Median one-bedroom rent across the cities we track is $761 in Kansas versus $816 in Mississippi. Overall, Kansas runs roughly 7% cheaper on rent than Mississippi, its main day-to-day cost driver.
Median household income across tracked cities is $63,072 in Kansas and $43,238 in Mississippi — about 31% higher in Kansas. Kansas has a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax; Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax.
State Taxes
Sales Tax
6.5%
7%
+0.5 pp in Mississippi
Income Tax (top rate)
5.58%
4.00%
+1.6 pp in Kansas
Housing (median across tracked cities)
Median 1BR Rent
$761
$816
+7% in Mississippi
Median Home Value
$179,500
$108,200
+40% in Kansas
Income (median across tracked cities)
Median Household Income
$63,072
$43,238
+31% in Kansas
Climate (median across tracked cities)
Avg Annual Temperature
57.0°F
65.3°F
+8.3°F in Mississippi
Kansas vs Mississippi — FAQ
- Is it cheaper to live in Kansas or Mississippi?
- Kansas is cheaper on rent — its median one-bedroom of $761 runs about 7% below Mississippi's $816, based on the cities we track in each state.
- How much more do you need to earn to live in Kansas than in Mississippi?
- To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, based on median rent across tracked cities, you'd want to earn roughly $30,000 a year in Kansas versus $33,000 in Mississippi.
- Which has lower taxes, Kansas or Mississippi?
- Kansas has a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax. Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax.
Housing, income, and climate are medians across the 1/1 cities we track in Kansas/Mississippi — not population-weighted statewide figures. Taxes are exact state-level rates. Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year; NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010; Tax Foundation 2026.