What is the cost of living in Fort Scott, KS?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Fort Scott has an overall cost of living index of 80, which is 0.8x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Kansas, Fort Scott has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Kansas's index of 91.
The standard of living in Fort Scott ranks as #3 most affordable out of the 65 places we measured in Kansas. By definition, that implies Fort Scott ranks as the #62 most expensive place in the Sunflower State.
For more reading on life in Fort Scott, check out:
Fort Scott Cost Of Living Vs. Kansas
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Fort Scott. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Fort Scott is 95.
The Groceries index in Fort Scott is 92.
The Health index in Fort Scott is 49.
The Housing index in Fort Scott is 100.
The Transportation index in Fort Scott is 92.
The Utilities index in Fort Scott is 93.
| Living Expense | Fort Scott | Kansas | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 80 | 91 | 100 |
| Services | 95 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 92 | 97 | 100 |
| Health | 49 | 76 | 100 |
| Housing | 100 | 97 | 100 |
| Transportation | 92 | 93 | 100 |
| Utilities | 93 | 95 | 100 |
Fort Scott 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 Fort Scott Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Fort Scott, 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 Fort Scott is $127,119.
The Median Rent in Fort Scott is $755.
The Median Income in Fort Scott is $52,159.
The Home Value To Income in Fort Scott is 2.4x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Fort Scott is 0.17x.
| Statistic | Fort Scott | Kansas | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $127,119 | $244,761 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $755 | $1,060 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $52,159 | $74,275 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 2.4x | 3.3x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.17x | 0.17x | 0.21x |
Fort Scott, KS Costs By Category
Detailed Fort Scott Services costs vs. Kansas
| Item | Fort Scott | Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.08 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $6.46 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $10.0 | $18 |
| Haircut | $15.67 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $37.0 | $45.56 |
Detailed Fort Scott Groceries costs vs. Kansas
| Item | Fort Scott | Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.33 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.36 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.53 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.87 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.4 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $9.69 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.8 | $3.7 |
Detailed Fort Scott Health costs vs. Kansas
| Item | Fort Scott | Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $83.0 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $105.0 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $90.33 | $113.29 |
Detailed Fort Scott Transportation costs vs. Kansas
| Item | Fort Scott | Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.12 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $50.34 | $59.92 |
Detailed Fort Scott Utilities costs vs. Kansas
| Item | Fort Scott | Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $202.28 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $201.39 | $192.25 |
Fort Scott SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Fort Scott
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Fort Scott. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Appleton, WI has a cost of living index of 94, 1.2x Fort Scott.
Pittsburg, KS has a cost of living index of 82, 1.0x Fort Scott.
Chanute, KS has a cost of living index of 79, 1.0x Fort Scott.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Fort Scott |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appleton, WI | 75,023 | 94 | 1.2x |
| Pittsburg, KS | 20,637 | 82 | 1.0x |
| Chanute, KS | 8,598 | 79 | 1.0x |
| Carl Junction, MO | 8,339 | 95 | 1.2x |
| Nevada, MO | 7,925 | 81 | 1.0x |
| Iola, KS | 5,348 | 83 | 1.0x |
