Living Cost Compare
Philadelphia

Pennsylvania

$1,410/mo est.

vs
Wichita

Kansas

$940/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,410 in Philadelphia, PA versus $940 in Wichita, KS. Overall, Wichita, KS is roughly 33% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Philadelphia, PA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $60,698 in Philadelphia, PA and $63,072 in Wichita, KS — about 4% higher in Wichita, KS. Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax; Kansas has a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Philadelphia, PA
Wichita, KS

Rent

Studio
$1,126
$726
+36% in Philadelphia, PA
1 Bedroom
$1,189
$761
+36% in Philadelphia, PA
2 Bedroom
$1,394
$976
+30% in Philadelphia, PA
3 Bedroom
$1,406
$1,199
+15% in Philadelphia, PA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$232,400
$179,500
+23% in Philadelphia, PA

Income

Median Household Income
$60,698
$63,072
+4% in Wichita, KS
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,310
$47,630
+12% in Philadelphia, PA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.1 yr
35.7 yr
+0.6 yr in Wichita, KS
Homeownership
52.3%
58.4%
+6.1 pp in Wichita, KS
Bachelor's+ (25+)
34.6%
30.9%
+3.7 pp in Philadelphia, PA
Avg Commute
32.0 min
18.9 min
+13.1 min in Philadelphia, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
917.1
1,238.7
+35% in Wichita, KS
Property Crime
4,615.3
5,284.9
+15% 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
57.1°F
57.0°F
+0.1°F in Philadelphia, PA
Annual Precipitation
48.5 in
32.6 in
+15.9 in in Philadelphia, PA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.94/gal
+2% in Wichita, KS

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.50
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
21.6
15.1
+30% in Philadelphia, PA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$19.17
$25.12
+31% in Wichita, KS

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.66
+14% in Philadelphia, PA
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$3.63
+66% in Wichita, KS
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.77
+2% in Philadelphia, PA
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$2.10
+4% in Philadelphia, PA
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.62
+11% in Philadelphia, PA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (PA / KS)
6%
6.5%
+0.5 pp in KS
Income Tax (top rate)
3.07%
5.58%
+2.5 pp in KS

Philadelphia vs Wichita — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Philadelphia or Wichita?
Wichita, KS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 33% below Philadelphia, PA's $1,410, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Philadelphia than in Wichita?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $48,000 a year in Philadelphia versus $30,000 in Wichita.
Which has lower taxes, Philadelphia or Wichita?
Philadelphia is taxed under Pennsylvania's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% 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).