyone – from public transit to bikes.

Moreover, public transit options are available everywhere in this state and definitely, are pretty affordable.

Gasoline (1 liter) is $0.55, and the monthly public transit pass is $40.30, which is really not a high price.

Food Costs

Kansas City is one of those incredible cities where you can get city privileges, but you don’t always have to worry about big city prices.

For example – food prices.

On average, they’re 12 percent lower than the U.S. average.

In fact, if you love to dine out, you’ll be happy to know that there are a lot of fantastic restaurants that cater to people on a budget.

For example – Happy Gillis Café + Hangout.

Here you can get a delectable dish of biscuits and gravy for only $5 and a salad for less than $4.

Or, try their Roasted Heirloom Tomato Grilled Cheese, made with farm toast, cheddar, roasted heirloom tomatoes, parsley, garlic, scallions, and greens — all for $9.

So, to sum up, if you’re in the mood for some fine dining, international cuisine, or other specialty eateries, you won’t be disappointed.

Kansas City offers Italian, gourmet barbecue, and much more.

The Top Five Expensive Cities in This State

While the average cost of living is low, it could vary depending on the location in the state of Kansas.

Here are the top five most expensive cities in Kansas.

Topeka

Topeka, as the capital city of this state, regularly has a high cost of living.

In fact, the average cost of living in Topeka is $1700.

Even though we said that transportation costs in this state are affordable, in Topeka are not the same.

For instance, a one-way ticket for local transport is $2.50, while a monthly transport pass is $50.

Dinning in a restaurant for two people could cost you around $50, and a lunch menu for one person is $14.

Compared to other cities’ prices, we can sum up that they are highly costly.

That means for food prices also.

One-liter milk in a supermarket is around $2.30, a loaf of bread is $2.50, while eggs (12 regulars) are more than $3.

Wichita

Many families and young professionals live in Wichita, and residents tend to lean traditional.

Wichita is a city in Kansas and is one of the best places to live in this state.

But, the most expensive one too.

The average cost of living in Wichita is $1790, which is in the top 35% of the most expensive cities in the world.

For instance, dinner in a restaurant for one person could cost you more than $15.

Also, renting an apartment has an enormous price.

One-bedroom apartment in Downtown, 40 m2 for rent and utilities included are $1500.

As for local transport, prices for a one-way ticket (local transport) are much less than in Topeka – $2.00.

A one cinema ticket can cost you more than $12, and a gym membership per month is enormous $40.

Overland Park

Located in Johnson County, it is also the second-most populous city in Kansas.

This city is a great place to live, work, and play.

The average cost of living in Overland Park is $1900, which is in the top 22% of the most expensive cities in the world.

As for restaurant prices, we can note that they are near the same as in Topeka and Wichita.

That makes this city the most expensive city in this state.

However, Overland Park has lower prices for transportation.

For example, a one-way ticket for local transport is $1.49, while a monthly transport pass is only $30.

But, here we go with the leisure costs.

A one cinema ticket can cost you around $15 and a gym membership per month is $50.

Kansas City

Kansas City is one of the best cities in the United States, with a rich cultural heritage.

This city is the 29th most populated metropolitan area in the US.

From tasty barbecue to just as juicy jazz, magnificent parks, and beautiful summers, this city has it all.

Moreover, did you know that Kansas City has more boulevards than Paris?

As for the cost of living – the average home cost is just over $160,000, which is incredibly low compared to the rest of the United States.

But compared to other cities in this state, it is expensive.

As for renting prices, they are also high- $1100 compared to other cities, where the rent prices can be around $900.

The other costs are pretty the same as the prices in other previously mentioned cities.

Olathe

The average cost of living in Olathe is $1891, which is in the top 25% of the most expensive cities in the world.

As for rent, the price for a one-bedroom apartment Downtown, 40 m2, is $1270.

Olathe becomes on top with the highest health care costs in Kansas, 23% higher than the average city in the nation.

Due to that, a one doctor’s visit in this city will cost you $112, while an appointment for a dentist is around $100.

A one cinema ticket can cost you around $14 and a gym membership per month is more than $50.

Kansas Safety Overview

READ THE FULL REPORT: Kansas Safety Review

Safety Index:
81
Kansas
  • OVERALL RISK: LOW
  • TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: MEDIUM
  • PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW
  • NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
  • MUGGING RISK: LOW
  • TERRORISM RISK: LOW
  • SCAMS RISK: LOW
  • WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW

1 Comment on Cost of Living in Kansas Cities: These Are the Top 5

  1. Kansas is a state with a diverse range of cities, each with its own unique charm and cost of living.

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