What is the cost of living in Abilene, KS?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Abilene has an overall cost of living index of 89, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Kansas, Abilene has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Kansas's index of 91.
The standard of living in Abilene ranks as #26 most affordable out of the 65 places we measured in Kansas. By definition, that implies Abilene ranks as the #39 most expensive place in the Sunflower State.
For more reading on life in Abilene, check out:
Abilene Cost Of Living Vs. Kansas
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Abilene. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Abilene is 101.
The Groceries index in Abilene is 96.
The Health index in Abilene is 64.
The Housing index in Abilene is 91.
The Transportation index in Abilene is 94.
The Utilities index in Abilene is 99.
| Living Expense | Abilene | Kansas | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 89 | 91 | 100 |
| Services | 101 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 96 | 97 | 100 |
| Health | 64 | 76 | 100 |
| Housing | 91 | 97 | 100 |
| Transportation | 94 | 93 | 100 |
| Utilities | 99 | 95 | 100 |
Abilene Cost Of Living Compared To Kansas Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Kansas, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Abilene Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Abilene, 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 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Abilene is $184,104.
The Median Rent in Abilene is $1,022.
The Median Income in Abilene is $57,924.
The Home Value To Income in Abilene is 3.2x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Abilene is 0.21x.
Abilene, KS Costs By Category
Detailed Abilene Services costs vs. Kansas
Detailed Abilene Groceries costs vs. Kansas
Detailed Abilene Health costs vs. Kansas
Detailed Abilene Transportation costs vs. Kansas
Abilene SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Abilene
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Abilene. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Manhattan, KS has a cost of living index of 100, 1.1x Abilene.
Salina, KS has a cost of living index of 91, 1.0x Abilene.
McPherson, KS has a cost of living index of 90, 1.0x Abilene.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Abilene |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manhattan, KS | 54,239 | 100 | 1.1x |
| Salina, KS | 46,307 | 91 | 1.0x |
| McPherson, KS | 13,995 | 90 | 1.0x |
| Fort Riley, KS | 8,606 | 103 | 1.2x |
| Concordia, KS | 5,015 | 85 | 1.0x |
