CostIndexUSA

Salt Lake City, UT vs Wichita, KS Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

UT
Salt Lake City
100.9
overall index
$1,575/mo rent
More AffordableKS
Wichita
88.9
overall index
$1,150/mo rent

Wichita is moderately cheaper than Salt Lake City — 11.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Salt Lake City, you would need $70,500 in Wichita. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing46.3%
Salt Lake City
123.3
Wichita
66.2
🛒 Groceries2.5%
Salt Lake City
96.4
Wichita
94
🚗 Transportation5.2%
Salt Lake City
103.9
Wichita
98.5
🏥 Healthcare5.2%
Salt Lake City
94
Wichita
89.1
Utilities+12.0%
Salt Lake City
79
Wichita
88.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Wichita, KS
$70,500
$9,500 less needed in Wichita

Formula: salary × (88.9 ÷ 100.9) = salary × 0.8811. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Salt Lake City, UT

Median Home Price
$554,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,575
Housing Index
123.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
29.3×

Wichita, KS

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

Salt Lake City has 46.3% lower housing costs compared to Wichita.

Income & Job Market

Salt Lake City, UT

Median Household Income
$94,400
Per Capita Income
$53,800
Unemployment Rate
3.4%
Population
200,567
Top Industries
TechnologyHealthcareFinanceTourismGovernment

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).

Salt Lake City, UT
5.0×income-to-rent ratio

80% 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.