Is it cheaper to live in Green Bay or Wichita?

Green Bay, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $920 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Wichita, KS's $940, mainly because of electricity costs.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Green Bay than in Wichita?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Green Bay versus $30,000 in Wichita.

Which has lower taxes, Green Bay or Wichita?

Green Bay is taxed under Wisconsin's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax); Wichita under Kansas's (a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax).

Green Bay vs Wichita Cost of Living 2026

Green Bay

Wisconsin

$920/mo est.

Wichita

Kansas

$940/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $920 in Green Bay, WI versus $940 in Wichita, KS. Overall, Green Bay, WI is roughly 2% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Wichita, KS, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $62,546 in Green Bay, WI and $63,072 in Wichita, KS — about 1% higher in Wichita, KS. Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax; Kansas has a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Green Bay, WI

Wichita, KS

Rent

Studio

$707

$726

+3% in Wichita, KS

1 Bedroom

$730

$761

+4% in Wichita, KS

2 Bedroom

$956

$976

+2% in Wichita, KS

3 Bedroom

$1,287

$1,199

+7% in Green Bay, WI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$191,500

$179,500

+6% in Green Bay, WI

Income

Median Household Income

$62,546

$63,072

+1% in Wichita, KS

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,940

$47,630

+5% in Green Bay, WI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.7 yr

about equal

Homeownership

55.9%

58.4%

+2.5 pp in Wichita, KS

Bachelor's+ (25+)

25.5%

30.9%

+5.4 pp in Wichita, KS

Avg Commute

18.9 min

about equal

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

501.7

1,238.7

+147% in Wichita, KS

Property Crime

1,331.2

5,284.9

+297% 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

44.3°F

57.0°F

+12.7°F in Wichita, KS

Annual Precipitation

29.5 in

32.6 in

+3.1 in in Wichita, KS

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

about equal

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

19.7

15.1

+23% in Green Bay, WI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$11.79

$25.12

+113% in Wichita, KS

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.66

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WI / KS)

6.5%

+1.5 pp in KS

Income Tax (top rate)

7.65%

5.58%

+2.1 pp in WI

Green Bay vs Wichita — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Green Bay or Wichita?: Green Bay, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $920 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Wichita, KS's $940, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Green Bay than in Wichita?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Green Bay versus $30,000 in Wichita.
Which has lower taxes, Green Bay or Wichita?: Green Bay is taxed under Wisconsin's rules (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% 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).