CostIndexUSA

El Paso, TX vs Wichita, KS Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

TX
El Paso
89.9
overall index
$1,500/mo rent
More AffordableKS
Wichita
88.9
overall index
$1,150/mo rent

Wichita is slightly cheaper than El Paso — 1.1% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in El Paso, you would need $79,100 in Wichita. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing7.0%
El Paso
71.2
Wichita
66.2
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
El Paso
93.8
Wichita
94
🚗 Transportation2.6%
El Paso
101.1
Wichita
98.5
🏥 Healthcare2.5%
El Paso
91.4
Wichita
89.1
Utilities+7.1%
El Paso
82.6
Wichita
88.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Wichita, KS
$79,100
$900 less needed in Wichita

Formula: salary × (88.9 ÷ 89.9) = salary × 0.9889. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

El Paso, TX

Median Home Price
$226,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,500
Housing Index
71.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
12.6×

Wichita, KS

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

El Paso has 7.0% lower housing costs compared to Wichita.

Income & Job Market

El Paso, TX

Median Household Income
$59,000
Per Capita Income
$33,600
Unemployment Rate
4.2%
Population
678,815
Top Industries
GovernmentMilitaryHealthcareRetailManufacturing

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).

El Paso, TX
3.3×income-to-rent ratio

69% 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.