Is it cheaper to live in Rutland or Wichita?

Wichita, KS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Rutland, VT's $1,120, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Rutland versus $30,000 in Wichita.

Which has lower taxes, Rutland or Wichita?

Rutland is taxed under Vermont's rules (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% 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).

Rutland vs Wichita Cost of Living 2026

Rutland

Vermont

$1,120/mo est.

Wichita

Kansas

$950/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,120 in Rutland, VT versus $950 in Wichita, KS. Overall, Wichita, KS is roughly 15% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Rutland, VT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $55,000 in Rutland, VT and $63,072 in Wichita, KS — about 13% higher in Wichita, KS. Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax; Kansas has a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Rutland, VT

Wichita, KS

Rent

Studio

$893

$726

+19% in Rutland, VT

1 Bedroom

$856

$761

+11% in Rutland, VT

2 Bedroom

$1,097

$976

+11% in Rutland, VT

3 Bedroom

$1,207

$1,199

+1% in Rutland, VT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$176,400

$179,500

+2% in Wichita, KS

Income

Median Household Income

$55,000

$63,072

+15% in Wichita, KS

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$47,630

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

48.5 yr

35.7 yr

+12.8 yr in Rutland, VT

Homeownership

52.7%

58.4%

+5.7 pp in Wichita, KS

Bachelor's+ (25+)

32.2%

30.9%

+1.3 pp in Rutland, VT

Avg Commute

14.7 min

18.9 min

+4.2 min in Wichita, KS

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

487.8

1,238.7

+154% in Wichita, KS

Property Crime

3,973.3

5,284.9

+33% 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

44.6°F

57.0°F

+12.4°F in Wichita, KS

Annual Precipitation

40.5 in

32.6 in

+7.8 in in Rutland, VT

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.85/gal

+2% in Rutland, VT

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

24.4

15.7

+36% in Rutland, VT

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$26.07

$25.12

+4% in Rutland, VT

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 Rutland, VT

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$3.63

+66% in Wichita, KS

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$6.77

+2% in Rutland, VT

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$2.10

+4% in Rutland, VT

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.62

+11% in Rutland, VT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (VT / KS)

6.5%

+0.5 pp in KS

Income Tax (top rate)

8.75%

5.58%

+3.2 pp in VT

Rutland vs Wichita — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Rutland or Wichita?: Wichita, KS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Rutland, VT's $1,120, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Rutland than in Wichita?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $34,000 a year in Rutland versus $30,000 in Wichita.
Which has lower taxes, Rutland or Wichita?: Rutland is taxed under Vermont's rules (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% 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).