Living Cost Compare
Overland Park

Kansas

$1,410/mo est.

vs
Santa Ana

California

$2,570/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 $2,570 in Santa Ana, CA. Overall, Overland Park, KS is roughly 45% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Santa Ana, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $103,838 in Overland Park, KS and $109,739 in Santa Ana, CA — about 5% higher in Santa Ana, CA. Kansas has a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax; California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$1,270
$1,770
+39% in Santa Ana, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,224
$2,232
+82% in Santa Ana, CA
2 Bedroom
$1,589
$2,719
+71% in Santa Ana, CA
3 Bedroom
$1,828
$2,636
+44% in Santa Ana, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$384,400
$1,810,200
+371% in Santa Ana, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$103,838
$109,739
+6% in Santa Ana, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$50,820
$55,850
+10% in Santa Ana, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.6 yr
42.9 yr
+4.3 yr in Santa Ana, CA
Homeownership
61.5%
28.8%
+32.7 pp in Overland Park, KS
Bachelor's+ (25+)
62.9%
68.9%
+6.0 pp in Santa Ana, CA
Avg Commute
19.9 min
25.8 min
+5.9 min in Santa Ana, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
188.4
498.2
+164% in Santa Ana, CA
Property Crime
1,790.5
1,722.2
+4% in Overland Park, KS

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
65.6°F
+10.4°F in Santa Ana, CA
Annual Precipitation
40.0 in
13.6 in
+26.4 in in Overland Park, KS

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.85/gal
$5.53/gal
+44% in Santa Ana, CA

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Los Angeles.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.7
34.7
+121% in Santa Ana, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$25.12
$20.33
+19% in Overland Park, KS

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.82
+12% in Santa Ana, CA
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$2.04
+23% in Santa Ana, CA
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Overland Park, KS
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$7.36
+9% in Santa Ana, CA
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.01
+4% in Overland Park, KS
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in Santa Ana, CA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (KS / CA)
6.5%
7.25%
+0.8 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
5.58%
13.30%
+7.7 pp in CA

Overland Park vs Santa Ana — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Overland Park or Santa Ana?
Overland Park, KS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,410 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 45% below Santa Ana, CA's $2,570, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Overland Park than in Santa Ana?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $49,000 a year in Overland Park versus $89,000 in Santa Ana.
Which has lower taxes, Overland Park or Santa Ana?
Overland Park is taxed under Kansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Santa Ana under California's (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% 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).