Kansas
KSMidwest · 5 cities tracked · Updated 2026
Kansas is cheaper than the national average. Across the 5 cities we track, the cost of living index averages 86 (US = 100) and typical rent averages $1,363 a month, 29% below the national figure of $1,932.
State Averages
Avg Gas Price
$3.72
Regular unleaded
Avg Rent
$1,363
All units/mo
Avg COL Index
86
vs. 100 national avg
Kansas Cost of Living Analysis
Where the money goes
The biggest break is rent, at 29% below it.
Rent trend
Rent rose an average of 4.1% over the past year across the 5 cities we track, faster than the 2.7% national change. Lawrence saw the biggest move (up 4.5%), while Manhattan was up just 3.7%.
City to city
Where you live inside Kansas matters. Typical rent runs from $1,206 in Wichita to $1,563 in Lawrence, a gap of $357 a month or about $4,284 a year.
Affordability
Rent, gas, groceries, electricity and car insurance take about 43% of median household income in the counties we track, which ranks near the middle of 51 states. Median household income there averages $64,767 (Census ACS 2023). Groceries are counted at what the average household in the region spends on food at home (BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey).
Energy and driving
Regular gas costs $3.72 a gallon, 7% below the $3.98 national average. A typical electric bill runs about $139 a month versus $166 nationally, and full coverage car insurance averages $2,080 a year versus $2,150.
Groceries
Grocery prices in the Midwest rose 1.5% over the past year (BLS food at home), compared with 1.8% nationally. Item prices on our city pages are national BLS averages, so local stores may be higher or lower.
Built from the AAA, Zillow, EIA, Bankrate, BLS and Census data on this site. National comparisons use typical rent of $1,932 a month and gas of $3.98 a gallon. See the methodology.
Cities in Kansas
Median Household Income by County
Source: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · 105 counties
| County | Median Income |
|---|---|
| 1Johnson County | $107,261 |
| 2Miami County | $88,000 |
| 3Pottawatomie County | $87,694 |
| 4Leavenworth County | $86,906 |
| 5Butler County | $80,375 |
| 6Greeley County | $78,819 |
| 7Gray County | $77,885 |
| 8McPherson County | $77,701 |
| 9Jefferson County | $77,393 |
| 10Nemaha County | $77,375 |
| 11Ottawa County | $76,755 |
| 12Meade County | $74,868 |
| 13Kearny County | $74,135 |
| 14Thomas County | $73,575 |
| 15Trego County | $73,375 |
| 16Harvey County | $73,269 |
| 17Kiowa County | $73,214 |
| 18Doniphan County | $72,833 |
| 19Jackson County | $72,703 |
| 20Grant County | $72,484 |
| 21Finney County | $72,437 |
| 22Franklin County | $72,142 |
| 23Logan County | $71,389 |
| 24Wichita County | $71,282 |
| 25Marshall County | $70,828 |
| 26Wabaunsee County | $70,536 |
| 27Ford County | $70,495 |
| 28Stanton County | $70,361 |
| 29Osage County | $70,216 |
| 30Sheridan County | $70,000 |
| 31Haskell County | $69,138 |
| 32Douglas County | $68,756 |
| 33Dickinson County | $67,982 |
| 34Scott County | $67,788 |
| 35Sedgwick County | $67,675 |
| 36Bourbon County | $67,555 |
| 37Coffey County | $67,377 |
| 38Ellsworth County | $66,792 |
| 39Ness County | $66,107 |
| 40Shawnee County | $66,043 |
| 41Morton County | $65,625 |
| 42Clark County | $65,515 |
| 43Rawlins County | $65,000 |
| 44Anderson County | $64,925 |
| 45Sherman County | $64,444 |
| 46Pratt County | $64,348 |
| 47Rice County | $63,947 |
| 48Stafford County | $63,786 |
| 49Pawnee County | $63,625 |
| 50Marion County | $63,438 |
| 51Saline County | $63,316 |
| 52Gove County | $63,203 |
| 53Clay County | $63,136 |
| 54Hodgeman County | $63,125 |
| 55Washington County | $62,452 |
| 56Seward County | $62,269 |
| 57Atchison County | $62,164 |
| 58Hamilton County | $61,929 |
| 59Stevens County | $61,909 |
| 60Rooks County | $61,596 |
| 61Phillips County | $61,235 |
| 62Wyandotte County | $60,582 |
| 63Reno County | $60,498 |
| 64Sumner County | $60,348 |
| 65Rush County | $60,288 |
| 66Wallace County | $60,263 |
| 67Ellis County | $59,889 |
| 68Kingman County | $59,819 |
| 69Riley County | $59,560 |
| 70Osborne County | $59,408 |
| 71Linn County | $59,200 |
| 72Lyon County | $59,078 |
| 73Brown County | $58,886 |
| 74Greenwood County | $58,276 |
| 75Cherokee County | $58,274 |
| 76Cowley County | $58,263 |
| 77Mitchell County | $58,233 |
| 78Allen County | $57,618 |
| 79Barber County | $57,615 |
| 80Geary County | $57,344 |
| 81Cloud County | $57,333 |
| 82Wilson County | $57,056 |
| 83Smith County | $57,024 |
| 84Barton County | $56,733 |
| 85Morris County | $56,716 |
| 86Elk County | $56,087 |
| 87Cheyenne County | $55,765 |
| 88Neosho County | $55,704 |
| 89Labette County | $55,439 |
| 90Harper County | $55,417 |
| 91Chautauqua County | $54,592 |
| 92Chase County | $54,518 |
| 93Russell County | $53,902 |
| 94Edwards County | $53,792 |
| 95Republic County | $53,611 |
| 96Lincoln County | $53,546 |
| 97Montgomery County | $53,242 |
| 98Lane County | $53,042 |
| 99Graham County | $52,909 |
| 100Jewell County | $52,344 |
| 101Decatur County | $52,030 |
| 102Crawford County | $50,311 |
| 103Norton County | $50,305 |
| 104Comanche County | $49,417 |
| 105Woodson County | $48,152 |
Kansas Cost of Living FAQ
Is Kansas expensive to live in?
Kansas is about 14% cheaper than the national average. Across the 5 cities we track, the cost of living index averages 86, where 100 is the US average.
What is the average rent in Kansas?
Typical rent in Kansas averages $1,363 a month across the 5 cities we track as of September 2026, 29% below the national typical rent of $1,932. That ranks near the middle of 51 states. The figure is the Zillow Observed Rent Index for all home types.
What is the cheapest city to live in Kansas?
Of the 5 cities we track in Kansas, Topeka has the lowest cost of living index at 82. The lowest typical rent is in Wichita, at $1,206 a month.
What is the most expensive city in Kansas?
Kansas City has the highest cost of living index of the cities we track in Kansas, at 88. The highest typical rent is in Lawrence, at $1,563 a month.
How much is gas in Kansas?
Regular unleaded averages $3.72 a gallon in Kansas as of November 11, 2026 (AAA state average), 7% below the national average of $3.98. That is the 14th cheapest of 51 states.
Is rent going up in Kansas?
Rent in Kansas rose an average of 4.1% over the past year across the 5 cities we track, compared with a 2.7% change nationally.
How much is electricity in Kansas?
Residential electricity in Kansas averages 15.5 cents per kWh (EIA), versus 18.4 cents nationally. At 900 kWh a month, a typical bill is about $139.
How much is car insurance in Kansas?
Full coverage car insurance in Kansas averages $2,080 a year, or about $173 a month (Bankrate and NAIC), compared with $2,150 a year nationally. That is near the middle of 51 states.