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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
0 of 4 cities keep rent under 30% of $40K. The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $40K salary, 0 cities (0%) meet this threshold. That's a tough market.
0 of 4 cities keep rent under 30% of $40K. The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $40K salary, 0 cities (0%) meet this threshold. That's a tough market.
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $40K salary, 0 cities (0%) meet this threshold. That's a tough market. 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 (we double-checked this one).
Dive into Wichita's numbers: cost index 87 (25 points below national average), rent $1,125/month, income $63,072, and a home price of $198,074. The city's cost profile isn't flat — Housing is the cheapest category at 68, while Healthcare runs 90. With 396,119 residents, it balances mid-size city convenience with manageable costs.
There's more to the story, though. 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. Wait until you see how this stacks up against the state average (not adjusted for inflation, but still telling).
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
0 of 4 cities keep rent under 30% of $40K
0 of 4 cities keep rent under 30% of $40K gross income
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
396,119 residents · Kansas
The #1 spot goes to Wichita, and the breakdown explains why. Renters here pay $1,125/month — saving renters $9,240 per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Housing is the standout at index 68, making it one of the cheapest in the country for that category. The weak spot? Healthcare at 90. At a 21% rent-to-income ratio, there's genuine breathing room in the average household budget (that's pre-tax, of course).
125,475 residents · Kansas
Dive into Topeka's numbers: cost index 87 (25 points below national average), rent $1,169/month, income $55,902, and a home price of $186,856. And for many people, fairly typical for a city this size. The city's cost profile isn't flat — Housing is the cheapest category at 68, while Healthcare runs 90. With 125,475 residents, it balances mid-size city convenience with manageable costs.
197,089 residents · Kansas
Why Overland Park ranks #3: the numbers tell a clear story. It's fine. Not great, not bad. At 108 on the cost index, residents save roughly 4% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,666/month while the median household pulls in $103,838/year. The Utilities category is particularly strong at 100, though Housing (120) lags behind. Home prices average $470,417 — $3,047 above the national median.
147,461 residents · Kansas
Dive into Olathe's numbers: cost index 108 (4 points below national average), rent $1,792/month, income $112,232, and a home price of $425,657. The city's cost profile isn't flat — Utilities is the cheapest category at 100, while Housing runs 120. With 147,461 residents, it balances mid-size city convenience with manageable costs.
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $40K salary, 0 cities (0%) meet this threshold. That's a tough market.
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% | $30,092 |
2Topeka | 5.7% | 8.7% | 1.28% | $30,092 |
3Overland Park | 5.7% | 8.7% | 1.28% | $30,092 |
4Olathe | 5.7% | 8.7% | 1.28% | $30,092 |
Wichita ranks #1 in Kansas for this analysis with a cost index of 87 and median income of $63,072.
Yes. On a $40K salary in Wichita, rent would consume about 34% of your gross monthly income. Financial experts recommend keeping rent under 30%. It's tight — consider a roommate or nearby suburb.
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 $40K in Wichita is approximately $30,092/year ($2,508/month). After median rent of $1,125/month, you'd have roughly $16,592/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.