What is the cost of living in Topeka, KS?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Topeka has an overall cost of living index of 86, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Kansas, Topeka has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Kansas's index of 91.
The standard of living in Topeka ranks as #16 most affordable out of the 65 places we measured in Kansas. By definition, that implies Topeka ranks as the #49 most expensive place in the Sunflower State.
For more reading on life in Topeka, check out:
Topeka Cost Of Living Vs. Kansas
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Topeka. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Topeka is 99.
The Groceries index in Topeka is 98.
The Health index in Topeka is 65.
The Housing index in Topeka is 93.
The Transportation index in Topeka is 93.
The Utilities index in Topeka is 99.
| Living Expense | Topeka | Kansas | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 86 | 91 | 100 |
| Services | 99 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 98 | 97 | 100 |
| Health | 65 | 76 | 100 |
| Housing | 93 | 97 | 100 |
| Transportation | 93 | 93 | 100 |
| Utilities | 99 | 95 | 100 |
Topeka 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 Topeka Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Topeka, 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 Topeka is $190,096.
The Median Rent in Topeka is $979.
The Median Income in Topeka is $56,956.
The Home Value To Income in Topeka is 3.3x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Topeka is 0.21x.
Topeka, KS Costs By Category
Detailed Topeka Services costs vs. Kansas
Detailed Topeka Groceries costs vs. Kansas
Detailed Topeka Health costs vs. Kansas
Detailed Topeka Transportation costs vs. Kansas
Topeka SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Topeka
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Topeka. 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, 1.2x Topeka.
Lawrence, KS has a cost of living index of 98, 1.1x Topeka.
Shawnee, KS has a cost of living index of 106, 1.2x Topeka.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Topeka |
|---|---|---|---|
| Olathe, KS | 145,057 | 107 | 1.2x |
| Lawrence, KS | 96,051 | 98 | 1.1x |
| Shawnee, KS | 68,542 | 106 | 1.2x |
| Lenexa, KS | 58,384 | 110 | 1.3x |
| Manhattan, KS | 54,239 | 100 | 1.2x |
| Gardner, KS | 24,526 | 99 | 1.2x |
| Lansing, KS | 11,246 | 100 | 1.2x |
| Basehor, KS | 7,491 | 106 | 1.2x |
| De Soto, KS | 6,414 | 103 | 1.2x |
| Eudora, KS | 6,119 | 99 | 1.2x |
