CostIndexUSA

Abilene, TX vs Wichita, KS Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

TX
Abilene
90.4
overall index
$1,775/mo rent
More AffordableKS
Wichita
88.9
overall index
$1,150/mo rent

Wichita is slightly cheaper than Abilene — 1.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Abilene, you would need $78,700 in Wichita. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing10.3%
Abilene
73.8
Wichita
66.2
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Abilene
93.8
Wichita
94
🚗 Transportation2.6%
Abilene
101.1
Wichita
98.5
🏥 Healthcare2.5%
Abilene
91.4
Wichita
89.1
Utilities+9.0%
Abilene
81.2
Wichita
88.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Abilene to see what you'd need to earn in Wichita to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Wichita, KS
$78,700
$1,300 less needed in Wichita

Formula: salary × (88.9 ÷ 90.4) = salary × 0.9834. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Abilene, TX

Median Home Price
$200,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,775
Housing Index
73.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
9.4×

Wichita, KS

Median Home Price
$213,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,150
Housing Index
66.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.4×

Abilene has 10.3% lower housing costs compared to Wichita.

Income & Job Market

Abilene, TX

Median Household Income
$61,300
Per Capita Income
$34,900
Unemployment Rate
3.4%
Population
124,451
Top Industries
HealthcareMilitaryEducationRetailManufacturing

Wichita, KS

Median Household Income
$67,400
Per Capita Income
$38,400
Unemployment Rate
3.5%
Population
397,532
Top Industries
AerospaceManufacturingHealthcareAgricultureEnergy

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Abilene, TX
2.9×income-to-rent ratio

65% of income left after rent (median)

Wichita, KS
4.9×income-to-rent ratio

80% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.