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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Olathe might not be the first city that comes to mind when you think of affordability in Kansas, but the numbers don't lie. With a median income of $112,232 — 40% above the national median — paired with a cost index of just 108, it delivers purchasing power that most cities can't match. We analyzed …
Olathe might not be the first city that comes to mind when you think of affordability in Kansas, but the numbers don't lie. With a median income of $112,232 — 40% above the national median — paired with a cost index of just 108, it delivers purchasing power that most cities can't match. We analyzed 4 cities using 2026 data from the Census Bureau, Zillow, and BLS to assemble this ranking.
At $1,792/month for rent and a cost index of 108, Olathe is pretty much what you'd expect from a mid-size city in this part of the country. Take it or leave it — the data is what it is. Income is $112,232. It's fine. Not great, not bad.
It checks most boxes — but the housing costs are the asterisk. And roughly speaking, in Olathe, the housing index sits at 120 — above average and worth factoring in.
There's a catch worth understanding. Olathe: high income, low cost — a rare combo. Olathe earns above the national median ($112,232 vs $80,367) while keeping costs below average (index 108 vs 112). That combination is exceptionally rare — only 36 of 288 cities share it. Run the numbers annually, and it's like getting a bonus you didn't negotiate.
Bottom line: Olathe leads this ranking for clear, data-backed reasons — but the "best" city depends on your priorities. That's about what we'd expect given the state context. 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: Olathe — cost index 108, rent $1,792/mo, income $112,232
Olathe: high income, low cost — a rare combo
4 of 4 cities come in below the national cost-of-living average of 112
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
147,461 residents · Kansas
Real talk: Olathe is one of the cheaper options here. Rent is $1,792/month, which is lower than most cities in this ranking. The cost index is 108. Income sits at $112,232. Take it or leave it — the data is what it is.
197,089 residents · Kansas
The way we see it, Overland Park earns its position at #2 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 108 cost index sits 4 points below the national baseline, and the $103,838 median income means purchasing power here is genuinely above average. Homes list at $470,417 — $3,047 above the national median, reflecting the local market dynamics. On the cost side, Utilities leads the way at 100, while Housing trails at 120. A real contender.
396,119 residents · Kansas
Real talk: 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. Solidly above average.
125,475 residents · Kansas
Here's Topeka by the numbers — and there's a lot to like (and a little to watch). Cost index: 87. Rent: $1,169/month. Income: $55,902/year. Home price: $186,856. Population: 125,475. 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 $8,712 per year vs. the national median. If you plug these numbers into any cost calculator, they hold up.
Olathe earns above the national median ($112,232 vs $80,367) while keeping costs below average (index 108 vs 112). That combination is exceptionally rare — only 36 of 288 cities share it.
Rent in #1-ranked Olathe has increased from $1,747 to $1,792/mo over the past 12 months — a 3% increase. Rising costs may erode its top ranking over time.
Value ratio = median household income ÷ cost of living index. A higher ratio means each dollar of income buys more locally. This captures purchasing power better than looking at income or cost alone. All data is sourced from federal agencies and verified research institutions. Cost of living indices are normalized to 100 (national median) using Zillow rent as the primary signal, with sub-category adjustments derived from regional BLS price data. Rankings are updated monthly as new data is released.
Olathe ranks #1 in Kansas for this analysis with a cost index of 108 and median income of $112,232.
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.
Olathe (ranked #1) has a cost index of 108 and rent of $1,792/mo, while Topeka (ranked #4) has a cost index of 87 and rent of $1,169/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 Olathe is $1,792/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $103 below the national median of $1,895/month.
The median home price in Olathe is $425,657, which is 3.8× the local median income. It's on the edge of affordability for median-income households. 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.