Is it cheaper to live in Paterson or Wichita?

Wichita, KS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 34% below Paterson, NJ's $1,430, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Paterson versus $30,000 in Wichita.

Which has lower taxes, Paterson or Wichita?

Paterson is taxed under New Jersey's rules (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax); Wichita under Kansas's (a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax).

Paterson vs Wichita Cost of Living 2026

Paterson

New Jersey

$1,430/mo est.

Wichita

Kansas

$950/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,430 in Paterson, NJ versus $950 in Wichita, KS. Overall, Wichita, KS is roughly 34% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Paterson, NJ, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $53,766 in Paterson, NJ and $63,072 in Wichita, KS — about 15% higher in Wichita, KS. New Jersey has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax; Kansas has a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Paterson, NJ

Wichita, KS

Rent

Studio

$786

$726

+8% in Paterson, NJ

1 Bedroom

$1,183

$761

+36% in Paterson, NJ

2 Bedroom

$1,468

$976

+34% in Paterson, NJ

3 Bedroom

$1,729

$1,199

+31% in Paterson, NJ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$335,400

$179,500

+46% in Paterson, NJ

Income

Median Household Income

$53,766

$63,072

+17% in Wichita, KS

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$61,430

$47,630

+22% in Paterson, NJ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.3 yr

35.7 yr

+2.4 yr in Wichita, KS

Homeownership

26.2%

58.4%

+32.2 pp in Wichita, KS

Bachelor's+ (25+)

12.5%

30.9%

+18.4 pp in Wichita, KS

Avg Commute

23.1 min

18.9 min

+4.2 min in Paterson, NJ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,010.1

1,238.7

+23% in Wichita, KS

Property Crime

2,391.4

5,284.9

+121% 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

52.2°F

57.0°F

+4.8°F in Wichita, KS

Annual Precipitation

49.0 in

32.6 in

+16.4 in in Paterson, NJ

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.85/gal

+2% in Paterson, NJ

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

24.9

15.7

+37% in Paterson, NJ

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$17.68

$25.12

+42% 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 Paterson, NJ

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$3.63

+66% in Wichita, KS

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$6.77

+2% in Paterson, NJ

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$2.10

+4% in Paterson, NJ

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.62

+11% in Paterson, NJ

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NJ / KS)

6.625%

6.5%

+0.1 pp in NJ

Income Tax (top rate)

10.75%

5.58%

+5.2 pp in NJ

Paterson vs Wichita — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Paterson or Wichita?: Wichita, KS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 34% below Paterson, NJ's $1,430, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Paterson than in Wichita?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Paterson versus $30,000 in Wichita.
Which has lower taxes, Paterson or Wichita?: Paterson is taxed under New Jersey's rules (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% 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).