United States
Cost of living in Kansas
Kansas carries an RPP of 90.1, placing it 41st nationally at 10 percent below the US average, matching the price level of neighboring Nebraska but arriving there with a different economic base and a notably different tax structure. Wichita, the largest city, is the center of US general aviation manufacturing, with Boeing, Spirit AeroSystems, and a cluster of smaller aerospace suppliers making it one of the more economically specialized mid-size metros in the country. That industrial concentration keeps wages in skilled manufacturing above what a simple look at the price level might suggest. The income tax is progressive with two brackets: 5.20 percent up to $23,000 for single filers and 5.58 percent above that threshold. The base sales tax rate is 6.5 percent, higher than Nebraska and most surrounding states on general purchases. The most significant recent policy change is the elimination of the state sales tax on groceries as of January 1, 2025, which directly reduces the food bill for every household in the state.
Price level
90.1
US = 100
National rank
41st
of 51, dearest first
Income tax
5.58%
top rate
Sales tax
6.5%
state base rate
What your salary is worth in Kansas
Because prices here sit at 90.1 against the national 100, the same paycheck stretches differently than it would elsewhere. These figures hold buying power constant: the salary listed is what you would need in Kansas to live as you would on the reference amount in another place.
| Same lifestyle as | $60,000 | $100,000 |
|---|---|---|
| US average | $54,060 | $90,100 |
| California (dearest) | $48,835 | $81,391 |
| Arkansas (cheapest) | $62,209 | $103,682 |
Compare Kansas with anywhere in the US
To live the same in California you need
$86,004
to match $70,000 in Kansas
Price level, US = 100
The equivalent salary keeps your purchasing power constant: it is your pay scaled by the ratio of the two price levels. Regional Price Parities measure what a fixed basket of goods and services costs locally. Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024.
Kansas in context
The grocery tax elimination distinguishes Kansas from Nebraska despite their identical price levels. Families in Kansas now pay zero state sales tax on food at the supermarket, which partially offsets the 6.5 percent rate on other goods, a rate that is above what Nebraska charges and considerably above what Missouri or Wyoming charge. Wichita's housing costs are below national medians for a city of its size, and smaller cities such as Salina, Manhattan, and Hutchinson are cheaper again. Local sales tax additions on top of the 6.5 percent base can push total effective rates on non-food purchases above 9 or 10 percent in some municipalities, so actual retail costs vary by city in a way that matters for budgeting. The income tax rates at 5.20 and 5.58 percent are not the lowest in this price band nationally, but the grocery exemption provides meaningful relief for larger households where food spending is a significant monthly line item.
The closest state above Kansas on price is Kentucky at 90.2. Just below sits Nebraska at 90.1.
Frequently asked questions
Is Kansas expensive to live in?
Kansas sits at a price level of 90.1 where the US average is 100, so a typical basket of goods and services costs about 10% less than the national norm. That ranks it 41st most expensive of 51 states. Housing is usually the largest single driver of the gap.
What salary do you need in Kansas?
To match the buying power of $60,000 earned at the US average, you would need about $54,060 in Kansas. The figure scales with the price level: a place dearer than average needs more, a cheaper one needs less. Your own number also depends on housing choice and household size.
How much tax does Kansas charge?
Kansas applies a top state income-tax rate of 5.58% and a base state sales tax of 6.5%. Two-bracket progressive for 2025: 5.20% up to $23,000 (single), 5.58% above. Single standard deduction $3,605. State sales tax 6.5% (state rate on groceries reduced to 0% as of Jan 1, 2025). Local jurisdictions can add their own sales tax on top.
Cost of living in other states
Price levels are Regional Price Parities from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities (SARPP, MARPP), 2024 (public domain). State tax figures are the latest published rates from state revenue departments. All figures are estimates for general comparison and not financial advice; your own costs depend on housing, household size and lifestyle.