Cost of living in Wichita: rent, homes and salary
The cost of living in Wichita is 11.1% below the US average. In 2024, the BEA RPP for the Wichita, KS metro area was 88.9, compared with 100 for the US, while housing alone stood at 66.2.
- Level of prices
- 88.9US = 100, BEA 2024
- Price level for housing
- 66.2. Rent levels use a US = 100 basis.
Wichita living cost index
A regional price parity compares one place's cost for a basket of goods and services with the US average, which is set at 100. Wichita belongs to the Wichita, KS metro area, and BEA calculates prices for the entire area. Housing (rents) differs most from the US average. Its index is 66.2, placing it 33.8% below the US.
| Price level, US = 100 | Wichita, KS metro | Kansas | Metro against the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 88.9 | 90.1 | −11.1% |
| Goods | 94.0 | 94.0 | −6.0% |
| Housing (rents) | 66.2 | 71.2 | −33.8% |
| Utilities | 88.5 | 88.4 | −11.5% |
| Other services | 93.8 | 93.8 | −6.2% |
For metro areas and states, the 2024 regional price parities are published by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). Regional price parity figures from BEA
Rent prices in Wichita
Asking rent in Wichita is typically $1,159 a month, +4.4% on a year. The figure comes from ZORI (Zillow Observed Rent Index), which covers rent on homes listed now. In the US, that figure is $1,932. Census reports median gross rent of $989. This includes every renting household, not just new leases. One year of asking rent equals 21% of median household income.
| Rent | Wichita | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Typical asking rent, Zillow ZORI | $1,159 | $1,932 |
| Asking rent, 12-month change | +4.4% | |
| Median gross rent, Census ACS 2024 | $989 | $1,487 |
| One year of asking rent, as a share of the median income | 21% | 28% |
Zillow Observed Rent Index; one-year estimates from Census Bureau American Community Survey 2024.
Wichita home prices
Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI) puts a typical home in Wichita at $204,831 in September 2026. It measures the value of a home sitting in the middle of the market. The yearly change is +2.3%, while the US figure stands at $366,157. It takes 3.1 years of median household income, against 4.5 years for the US.
| Home prices | Wichita | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value, September 2026 | $204,831 | $366,157 |
| 12-month change | +2.3% | +1.2% |
| 10-year change | +83.5% | +77.4% |
| Price to income (years of median income) | 3.1 | 4.5 |
| Price to rent (years of asking rent) | 14.7 | 15.8 |
Price chart since 2000, the forecast, days on market: Wichita housing market.
The salary you need to live in Wichita
Wichita's salary figure rests on two answers: where you live and what you earn. It comes out at a level that matches what your current pay buys.
- Moving from
- Salary
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Wichita cost of living compared with other cities
| City | Level of prices | Housing | Usual rent | Typical value of a home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wichita | 88.9 | 66.2 | $1,159 | $204,831 |
| New York City | 112.6 | 148.6 | $4,089 | $825,854 |
| Los Angeles | 113.6 | 170.4 | $2,772 | $927,891 |
| Chicago | 103.6 | 112.0 | $2,311 | $334,108 |
| Houston | 98.6 | 104.5 | $1,544 | $259,465 |
| Phoenix | 103.3 | 121.2 | $1,571 | $404,067 |
| Philadelphia | 102.6 | 113.1 | $1,757 | $231,584 |
| San Antonio | 94.7 | 94.6 | $1,381 | $244,623 |
| San Diego | 111.9 | 179.3 | $3,004 | $980,490 |
Price levels come from BEA regional price parities 2024, with US = 100. Rent comes from Zillow ZORI. Home value comes from Zillow ZHVI, September 2026.
All cities ranked: cost of living comparison by city. All states: cost of living by state.