What is the cost of living in Wichita, KS?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Wichita has an overall cost of living index of 92, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Kansas, Wichita has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than Kansas's index of 91.
The standard of living in Wichita ranks as #33 most affordable out of the 65 places we measured in Kansas. By definition, that implies Wichita ranks as the #32 most expensive place in the Sunflower State.
For more reading on life in Wichita, check out:
Wichita Cost Of Living Vs. Kansas
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Wichita. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Wichita is 98.
The Groceries index in Wichita is 92.
The Health index in Wichita is 80.
The Housing index in Wichita is 97.
The Transportation index in Wichita is 95.
The Utilities index in Wichita is 94.
| Living Expense | Wichita | Kansas | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 92 | 91 | 100 |
| Services | 98 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 92 | 97 | 100 |
| Health | 80 | 76 | 100 |
| Housing | 97 | 97 | 100 |
| Transportation | 95 | 93 | 100 |
| Utilities | 94 | 95 | 100 |
Wichita 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 Wichita Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Wichita, 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 Wichita is $202,719.
The Median Rent in Wichita is $975.
The Median Income in Wichita is $64,620.
The Home Value To Income in Wichita is 3.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Wichita is 0.18x.
Wichita, KS Costs By Category
Detailed Wichita Services costs vs. Kansas
Detailed Wichita Groceries costs vs. Kansas
Detailed Wichita Health costs vs. Kansas
Detailed Wichita Transportation costs vs. Kansas
Wichita SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Wichita
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Wichita. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Derby, KS has a cost of living index of 96, 1.0x Wichita.
Andover, KS has a cost of living index of 108, 1.2x Wichita.
Haysville, KS has a cost of living index of 86, 0.9x Wichita.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Wichita |
|---|---|---|---|
| Derby, KS | 26,062 | 96 | 1.0x |
| Andover, KS | 15,965 | 108 | 1.2x |
| Haysville, KS | 11,117 | 86 | 0.9x |
| Bel Aire, KS | 9,043 | 98 | 1.1x |
| Valley Center, KS | 8,590 | 96 | 1.0x |
| Maize, KS | 6,824 | 94 | 1.0x |
| Mulvane, KS | 6,171 | 87 | 0.9x |
| Goddard, KS | 6,030 | 94 | 1.0x |
