Garden City, KS vs Norfolk, NE: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Norfolk, NE has a modeled overall cost index 8.0% higher than Garden City, KS.

Garden City, KS · modeled 2BR rent
$1,040 / month
Norfolk, NE · modeled 2BR rent
$1,020 / 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

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Garden City, KS and Norfolk, NE 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 extra cost: $538/month in Norfolk, NE

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $156,462 in Norfolk, NE

Regional cost estimates: Garden City, KS uses Wichita, KS. Norfolk, NE uses Omaha, NE. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 8.0%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$538
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$6.5K
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.

Garden City, KS

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

Norfolk, NE

Population:26K
Cost Index:
82.7
100 = national average
Typical Home:$247K

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Garden City, KS

The Sunflower State

27K
Population
State Tax
Yes

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

Norfolk, NE

The Cornhusker State

26K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Nebraska, this city has a population of 26K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Garden City, KS vs Norfolk, NE

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
↑ 16.4%
Garden City, KS
$1,879
Norfolk, NE
$2,187
Difference
$308
more
Healthcare
↑ 18.2%
Garden City, KS
$698
Norfolk, NE
$825
Difference
$127
more
Groceries
↑ 7.8%
Garden City, KS
$1,066
Norfolk, NE
$1,149
Difference
$83.31
more
Transportation
↑ 5.5%
Garden City, KS
$1,360
Norfolk, NE
$1,435
Difference
$74.83
more
All Utilities
↓ 11.4%
Garden City, KS
$642
Norfolk, NE
$569
Difference
$72.91
less
Other
↑ 1.0%
Garden City, KS
$1,856
Norfolk, NE
$1,874
Difference
$18.25
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$790
To$700
↓ $90.00
1 Bed
From$790
To$780
↓ $10.00
2 Bed
From$1,040
To$1,020
↓ $20.00
3 Bed
From$1,430
To$1,310
↓ $120
Garden City, KSZIP-level data

1BR range: $790–$790/mo

Norfolk, NEZIP-level data

1BR range: $780–$780/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 Garden City, KS
$8,038
Monthly in Norfolk, NE
$538
Difference

Home Values

Garden City
Norfolk
$229K
Median Value
$247K
↑ +1.1%
YoY Change
↑ +5.6%
↑ +27.4%
5-Year Change
↑ +37.7%

Homes in Norfolk are 8% more expensive than Garden City

Calculate payment - Garden CityCalculate payment - Norfolk

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $918
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$76.47
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.6%
Rate difference

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

Norfolk, NE

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Nebraska State Tax
Effective: 6.2%
$9.3K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 30.9%
$46.3K
Take-Home Pay
$8,638/month
$103.7K

Additional Tax Information

Garden City, KS Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.7%
Property Tax:1.3%

Norfolk, NE Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.0%
Property Tax:1.8%

💡 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

Garden City
Norfolk
43 Good
Air Quality
45 Good
75.1%
Good Air Days
63.7%
97 High
Climate Risk
96 High
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+3.1°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.4°F
61 days
Heat Days >95°F
35 days
▲+3.1°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.4°F
61 days
Heat Days >95°F
35 days

Before moving from Garden City, KS to Norfolk, NE

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

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Norfolk, NE for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Garden 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 Garden City to Norfolk moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Norfolk, NE by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Garden City, KS vs Norfolk, NE

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

Norfolk, NE has a modeled overall cost index 8.0% higher than Garden 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 Garden City, KS, the model estimates $156,462 in Norfolk, NE. 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 Garden City, KS and Norfolk, NE?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,040/month in Garden City, KS and $1,020/month in Norfolk, NE. 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.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Kansas and Nebraska on TaxTakeHome.com

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