Is it cheaper to live in Nashua or Wichita?

Wichita, KS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 43% below Nashua, NH's $1,660, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $55,000 a year in Nashua versus $30,000 in Wichita.

Which has lower taxes, Nashua or Wichita?

Nashua is taxed under New Hampshire's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Wichita under Kansas's (a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax).

Nashua vs Wichita Cost of Living 2026

Nashua

New Hampshire

$1,660/mo est.

Wichita

Kansas

$950/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,660 in Nashua, NH versus $950 in Wichita, KS. Overall, Wichita, KS is roughly 43% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Nashua, NH, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $92,457 in Nashua, NH and $63,072 in Wichita, KS — about 32% higher in Nashua, NH. New Hampshire has no state income tax and no state sales tax; Kansas has a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Nashua, NH

Wichita, KS

Rent

Studio

$1,127

$726

+36% in Nashua, NH

1 Bedroom

$1,383

$761

+45% in Nashua, NH

2 Bedroom

$1,699

$976

+43% in Nashua, NH

3 Bedroom

$1,951

$1,199

+39% in Nashua, NH

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$373,100

$179,500

+52% in Nashua, NH

Income

Median Household Income

$92,457

$63,072

+32% in Nashua, NH

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$56,530

$47,630

+16% in Nashua, NH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

39.7 yr

35.7 yr

+4.0 yr in Nashua, NH

Homeownership

56.4%

58.4%

+2.0 pp in Wichita, KS

Bachelor's+ (25+)

40.5%

30.9%

+9.6 pp in Nashua, NH

Avg Commute

25.3 min

18.9 min

+6.4 min in Nashua, NH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

164.9

1,238.7

+651% in Wichita, KS

Property Crime

1,269

5,284.9

+316% 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

49.2°F

57.0°F

+7.8°F in Wichita, KS

Annual Precipitation

44.6 in

32.6 in

+11.9 in in Nashua, NH

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.85/gal

+2% in Nashua, NH

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

27.0

15.7

+42% in Nashua, NH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$21.67

$25.12

+16% in Wichita, KS

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$1.66

+14% in Nashua, NH

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$3.63

+66% in Wichita, KS

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$6.77

+2% in Nashua, NH

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$2.10

+4% in Nashua, NH

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.62

+11% in Nashua, NH

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NH / KS)

None

6.5%

+6.5 pp in KS

Income Tax (top rate)

None

5.58%

+5.6 pp in KS

Nashua vs Wichita — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Nashua or Wichita?: Wichita, KS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 43% below Nashua, NH's $1,660, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Nashua than in Wichita?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $55,000 a year in Nashua versus $30,000 in Wichita.
Which has lower taxes, Nashua or Wichita?: Nashua is taxed under New Hampshire's rules (no state income tax and no 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).