Our Guide to Kansas Cost of Living in 2024

“There’s no place like home” isn’t just for the Wizard of Oz anymore. It’s no secret that Kansas is a location where many people choose to move. In fact, in recent years Kansas has been getting a lot of recognition as a top place to live and raise a family in the U.S. In 2024, Overland Park, KS was named a top 10 city to live in and Zillow named Prairie Village, KS as the most popular city in 2022! U-Haul’s 2020 rankings of states by migration growth found Kansas to be ranked as the 21st most popular national destination, ranking ahead of places like New York, Illinois, and Chicago.

Living in Kansas

The most common sources of new residents for Kansas are Missouri, Texas, Colorado, and California. If you are thinking about moving to the beautiful rolling plains of Kansas or the vibrant metropolitan area of Kansas City, you are probably wondering about the cost of living. Let’s take a look at what you may spend to live in Kansas. 

Kansas Housing Costs in 2024

The largest component of living expenses is usually housing. Kansas homes remain more affordable than the national average. As of 2024, the typical Kansas home has an approximate median price of $229,500, which is still significantly cheaper than the national median of $416,100—a difference of about 45%! However, home prices in Kansas have been on the rise, with a year-over-year increase of approximately 9.7%.

Here’s a look at median home prices in Kansas’ largest cities:

• Wichita: $189,000
• Kansas City (KS): $285,000
• Topeka: $172,800

These figures reflect metro areas, but cities like Olathe, Overland Park, Leawood and Prairie Village, all in the Kansas City metro, show higher median price points.

Kansas Monthly Rent in 2024

For many people, choosing to rent can make the cost of living even more affordable. Kansas’ average fair market rent cost for a 2-bedroom apartment in Kansas is now $835. However, this can have a wide range as the average fair market rent for a 2-bedroom in Wyandotte County (Kansas City, KS) is $1,021. This number can increase significantly depending on the areas in Kansas you target.

If you compare these rent costs to homeownership, with a 30-year mortgage at the current median home price, a monthly mortgage payment would average around $1,150. Renting, meanwhile, offers a potentially lower monthly cost depending on the area.

Kansas Cost of Utilities in 2024

The cost of utilities in Kansas is fairly moderate, with its average monthly bill of $335 ranking as 20th most expensive in the nation. 

Your largest utility expenditure is likely to be electric at an average of $125. This is closely followed by natural gas at $170. Cable is benchmarked at $50 while water averages $30 and internet $25 (Kansas internet remains one of the cheapest in the country). In fact, water is 13th cheapest in the nation and internet is tied with several other states as the cheapest. 

Obviously, utilities can range quite a bit depending on factors such as the size of your home, the efficiency of HVAC units and other appliances, and the types of services selected for cable and internet. However, this provides a guide to average costs for each. 

Kansas Food Expenses in 2024

Food costs in Kansas continue to be among the lowest in the U.S. Based on data from Wichita, the average monthly food expense is now about $270 per person, still ranking Kansas as one of the least expensive states for groceries. For a two-person household, this comes to approximately $540 per month. For this estimate, Move’s average cost of food article was referenced. 

Food Budget for Family in 2024

This article calculated food costs for each state based upon the average cost of purchasing groceries in the state’s largest city. In Kansas, this cost was calculated for Wichita. This only entailed calculating the cost for groceries and not things like dining at restaurants. 

Kansas’ monthly average food cost was $261.35 per person, placing it as the second least expensive amount in the United States. In fact, only New Hampshire had a lower cost. For a two person household, this amounts to approximately $522 per month. 

Kansas Healthcare Costs in 2024

Healthcare remains an important consideration when calculating cost of living. In Kansas, the average monthly healthcare premium is now $510, slightly above the national average of $470. However, your actual healthcare costs will depend on your insurance plan, whether your employer contributes to your premium, and your personal healthcare needs.

Healthcare Prices for Single Person and Family in 2024

The average monthly health care premium in Kansas is $486, an amount higher than the national average of $477. Thus, you can anticipate paying a bit more for health insurance in Kansas. However, this amount may be lower depending on your health plan or if your employer pays a large portion of your premium. 

Please note that this estimate refers only to purchasing health insurance. Actual costs for receiving health care would vary considerably from person to person depending on what care is needed and the specifics of a health insurance plan. 

Living in Kansas – State Taxes in 2024

Income tax in Kansas is calculated on a simplified progressive system that includes three brackets ranging from 3.1% to 5.7%. The median household income in Kansas was $66,000 in 2023, the most recent year on record. For a two-person household, this translates to roughly $236 per month in state income tax.

Kansas Average Property Taxes in 2024

Considering state taxes also means taking a look at property tax costs for those who own a home (renters, you are safe here!). In Kansas, the average effective property tax rate is 1.37%, which is 28% higher than the national average of 1.07%. For the median home in Kansas, this translates to an annual cost of $3,144, or a monthly cost of roughly $262.

Kansas Transportation Prices in 2024

To calculate the cost of transportation, we need to figure the amounts spent on gasoline and car insurance. The U.S. Department of Transportation notes that the average American drives 1,123 miles per month. Combine this with the fact that the average fuel economy of a light duty vehicle is 25.7 miles per gallon and you get 43.7 gallons of gasoline consumed each month by a typical American. 

What to Expect in the Midwest in 2024

Fuel and car insurance are two key factors in transportation costs. As of early 2024, the average price for a gallon of regular gas in Kansas is $3.48, slightly lower than the national average of $3.61. For a two-car household, expect to spend about $304 per month on fuel.

Kansas Overall Cost of Insurance in 2024

Car insurance premiums in Kansas average around $210 per vehicle each month, slightly above the previous year but still lower than the national average of $250. A two-vehicle household would pay approximately $420 per month for insurance.

Kansas Cost of Living – Overall Cost in 2024

When factoring in housing, utilities, food, healthcare, taxes, and transportation, here’s a breakdown of monthly costs:

• Homeowners: $3,550
• Renters: $3,035

These figures represent essential living expenses, not accounting for discretionary spending or savings. Other personal factors may influence your cost of living, but these estimates offer a snapshot of average expenses in Kansas.

Kansas Living Indices in 2024

One popular method of estimating the needed salary to live somewhere is the 50-30-20 rule of savings, which states that 50% of your income should go towards essential expenses (i.e. cost of living) while 30% goes to discretionary spending an 20% savings. 

Kansas Economic Analysis in 2024

Using this rule, the minimum income for a two-person household in Kansas would be $81,336 for homeowners or $71,400 for renters. There are certainly more affordable and less affordable places within the state to reside, but this illustrates the average cost of living. 

How Does Cost-of-Living in Kansas Compare to Other Cities?

From metropolitan areas to rural areas, living in Kansas has a lot to offer. Whether you are a single adult or family, major Kansas cities often beat the national average for the cost of living.

Kansas compared to another populous city generally beats the US average. The Kansas City metro has some of the best sports in the country, amazing community, quick transportation and great healthcare options. If you decide living in Kansas is the next move for you, reach out! We would love to be the team to help you find your new Kansas City home in Kansas OR Missouri!