Cost of living index

Wichita, KS

88.9 / 100

Living in Wichita, KS is 11.1% cheaper than the US average — the #315 of 387 highest nationally.

Median rent: $969/mo

Median home value: $188,200

Figures — including the cost index, median rent, and median home value — cover the wider Wichita, KS metropolitan area, not individual neighbourhoods or city boundaries.

Winter
46° / 25°F
(8° / -4°C)
2.8 in precip
Spring
68° / 45°F
(20° / 7°C)
10.4 in precip
Summer
89° / 67°F
(32° / 19°C)
12.2 in precip
Fall
70° / 47°F
(21° / 8°C)
7.3 in precip

30-year climate normals (1991–2020) from WICHITA JABARA AP, via NOAA.

The Wichita, KS metro area has an overall price level of 88.9 compared with the national average of 100, meaning everyday costs run about 11.1% lower than a typical US metro. Housing tells the sharper story: at 66.2 it is 33.8% below the national average. Housing rents are often one of the largest sources of difference between metro areas, so this figure can have a significant impact when comparing locations.

Overall#315 of 387
88.9
Goods#293 of 387
94.0
Housing rents#292 of 387
66.2
Utilities#200 of 387
88.5
Other services#359 of 387
93.8

Wichita, KS is moved down the most by housing rents, at 66.2 vs a US average of 100, while the closest to average is goods.

Browse Kansas →See the cheapest and most expensive US metros →

Figures on this page come from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities dataset, 2024 — the most recent year published. An index of 100 marks the national average; a metro above 100 has higher prices than a typical US metro, below 100 lower. Median rent and median home value are from the US Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) 2023 5-year estimates, and seasonal weather is from NOAA’s 1991–2020 climate normals. These are regional figures only, not a complete personal budget — they don’t account for individual spending habits, taxes, or household circumstances. See the full methodology for how the index and salary-equivalent estimates are calculated.

Compare My City is an independent project and is not operated by, endorsed by, or affiliated with the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the Census Bureau, or NOAA.

Is Wichita, KS an expensive place to live?

Wichita, KS has an overall cost-of-living index of 88.9, where 100 is the US average. That makes it about 11.1% cheaper than the country as a whole.

Is housing expensive in Wichita, KS?

Housing rents in Wichita, KS score 66.2 against a US average of 100 — roughly 33.8% below average. Housing rents are often the main driver of differences in overall price levels between metro areas.

How does Wichita, KS compare to the US average cost of living?

Overall prices in Wichita, KS sit at 88.9 versus 100 for the US average, with housing at 66.2. Figures come from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis for 2024.