What is the cost of living in Emporia, KS?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Emporia has an overall cost of living index of 84, which is 0.8x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Kansas, Emporia has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Kansas's index of 91.
The standard of living in Emporia ranks as #10 most affordable out of the 65 places we measured in Kansas. By definition, that implies Emporia ranks as the #55 most expensive place in the Sunflower State.
For more reading on life in Emporia, check out:
Emporia Cost Of Living Vs. Kansas
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Emporia. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Emporia is 97.
The Groceries index in Emporia is 96.
The Health index in Emporia is 61.
The Housing index in Emporia is 92.
The Transportation index in Emporia is 97.
The Utilities index in Emporia is 95.
| Living Expense | Emporia | Kansas | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 84 | 91 | 100 |
| Services | 97 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 96 | 97 | 100 |
| Health | 61 | 76 | 100 |
| Housing | 92 | 97 | 100 |
| Transportation | 97 | 93 | 100 |
| Utilities | 95 | 95 | 100 |
Emporia 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 Emporia Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Emporia, 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 Emporia is $169,150.
The Median Rent in Emporia is $815.
The Median Income in Emporia is $52,704.
The Home Value To Income in Emporia is 3.2x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Emporia is 0.19x.
