What is the cost of living in Salina, KS?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Salina has an overall cost of living index of 91, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Kansas, Salina has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Kansas's index of 91.
The standard of living in Salina ranks as #30 most affordable out of the 65 places we measured in Kansas. By definition, that implies Salina ranks as the #35 most expensive place in the Sunflower State.
For more reading on life in Salina, check out:
Salina Cost Of Living Vs. Kansas
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Salina. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Salina is 101.
The Groceries index in Salina is 96.
The Health index in Salina is 73.
The Housing index in Salina is 94.
The Transportation index in Salina is 92.
The Utilities index in Salina is 99.
| Living Expense | Salina | Kansas | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 91 | 91 | 100 |
| Services | 101 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 96 | 97 | 100 |
| Health | 73 | 76 | 100 |
| Housing | 94 | 97 | 100 |
| Transportation | 92 | 93 | 100 |
| Utilities | 99 | 95 | 100 |
Salina 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 Salina Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Salina, 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 Salina is $173,120.
The Median Rent in Salina is $959.
The Median Income in Salina is $61,783.
The Home Value To Income in Salina is 2.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Salina is 0.19x.
Salina, KS Costs By Category
Detailed Salina Services costs vs. Kansas
Detailed Salina Groceries costs vs. Kansas
Detailed Salina Health costs vs. Kansas
Detailed Salina Transportation costs vs. Kansas
Salina SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Salina
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Salina. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Frederick, MD has a cost of living index of 118, 1.3x Salina.
McPherson, KS has a cost of living index of 90, 1.0x Salina.
Fort Riley, KS has a cost of living index of 103, 1.1x Salina.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Salina |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frederick, MD | 83,395 | 118 | 1.3x |
| McPherson, KS | 13,995 | 90 | 1.0x |
| Fort Riley, KS | 8,606 | 103 | 1.1x |
| Abilene, KS | 6,449 | 89 | 1.0x |






