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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $150K salary, 4 cities (100%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices. We ran the numbers on 4 cities in Kansas using 2026 census, rent, and salary data. Wichita…
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $150K salary, 4 cities (100%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices. We ran the numbers on 4 cities in Kansas using 2026 census, rent, and salary data. Wichita comes out on top — here's the full ranking and analysis.
The difference between comfortable and stretched? Often just one metric: 4 of 4 cities keep rent under 30% of $150K. The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $150K salary, 4 cities (100%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices. If you're a planner, this number should anchor your spreadsheet.
At $1,125/month for rent and a cost index of 87, Wichita is pretty much what you'd expect from a mid-size city in this part of the country. And more often than not, income is $63,072. That's about what we'd expect given the state context.
On a $150K salary, the key number is $3,750/month — that's 30% of gross, the standard affordability line. Wichita ($1,125/mo, 9%), Topeka ($1,169/mo, 9%), Overland Park ($1,666/mo, 13%) all clear that bar. After federal tax, FICA (7.65%), and state income tax, estimated take-home ranges from $100,933 to $100,933/year across these top picks.
Now apply that to an actual budget: State context matters: Kansas's 4 cities average a 98 cost index with $1,438/month median rent and $83,761 household income. Plains affordability with steady incomes. What the trend analysis reveals: one of these cities is moving in the wrong direction.
Bottom line: Wichita leads this ranking for clear, data-backed reasons — but the "best" city depends on your priorities. Click into any city below to see the full detail page with 12-month trend charts, profession-specific salary data, and a breakdown of all five cost categories. If you're seriously considering a move, use our salary calculator to model your specific income against these numbers.
#1 Ranked: Wichita — cost index 87, rent $1,125/mo, income $63,072
4 of 4 cities keep rent under 30% of $150K
4 of 4 cities keep rent under 30% of $150K gross income
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
396,119 residents · Kansas
Here's Wichita by the numbers — and there's a lot to like (and a little to watch). Cost index: 87. Rent: $1,125/month. Income: $63,072/year. Home price: $198,074. Population: 396,119. The strongest category is Housing at 68; the most expensive is Healthcare at 90. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are saving renters $9,240 per year vs. the national median. That's the kind of stat homebuyers should print out for their mortgage meetings (more on that below).
125,475 residents · Kansas
Topeka earns its position at #2 through a combination that's hard to replicate. And in practical terms, the 87 cost index sits 25 points below the national baseline, and the $55,902 — we had to double-check this one — median income means purchasing power here is amplified by the low cost base. Homes list at $186,856 — $280,514 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. On the cost side, Housing leads the way at 68, while Healthcare trails at 90.
197,089 residents · Kansas
Here's the thing: What does daily life actually cost in Overland Park? Start with the 19% rent-to-income ratio — that's the kind of margin that lets people build savings. On the category level, Utilities (index 100) is where the real savings show up, while Housing (index 120) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $103,838 — whether that matters depends on your situation — and homes at $470,417 round out a profile that ranks #3 for clear reasons.
147,461 residents · Kansas
Here's Olathe by the numbers — and there's a lot to like (and a little to watch). Cost index: 108. Rent: $1,792/month. Income: $112,232/year. Home price: $425,657. Population: 147,461. The strongest category is Utilities at 100; the most expensive is Housing at 120. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are saving renters $1,236 per year vs. the national median. That level of affordability is getting rarer every year.
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $150K salary, 4 cities (100%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices.
Rent in #1-ranked Wichita has increased from $1,085 to $1,125/mo over the past 12 months — a 4% increase. Rising costs may erode its top ranking over time.
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Wichita | 5.7% | 8.7% | 1.28% | $100,933 |
2Topeka | 5.7% | 8.7% | 1.28% | $100,933 |
3Overland Park | 5.7% | 8.7% | 1.28% | $100,933 |
4Olathe | 5.7% | 8.7% | 1.28% | $100,933 |
Wichita ranks #1 in Kansas for this analysis with a cost index of 87 and median income of $63,072.
Yes. On a $150K salary in Wichita, rent would consume about 9% of your gross monthly income. Financial experts recommend keeping rent under 30%. You're well within that guideline.
Our cost of living index uses real Zillow rent data as the foundation, indexed to 100 (national median). Sub-categories (housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare) are derived from the overall index with regional adjustments. Data is updated monthly.
Wichita (ranked #1) has a cost index of 87 and rent of $1,125/mo, while Olathe (ranked #4) has a cost index of 108 and rent of $1,792/mo — a 21-point difference in cost of living.
City data is refreshed monthly from Census Bureau population estimates, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary data, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Last updated: 2026.
The median 1-bedroom rent in Wichita is $1,125/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $770 below the national median of $1,895/month.
After federal taxes, FICA (7.65%), and 5.7% state income tax, estimated take-home on $150K in Wichita is approximately $100,933/year ($8,411/month). After median rent of $1,125/month, you'd have roughly $87,433/year for all other expenses.
The median home price in Wichita is $198,074, which is 3.1× the local median income. That's within the standard 3.5× affordability rule for most local earners. The national median home price is $467,370.
Kansas has a 5.7% state income tax rate. Combined state and local sales tax averages 8.7%, and the effective property tax rate is 1.28%.
This ranking was generated using data current as of early 2026. Population and income data comes from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5-year estimates). Rent and home price data is from Zillow's monthly releases. Tax rates are from the Tax Foundation's 2025 edition. Rankings are refreshed monthly.