Living Cost Compare
Cleveland

Ohio

$940/mo est.

vs
Wichita

Kansas

$940/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $940 in Cleveland, OH versus $940 in Wichita, KS. The two are close overall, within a few percent of each other.

Median household income is $39,187 in Cleveland, OH and $63,072 in Wichita, KS — about 38% higher in Wichita, KS. Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax; Kansas has a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$678
$726
+7% in Wichita, KS
1 Bedroom
$732
$761
+4% in Wichita, KS
2 Bedroom
$903
$976
+8% in Wichita, KS
3 Bedroom
$1,081
$1,199
+11% in Wichita, KS

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$94,100
$179,500
+91% in Wichita, KS

Income

Median Household Income
$39,187
$63,072
+61% in Wichita, KS
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$50,140
$47,630
+5% in Cleveland, OH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.3 yr
35.7 yr
+0.6 yr in Cleveland, OH
Homeownership
41.2%
58.4%
+17.2 pp in Wichita, KS
Bachelor's+ (25+)
21.3%
30.9%
+9.6 pp in Wichita, KS
Avg Commute
22.9 min
18.9 min
+4.0 min in Cleveland, OH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,582
1,238.7
+22% in Cleveland, OH
Property Crime
4,531.3
5,284.9
+17% in Wichita, KS

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
52.7°F
57.0°F
+4.3°F in Wichita, KS
Annual Precipitation
36.4 in
32.6 in
+3.7 in in Cleveland, OH

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.18/gal
$3.94/gal
+6% in Cleveland, OH

Area: Ohio vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.5
15.1
+22% in Cleveland, OH
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.83
$25.12
+10% in Wichita, KS

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.66
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$3.63
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.77
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.10
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OH / KS)
5.75%
6.5%
+0.8 pp in KS
Income Tax (top rate)
2.75%
5.58%
+2.8 pp in KS

Cleveland vs Wichita — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cleveland or Wichita?
They're close. Cleveland, OH runs about $940 a month and Wichita, KS about $940 (1BR rent + utilities) — within a few percent of each other.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cleveland than in Wichita?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cleveland versus $30,000 in Wichita.
Which has lower taxes, Cleveland or Wichita?
Cleveland is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax); Wichita 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).