Cost of Living in Kansas: Cities Where Household Expenses are Highest and Lowest in 2025
What is the cost of living in Kansas? doxo breaks down key insights about Kansas’s household expenses, with a close look into how bills differ between towns and cities across the state.
According to doxo’s The Cost of Bills Index™ (COBI), the average household in Kansas pays $1,624 in monthly expenses. doxoINSIGHTS compares the cost of the ten most common household bills across different regions. This includes Utilities, Cable & Internet, Mobile Phone, Auto Loans, Auto Insurance, Life Insurance, Health Insurance, Alarm & Security, Rent, and Mortgage.
The data sheds light on Kansas’s cost of living through other metrics as well. For example, the “percent of household income” data point shows what percentage of their household income residents spend on bills each month.
By leveraging these tools, residents can gain a clearer understanding of their household expenses and optimize their financial planning.
Kansas ranks as the 41st most expensive state in the US for household bills
According to doxo’s COBI report, Kansas is ranked as the 41st most expensive state in the U.S. for household bills.
At $19,488 per year, Kansas’s household expenses, on average, are 21% lower than the US median of $24,695.
Absolute dollar amounts don’t tell the full story, however. doxo’s “Percentage of Household Income” data provides a more proportional look at bill spending in a particular location. Kansas households spend 25% of their income on bills.
COBI helps consumers understand how much it costs to live in one area as compared to another as it relates to the most common household bills. For COBI, the number 100 represents the national median and then, states, counties and cities are assigned a number, either above or below 100, based on how they compare to the national median. The COBI for Kansas is 79.
- Median Bill Cost per Household: $1,624 per month
- Cost of Bills Index(COBI): 79
- doxoINSIGHTS State Rank: #41
- Percent of Household Income Used for Bills: 25%
- Compared to the National Median: 21% lower
Kansas Household Expenses are 21% Lower Than the National Median
The average Kansas household pays $1,624 per month in the 10 most common household bills. The least expensive of these are alarm and security bills.
On the lowest end of the spectrum, the median monthly payment for alarm and security bills in Kansas is $80, compared to the national median of $74, making it 9% higher than the national median.
Monthly mortgage bills are the most significant of the 10 most common bills for Kansas residents. The median monthly mortgage payment is $1,445, compared to the national median of $1,775, making it 18% less expensive.
Median Kansas Household Bill Spending
| Bill Category | Median Kansas Monthly Bill | National Median Monthly Bill | Kansas Percent +/- National Median ($2,126) |
| Mortgage | $1,449 | $1,775 | 18% lower |
| Rent | $1,047 | $1,453 | 28% lower |
| Auto Loan | $451 | $470 | 4% lower |
| Auto Insurance | $46 | $105 | 56% lower |
| Health Insurance | $58 | $72 | 19% lower |
| Mobile Phone | $100 | $96 | 4% higher |
| Cable & Internet | $118 | $121 | 2% lower |
| Life Insurance | $52 | $60 | 13% lower |
| Alarm & Security | $80 | $74 | 8% higher |
| Total | $1,624 | $2,065 | 21% lower |
*Household Bill Pay Expense medians shown above reflect the ten most common bills paid, including housing (rent/mortgage).
Bucyrus has the highest cost of living in Kansas for household bills
Residents of Bucyrus pay the highest household bills in the state of Kansas, at a median of $2,702 per month. The Cost of Bills Index (COBI) for Bucyrus is 131, meaning the median cost of bills in this city is 31% higher than the national median.
In proportion to household income, monthly bills in Bucyrus make up 18% of the median annual household income of $175,795.
Access detailed infographics about each city or town by clicking on the hyperlinks in the “City” column in the tables below. You can also browse doxoINSIGHTS’ regional bill comparison database to see infographics about more than 4,200 cities and towns across all 50 states in the US.
5 Most Expensive Kansas Cities for Household Bills
| Rank | City | Median Income | Monthly Bill Expenses Per Household | Cost of Bills Index (COBI) – Standard | % +/- Than the National Median | Percent of Household Income Used for Bills |
| 1 | Bucyrus | $175,795 | $2,702 | 131 | 31% higher | 18% |
| 2 | Stilwell | $141,492 | $2,656 | 129 | 29% higher | 23% |
| 3 | Fort Leavenworth | $102,422 | $2,639 | 128 | 28% higher | 31% |
| 4 | Leawood | $148,547 | $2,558 | 124 | 24% higher | 21% |
| 5 | Prairie Village | $120,206 | $2,383 | 115 | 15% higher | 24% |
*Household Bill Pay Expense medians shown above reflect the ten most common bills paid, including housing (rent/mortgage).
Norway has the lowest cost of living in Kansas for household bills
Norway is the most affordable place in Kansas, with residents paying $707 on average for household bills, accounting for 17% of annual income of $48,929. The Cost of Bills Index (COBI) for Norway is 34, meaning the median cost of bills in this city is 66% below the national median.
Aurora is the second most affordable city in Kansas, with residents paying $722 per month on average.
Also on the list of the 5 least expensive cities in Kansas are Lake City ($741), Roxbury ($741) and Beeler ($741).
5 Most Affordable Kansas Cities for Household Bills
| Rank | City | Median Income | Monthly Bill Expense Per Household | Cost of Bills Index (COBI) – Standard | % +/- Than the National Median | Percent of Household Income Used for Bills |
| 1 | Norway | $48,929 | $707 | 34 | 34% lower | 17% |
| 2 | Aurora | $81,250 | $722 | 35 | 35% lower | 11% |
| 3 | Lake City | $46,970 | $741 | 36 | 36% lower | 19% |
| 4 | Roxbury | $67,171 | $741 | 36 | 36% lower | 13% |
| 5 | Beeler | $52,634 | $741 | 36 | 36% lower | 17% |
*Household Bill Pay Expense medians shown above reflect the ten most common bills paid, including housing (rent/mortgage).
Some individuals might be considering moving from a more expensive city to a less expensive one. For those making such decisions, doxoINSIGHTS can be a valuable resource. It allows consumers to compare household expenses in Kansas with average bills in various cities and states nationwide.