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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 $75K 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 $75K 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.
The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $75K 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.
4 of 4 cities keep rent under 30% of $75K. The 30% rule — spending no more than 30% of gross income on housing — is the most widely cited benchmark for affordability. On a $75K salary, 4 cities (100%) meet this threshold. You've got plenty of choices.
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.
What you won't find on most comparison sites: Across Kansas, the average cost of living index is 98 — 14 points below the national median. Known for plains affordability with steady incomes, the state offers 4 tracked cities with median rents averaging $1,438/month. That's $457 less than the national average of $1,895. The data here speaks for itself.
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 $75K
4 of 4 cities keep rent under 30% of $75K 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 ratio is hard to beat anywhere else.
125,475 residents · Kansas
A closer look at Topeka: the cost index of 87 breaks down to a Housing index of 68 (strongest category) and a Healthcare index of 90 (weakest). Median rent is $1,169/month — 38% below the national median — while household income sits at $55,902, meaning locals spend about 25% of income on rent. That's within the recommended 30% threshold, though it doesn't leave much room.
197,089 residents · Kansas
Dive into Overland Park's numbers: cost index 108 (4 points below national average), rent $1,666/month, income $103,838, and a home price of $470,417. The city's cost profile isn't flat — Utilities is the cheapest category at 100, while Housing runs 120. With 197,089 residents, it balances mid-size city convenience with manageable costs.
147,461 residents · Kansas
The #4 spot goes to Olathe, and the breakdown explains why. Renters here pay $1,792/month — saving renters $1,236 per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Utilities is the standout at index 100, keeping costs manageable. The weak spot? Housing at 120. At a 19% rent-to-income ratio, there's genuine breathing room in the average household budget.
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Wichita | 5.7% | 8.7% | 1.28% | $53,435 |
2Topeka | 5.7% | 8.7% | 1.28% | $53,435 |
3Overland Park | 5.7% | 8.7% | 1.28% | $53,435 |
4Olathe | 5.7% | 8.7% | 1.28% | $53,435 |
Wichita ranks #1 in Kansas for this analysis with a cost index of 87 and median income of $63,072.
Yes. On a $75K salary in Wichita, rent would consume about 18% 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 $75K in Wichita is approximately $53,435/year ($4,453/month). After median rent of $1,125/month, you'd have roughly $39,935/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.