Dodge City, KS vs Garden City, KS: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Garden City, KS has a modeled overall cost index 2.8% lower than Dodge City, KS.

Dodge City, KS · modeled 2BR rent
$980 / month
Garden City, KS · modeled 2BR rent
$1,040 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

Adjust your income and compare the budget ↓
Tap to swap

Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Dodge City, KS and Garden City, KS using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated savings: $180/month in Garden City, KS

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $147,842 in Garden City, KS

Regional cost estimates: Dodge City, KS uses Wichita, KS. Garden City, KS uses Wichita, KS. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 2.8%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$180
Savings
Annual Impact
$2.2K
Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Dodge City, KS

Population:28K
Cost Index:
78.9
100 = national average
Typical Home:$201K

Garden City, KS

Population:27K
Cost Index:
76.6
100 = national average
Typical Home:$229K

Planning the move to Garden City?

Organize packing, address changes, and moving-day tasks with a free checklist. Your progress saves in this browser. No account needed.

Plan my move with the free checklist

Dodge City, KS

The Sunflower State

28K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Kansas, this city has a population of 28K residents.

Garden City, KS

The Sunflower State

27K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Kansas, this city has a population of 27K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Dodge City, KS vs Garden City, KS

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Housing
↓ 2.8%
Dodge City, KS
$1,887
Garden City, KS
$1,834
Difference
$53.71
less
Other
↓ 2.8%
Dodge City, KS
$1,865
Garden City, KS
$1,811
Difference
$53.06
less
Transportation
↓ 2.8%
Dodge City, KS
$1,366
Garden City, KS
$1,327
Difference
$38.88
less
Groceries
↓ 1.4%
Dodge City, KS
$1,055
Garden City, KS
$1,040
Difference
$15.13
less
Healthcare
↓ 1.4%
Dodge City, KS
$691
Garden City, KS
$681
Difference
$9.91
less
All Utilities
↓ 1.4%
Dodge City, KS
$635
Garden City, KS
$626
Difference
$9.11
less

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$680
To$790
↑ $110
1 Bed
From$750
To$790
↑ $40.00
2 Bed
From$980
To$1,040
↑ $60.00
3 Bed
From$1,270
To$1,430
↑ $160
Dodge City, KSZIP-level data

1BR range: $750–$750/mo

Garden City, KSZIP-level data

1BR range: $790–$790/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500
Monthly in Dodge City, KS
$7,320
Monthly in Garden City, KS
$180
Difference

Home Values

Dodge City
Garden City
$201K
Median Value
$229K
↑ +0.3%
YoY Change
↑ +1.1%
↑ +55.5%
5-Year Change
↑ +27.4%

Homes in Garden City are 14% more expensive than Dodge City

Calculate payment - Dodge CityCalculate payment - Garden City

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
→ $0
Same taxes
Monthly Difference
$0
Same take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.0%
Rate difference

Dodge City, KS

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Kansas State Tax
Effective: 5.6%
$8.4K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 30.3%
$45.4K
Take-Home Pay
$8,714/month
$104.6K

Garden City, KS

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Kansas State Tax
Effective: 5.6%
$8.4K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 30.3%
$45.4K
Take-Home Pay
$8,714/month
$104.6K

Additional Tax Information

Dodge City, KS Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.7%
Property Tax:1.3%

Garden City, KS Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.7%
Property Tax:1.3%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Dodge City
Garden City
43 Good
Air Quality
43 Good
75.1%
Good Air Days
75.1%
97 High
Climate Risk
97 High
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+3.1°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.1°F
61 days
Heat Days >95°F
61 days
▲+3.1°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.1°F
61 days
Heat Days >95°F
61 days

Before moving from Dodge City, KS to Garden City, KS

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Garden City, KS for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Dodge City, KS. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
  3. Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Dodge City to Garden City moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Garden City, KS by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Dodge City, KS vs Garden City, KS

How do the cost estimates for Dodge City, KS and Garden City, KS compare?

Garden City, KS has a modeled overall cost index 2.8% lower than Dodge City, KS. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Dodge City, KS, the model estimates $147,842 in Garden City, KS. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Dodge City, KS and Garden City, KS?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $980/month in Dodge City, KS and $1,040/month in Garden City, KS. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

Similar cost to Garden City, KS

Other cities in a similar price range

Indianapolis, INSt. Louis, MO

Want to compare different cities?

New Comparison