What is the cost of living in Parsons, KS?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Parsons has an overall cost of living index of 79, which is 0.8x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Kansas, Parsons has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Kansas's index of 91.
The standard of living in Parsons ranks as #1 most affordable out of the 65 places we measured in Kansas. By definition, that implies Parsons ranks as the #64 most expensive place in the Sunflower State.
For more reading on life in Parsons, check out:
Parsons Cost Of Living Vs. Kansas
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Parsons. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Parsons is 93.
The Groceries index in Parsons is 96.
The Health index in Parsons is 46.
The Housing index in Parsons is 97.
The Transportation index in Parsons is 92.
The Utilities index in Parsons is 93.
| Living Expense | Parsons | Kansas | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 79 | 91 | 100 |
| Services | 93 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 96 | 97 | 100 |
| Health | 46 | 76 | 100 |
| Housing | 97 | 97 | 100 |
| Transportation | 92 | 93 | 100 |
| Utilities | 93 | 95 | 100 |
Parsons 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 Parsons Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Parsons, 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 Parsons is $78,523.
The Median Rent in Parsons is $774.
The Median Income in Parsons is $52,428.
The Home Value To Income in Parsons is 1.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Parsons is 0.18x.
Parsons, KS Costs By Category
Detailed Parsons Services costs vs. Kansas
Detailed Parsons Groceries costs vs. Kansas
Detailed Parsons Health costs vs. Kansas
Detailed Parsons Transportation costs vs. Kansas
Parsons SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Parsons
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Parsons. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Joplin, MO has a cost of living index of 87, 1.1x Parsons.
Miami, OK has a cost of living index of 83, 1.1x Parsons.
Independence, KS has a cost of living index of 83, 1.1x Parsons.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Parsons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joplin, MO | 52,593 | 87 | 1.1x |
| Miami, OK | 12,926 | 83 | 1.1x |
| Independence, KS | 8,422 | 83 | 1.1x |
| Carl Junction, MO | 8,339 | 95 | 1.2x |
| Iola, KS | 5,348 | 83 | 1.1x |
| Vinita, OK | 5,300 | 86 | 1.1x |
