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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Data: HUD rent estimates, BLS cost of living

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You'd spend $87.21/month more in St. Louis, MO

$150.0K in your current city equals $151.0K in St. Louis, MO

Rent data from HUD ZIP-level estimates · COL index from Wichita, KS area
Overall Cost
↑ 1.2%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$87.21
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$1.0K
Per year

Based on monthly living costs (rent, groceries, utilities, transport, healthcare). Home purchase prices shown separately below.

Wichita, KS

Population:396K
Cost Index:
100
100 = national average
Median Home:$202K

St. Louis, MO

Population:302K
Cost Index:
101
(1% above avg)
Median Home:$145K

Wichita, KS

The Sunflower State

396K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Kansas, this city has a population of 396K residents.

St. Louis, MO

The Show-Me State

302K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Missouri, this city has a population of 302K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Annual spending: Wichita, KS vs St. Louis, MO

Groceries
↑ 6.7%
Wichita, KS
$889
St. Louis, MO
$949
Difference
$59.96
more
Healthcare
↓ 9.6%
Wichita, KS
$582
St. Louis, MO
$527
Difference
$55.76
less
Other
↓ 2.0%
Wichita, KS
$1,641
St. Louis, MO
$1,607
Difference
$33.48
less
Housing
↑ 1.4%
Wichita, KS
$1,845
St. Louis, MO
$1,871
Difference
$25.99
more
Transportation
↑ 1.1%
Wichita, KS
$1,202
St. Louis, MO
$1,216
Difference
$13.66
more
All Utilities
→ 0.0%
Wichita, KS
$535
St. Louis, MO
$535
Difference
$0
same

🏛️ Local Income Taxes

St. Louis, MO: St. Louis Earnings Tax$1,500/yr (1.0%)

Wichita, KS has no local income tax.

Local taxes are in addition to state income tax. Not all cities levy local income taxes.

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$790
To$910
↑ $120
1 Bed
From$855
To$950
↑ $95.00
2 Bed
From$1,110
To$1,160
↑ $50.00
3 Bed
From$1,455
To$1,490
↑ $35.00
Wichita, KSZIP-level data

1BR range: $680–$1,280/mo

St. Louis, MOZIP-level data

1BR range: $800–$1,480/mo

💡 Note: Rent prices are based on HUD Fair Market Rent data and represent median costs. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$6,695
Monthly in Wichita, KS
$6,705
Monthly in St. Louis, MO
$10.36
Difference

Home Values

Wichita
St. Louis
$202K
Median Value
$145K
↑ +0.2%
YoY Change
↓ -0.8%
↑ +40.5%
5-Year Change
↑ +10.9%
$86K - $424K
Price Range
$38K - $302K

Homes in St. Louis are 28% less expensive than Wichita

Calculate payment - WichitaCalculate payment - St. Louis

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

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↑ $489
Per year
Monthly Difference
$40.75
More take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.3%
Rate difference

Wichita, 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

St. Louis, MO

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Missouri State Tax
Effective: 5.3%
$7.9K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 30.0%
$44.9K
Take-Home Pay
$8,755/month
$105.1K

Additional Tax Information

Wichita, KS Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.7%
Property Tax:1.3%

St. Louis, MO Tax Rates

Sales Tax:8.2%
Property Tax:1.0%

💡 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

Wichita
St. Louis
43 Good
Air Quality
54 Moderate
75.1%
Good Air Days
38%
97 High
Climate Risk
99 High
🌊🌡🌪
Top Hazards
🌊🌡🫨
▲+3.1°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.0°F
61 days
Heat Days >95°F
39 days
▲+3.1°F
2050 Outlook
▲+3.0°F
61 days
Heat Days >95°F
39 days

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

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