Living Cost Compare
Overland Park

Kansas

$1,410/mo est.

vs
Raleigh

North Carolina

$1,510/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,410 in Overland Park, KS versus $1,510 in Raleigh, NC. Overall, Overland Park, KS is roughly 7% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Raleigh, NC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $103,838 in Overland Park, KS and $82,424 in Raleigh, NC — about 21% higher in Overland Park, KS. Kansas has a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax; North Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax.

Overland Park, KS
Raleigh, NC

Rent

Studio
$1,270
$1,301
+2% in Raleigh, NC
1 Bedroom
$1,224
$1,323
+8% in Raleigh, NC
2 Bedroom
$1,589
$1,462
+8% in Overland Park, KS
3 Bedroom
$1,828
$1,715
+6% in Overland Park, KS

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$384,400
$377,800
+2% in Overland Park, KS

Income

Median Household Income
$103,838
$82,424
+21% in Overland Park, KS
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$50,820
$51,990
+2% in Raleigh, NC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.6 yr
34.7 yr
+3.9 yr in Overland Park, KS
Homeownership
61.5%
51.2%
+10.3 pp in Overland Park, KS
Bachelor's+ (25+)
62.9%
52.9%
+10.0 pp in Overland Park, KS
Avg Commute
19.9 min
23.4 min
+3.5 min in Raleigh, NC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
188.4
491.5
+161% in Raleigh, NC
Property Crime
1,790.5
2,838.4
+59% in Raleigh, NC

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
55.2°F
60.6°F
+5.4°F in Raleigh, NC
Annual Precipitation
40.0 in
46.0 in
+6.0 in in Raleigh, NC

Gas

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

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.25

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.7
14.7
+6% in Overland Park, KS
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$25.12
$30.10
+20% in Raleigh, NC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Overland Park, KS
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.75
+5% in Raleigh, NC
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.21
+39% in Overland Park, KS
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.45
+5% in Overland Park, KS
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$1.90
+9% in Overland Park, KS
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

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

Overland Park vs Raleigh — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Overland Park or Raleigh?
Overland Park, KS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,410 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below Raleigh, NC's $1,510, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Overland Park than in Raleigh?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Overland Park versus $53,000 in Raleigh.
Which has lower taxes, Overland Park or Raleigh?
Overland Park is taxed under Kansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Raleigh under North Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% 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).