Living Cost Compare
Charlotte

North Carolina

$1,560/mo est.

vs
Overland Park

Kansas

$1,410/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,560 in Charlotte, NC versus $1,410 in Overland Park, KS. Overall, Overland Park, KS is roughly 10% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Charlotte, NC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $78,438 in Charlotte, NC and $103,838 in Overland Park, KS — about 24% higher in Overland Park, KS. North Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax; Kansas has a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Charlotte, NC
Overland Park, KS

Rent

Studio
$1,424
$1,270
+11% in Charlotte, NC
1 Bedroom
$1,374
$1,224
+11% in Charlotte, NC
2 Bedroom
$1,491
$1,589
+7% in Overland Park, KS
3 Bedroom
$1,663
$1,828
+10% in Overland Park, KS

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$351,500
$384,400
+9% in Overland Park, KS

Income

Median Household Income
$78,438
$103,838
+32% in Overland Park, KS
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,990
$50,820
+2% in Overland Park, KS

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.4 yr
38.6 yr
+4.2 yr in Overland Park, KS
Homeownership
51.5%
61.5%
+10.0 pp in Overland Park, KS
Bachelor's+ (25+)
47.4%
62.9%
+15.5 pp in Overland Park, KS
Avg Commute
25.0 min
19.9 min
+5.1 min in Charlotte, NC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
733.1
188.4
+74% in Charlotte, NC
Property Crime
3,718.9
1,790.5
+52% in Charlotte, NC

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
59.9°F
55.2°F
+4.7°F in Charlotte, NC
Annual Precipitation
41.6 in
40.0 in
+1.6 in in Charlotte, NC

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.85/gal
+2% in Charlotte, NC

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.20
—

Adult base one-way fare — CATS vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.7
15.7
+7% in Overland Park, KS
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$30.10
$25.12
+17% in Charlotte, NC

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Overland Park, KS
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Charlotte, NC
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in Overland Park, KS
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in Overland Park, KS
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in Overland Park, KS
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

Average prices — South vs Midwest (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NC / KS)
4.75%
6.5%
+1.8 pp in KS
Income Tax (top rate)
3.99%
5.58%
+1.6 pp in KS

Charlotte vs Overland Park — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Charlotte or Overland Park?
Overland Park, KS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,410 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Charlotte, NC's $1,560, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Charlotte than in Overland Park?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $55,000 a year in Charlotte versus $49,000 in Overland Park.
Which has lower taxes, Charlotte or Overland Park?
Charlotte is taxed under North Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax); Overland Park under Kansas's (a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).