Living Cost Compare
Columbus

Ohio

$1,270/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 $1,270 in Columbus, OH versus $1,410 in Overland Park, KS. Overall, Columbus, OH is roughly 10% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Overland Park, KS, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,327 in Columbus, OH and $103,838 in Overland Park, KS — about 37% higher in Overland Park, 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.

Columbus, OH
Overland Park, KS

Rent

Studio
$1,014
$1,270
+25% in Overland Park, KS
1 Bedroom
$1,059
$1,224
+16% in Overland Park, KS
2 Bedroom
$1,276
$1,589
+25% in Overland Park, KS
3 Bedroom
$1,369
$1,828
+34% in Overland Park, KS

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$234,500
$384,400
+64% in Overland Park, KS

Income

Median Household Income
$65,327
$103,838
+59% in Overland Park, KS
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,340
$50,820
+1% in Columbus, OH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.0 yr
38.6 yr
+5.6 yr in Overland Park, KS
Homeownership
44.3%
61.5%
+17.2 pp in Overland Park, KS
Bachelor's+ (25+)
38.2%
62.9%
+24.7 pp in Overland Park, KS
Avg Commute
21.8 min
19.9 min
+1.9 min in Columbus, OH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
485.2
188.4
+61% in Columbus, OH
Property Crime
3,093.9
1,790.5
+42% in Columbus, OH

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
55.2°F
+2.5°F in Overland Park, KS
Annual Precipitation
40.1 in
40.0 in
+0.1 in in Columbus, OH

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.80/gal
$3.85/gal
+1% in Overland Park, KS

Area: Ohio vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
19.2
15.7
+18% in Columbus, OH
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$22.83
$25.12
+10% in Overland Park, 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

Columbus vs Overland Park — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Columbus or Overland Park?
Columbus, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,270 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Overland Park, KS's $1,410, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Columbus than in Overland Park?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Columbus versus $49,000 in Overland Park.
Which has lower taxes, Columbus or Overland Park?
Columbus is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% 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).