What is the cost of living in Lawrence, KS?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Lawrence has an overall cost of living index of 98, which is 1.0x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Kansas, Lawrence has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Kansas's index of 91.
The standard of living in Lawrence ranks as #46 most affordable out of the 65 places we measured in Kansas. By definition, that implies Lawrence ranks as the #19 most expensive place in the Sunflower State.
For more reading on life in Lawrence, check out:
Lawrence Cost Of Living Vs. Kansas
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Lawrence. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Lawrence is 94.
The Groceries index in Lawrence is 97.
The Health index in Lawrence is 110.
The Housing index in Lawrence is 98.
The Transportation index in Lawrence is 95.
The Utilities index in Lawrence is 89.
| Living Expense | Lawrence | Kansas | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 98 | 91 | 100 |
| Services | 94 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 97 | 97 | 100 |
| Health | 110 | 76 | 100 |
| Housing | 98 | 97 | 100 |
| Transportation | 95 | 93 | 100 |
| Utilities | 89 | 95 | 100 |
Lawrence 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 Lawrence Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Lawrence, 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 Lawrence is $331,112.
The Median Rent in Lawrence is $1,091.
The Median Income in Lawrence is $65,009.
The Home Value To Income in Lawrence is 5.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Lawrence is 0.2x.
Lawrence, KS Costs By Category
Detailed Lawrence Services costs vs. Kansas
Detailed Lawrence Groceries costs vs. Kansas
Detailed Lawrence Health costs vs. Kansas
Detailed Lawrence Transportation costs vs. Kansas
Lawrence SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Lawrence
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Lawrence. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Olathe, KS has a cost of living index of 107, 1.1x Lawrence.
Lee's Summit, MO has a cost of living index of 102, 1.0x Lawrence.
Lenexa, KS has a cost of living index of 110, 1.1x Lawrence.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Lawrence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Olathe, KS | 145,057 | 107 | 1.1x |
| Lee's Summit, MO | 103,656 | 102 | 1.0x |
| Lenexa, KS | 58,384 | 110 | 1.1x |
| Leawood, KS | 33,809 | 134 | 1.4x |
| Liberty, MO | 30,689 | 99 | 1.0x |
| Raymore, MO | 24,526 | 103 | 1.1x |
| Smithville, MO | 10,705 | 99 | 1.0x |
| Parkville, MO | 8,366 | 125 | 1.3x |
| De Soto, KS | 6,414 | 103 | 1.1x |
| Eudora, KS | 6,119 | 99 | 1.0x |
