Stevens Point, WI vs Garden City, KS: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Garden City, KS has a modeled overall cost index 14.2% lower than Stevens Point, WI.

Stevens Point, WI · modeled 2BR rent
$1,030 / 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 Stevens Point, WI 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: $1,026/month in Garden City, KS

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $137,687 in Garden City, KS

Regional cost estimates: Stevens Point, WI uses Madison, WI. Garden City, KS uses Wichita, KS. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↓ 14.2%
Less expensive
Monthly Impact
$1,026
Savings
Annual Impact
$12.3K
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.

Stevens Point, WI

Population:26K
Cost Index:
89.3
100 = national average
Typical Home:$247K

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

Stevens Point, WI

The Badger State

26K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Wisconsin, this city has a population of 26K 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: Stevens Point, WI 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
↓ 29.8%
Stevens Point, WI
$2,310
Garden City, KS
$1,622
Difference
$689
less
Transportation
↓ 10.5%
Stevens Point, WI
$1,311
Garden City, KS
$1,174
Difference
$137
less
Healthcare
↓ 17.0%
Stevens Point, WI
$726
Garden City, KS
$602
Difference
$124
less
Other
↓ 4.0%
Stevens Point, WI
$1,669
Garden City, KS
$1,602
Difference
$67.19
less
Groceries
↓ 5.1%
Stevens Point, WI
$969
Garden City, KS
$920
Difference
$49.42
less
All Utilities
↑ 7.9%
Stevens Point, WI
$514
Garden City, KS
$554
Difference
$40.42
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$710
To$790
↑ $80.00
1 Bed
From$790
To$790
→ $0
2 Bed
From$1,030
To$1,040
↑ $10.00
3 Bed
From$1,230
To$1,430
↑ $200
Stevens Point, WIZIP-level data

1BR range: $790–$790/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 Stevens Point, WI
$6,474
Monthly in Garden City, KS
$1,026
Difference

Home Values

Stevens Point
Garden City
$247K
Median Value
$229K
↑ +6.7%
YoY Change
↑ +1.1%
↑ +38%
5-Year Change
↑ +27.4%

Homes in Garden City are 7% less expensive than Stevens Point

Calculate payment - Stevens PointCalculate payment - Garden City

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $432
Per year
Monthly Difference
$35.99
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.3%
Rate difference

Stevens Point, WI

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Wisconsin State Tax
Effective: 5.9%
$8.8K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 30.6%
$45.9K
Take-Home Pay
$8,678/month
$104.1K

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

Stevens Point, WI Tax Rates

Sales Tax:5.6%
Property Tax:1.8%

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

Stevens Point
Garden City
42 Good
Air Quality
43 Good
72.1%
Good Air Days
75.1%
94 Moderate
Climate Risk
97 High
🌊🌪💨
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🌪
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.1°F
10 days
Heat Days >95°F
61 days
▲+3.4°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.1°F
10 days
Heat Days >95°F
61 days

Before moving from Stevens Point, WI 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 Stevens Point, WI. 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 Stevens Point 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: Stevens Point, WI vs Garden City, KS

How do the cost estimates for Stevens Point, WI and Garden City, KS compare?

Garden City, KS has a modeled overall cost index 14.2% lower than Stevens Point, WI. 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 Stevens Point, WI, the model estimates $137,687 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 Stevens Point, WI and Garden City, KS?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,030/month in Stevens Point, WI 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.

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

Where your money goes further

Cities cheaper than Stevens Point, WI on a $150.0K salary

1.St. Louis, MO
Save $152/mo
2.Indianapolis, IN
Save $122/mo

Similar cost to Garden City, KS

Other cities in a similar price range

Indianapolis, INColumbus, OHKansas City, MO

Want to compare different cities?

New Comparison