Cost of living in Kansas
Prices in Kansas are 9.9% below the US average (42nd highest of 51). A single filer on $75,000 pays $3,385 in state income tax. State sales tax: 6.5%.
Price levels in Kansas
| BEA RPP 2024 | Kansas | vs US (100) |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 90.1 | −9.9% |
| Goods | 94.0 | −6.0% |
| Housing (rents) | 71.2 | −28.8% |
| Utilities | 88.4 | −11.6% |
| Other services | 93.8 | −6.2% |
Metros in Kansas
Metros whose principal city is in Kansas. “Left over” = a single renter earning $60,000, after 2026 taxes (including the principal city’s local tax) and modeled costs.
| Metro | Population | Price level | 2-BR FMR | Infant care / wk* | Left over / mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wichita, KS | 663,809 | 88.9 | $1,043 | $157 | $1,615 |
| Topeka, KS | 233,052 | 88.8 | $1,172 | $186 | $1,525 |
| Manhattan, KS | 136,122 | 90.2 | $1,107 | $157 | $1,514 |
| Lawrence, KS | 120,920 | 90.2 | $1,272 | $186 | $1,335 |
*Center-based, DOL 2022 price for the metro’s principal county; a year in brackets marks an older latest-available price. “No data”: DOL publishes no price for that county, and childcare is left out of its budgets.
Also partly in Kansas: Kansas City, MO-KS, Joplin, MO-KS, St. Joseph, MO-KS.
Taxes in Kansas (2026)
| Annual tax | Single, $50,000 | Single, $75,000 | Single, $120,000 | Couple, 2 kids, $120,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | $3,820 | $7,670 | $17,570 | $5,640 |
| Social Security + Medicare | $3,825 | $5,738 | $9,180 | $9,180 |
| Kansas income tax | $1,990 | $3,385 | $5,896 | $4,780 |
| Kansas payroll taxes | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Take-home pay / month | $3,364 | $4,851 | $7,279 | $8,367 |
Annual liability, standard deduction, Child Tax Credit; local income taxes are not included in this state-level table (see each metro). On $75,000, Kansas’s income and payroll taxes cost $3,385 a year more than in a state without them (federal taxes are the same: $13,408).
Childcare prices across Kansas
| Age band | Center, median county / wk (2022) | Center / yr today* | Home-based / wk (2022) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infant (under 2) | $96 | $6,077 | $98 |
| Toddler (2) | $98 | $6,204 | $83 |
| Preschool (3–4) | $98 | $6,204 | $83 |
| School-age (5–12) | $82 | $5,238 | $83 |
Center-based infant care ranges from $96 a week in Woodson County to $224 in Johnson County (2022 prices).
DOL National Database of Childcare Prices, 2022; median across 105 counties with 2022 data. *52 weeks × 1.2224 BLS CPI for day care and preschool, 2022 average to 2026-08. Look up a county.
Property taxes by county
Effective rate = Census median real estate taxes ÷ median home value (ACS 2020-2024), metro-area counties.
| County | Median value | Median tax | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sumner County | $135,100 | $2,130 | 1.58% |
| Harvey County | $180,300 | $2,715 | 1.51% |
| Shawnee County | $180,900 | $2,705 | 1.50% |
| Osage County | $156,800 | $2,343 | 1.49% |
| Riley County | $237,100 | $3,466 | 1.46% |
| Linn County | $173,600 | $2,007 | 1.16% |
| Jackson County | $207,300 | $2,363 | 1.14% |
| Johnson County | $391,200 | $4,447 | 1.14% |
| Pottawatomie County | $245,900 | $2,792 | 1.14% |
| Doniphan County | $135,200 | $1,445 | 1.07% |
Five highest and five lowest of 20 counties.
Energy and fuel
EIA: electricity 2025, natural gas 2024, gasoline week ending 2026-10-05.
Who moves to and from Kansas
Census state-to-state migration flows (2024 ACS 1-year; people 1 year and over, ± margin of error at 90%). Totals cover moves between states and DC only: 83,083 in, 82,986 out (net +97).
Frequently asked questions
Is Kansas expensive to live in?+
BEA’s Regional Price Parities put Kansas’s overall price level at 90.1 in 2024 (US = 100), the 42nd highest of 51 states and DC. Housing is 71.2 and goods 94.0.
Does Kansas have a state income tax?+
Yes. A single filer earning $75,000 owes about $3,385 in Kansas income tax under 2026 law (4.5% of pay).
What is the sales tax in Kansas?+
The state rate is 6.5% (as of 2026-10-13); groceries are exempt from the state rate. Local sales taxes can add to this.
What is the most affordable metro in Kansas?+
For a single renter earning $60,000, Wichita, KS leaves the most each month after taxes and modeled costs ($1,615), and Lawrence, KS the least ($1,335).