Is it cheaper to live in Topeka or Wilmington?

Topeka, KS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 25% below Wilmington, DE's $1,250, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Topeka than in Wilmington?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $30,000 a year in Topeka versus $41,000 in Wilmington.

Which has lower taxes, Topeka or Wilmington?

Topeka is taxed under Kansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Wilmington under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax).

Topeka vs Wilmington Cost of Living 2026

Topeka

Kansas

$940/mo est.

Wilmington

Delaware

$1,250/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $940 in Topeka, KS versus $1,250 in Wilmington, DE. Overall, Topeka, KS is roughly 25% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Wilmington, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $55,902 in Topeka, KS and $55,269 in Wilmington, DE — about 1% higher in Topeka, KS. Kansas has a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Topeka, KS

Wilmington, DE

Rent

Studio

$702

$1,103

+57% in Wilmington, DE

1 Bedroom

$758

$1,024

+35% in Wilmington, DE

2 Bedroom

$977

$1,213

+24% in Wilmington, DE

3 Bedroom

$1,177

$1,394

+18% in Wilmington, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$130,600

$224,500

+72% in Wilmington, DE

Income

Median Household Income

$55,902

$55,269

+1% in Topeka, KS

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,540

$54,310

+10% in Wilmington, DE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.2 yr

37.0 yr

+1.2 yr in Topeka, KS

Homeownership

59.2%

46.0%

+13.2 pp in Topeka, KS

Bachelor's+ (25+)

29.1%

33.1%

+4.0 pp in Wilmington, DE

Avg Commute

16.7 min

23.0 min

+6.3 min in Wilmington, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

856.5

1,138.2

+33% in Wilmington, DE

Property Crime

3,660.2

3,182.4

+13% in Topeka, KS

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

55.1°F

54.9°F

+0.2°F in Topeka, KS

Annual Precipitation

36.5 in

43.1 in

+6.6 in in Wilmington, DE

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$3.94/gal

+2% in Wilmington, DE

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.7

19.3

+23% in Wilmington, DE

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$25.12

$29.73

+18% in Wilmington, DE

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.00

+7% in Topeka, KS

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$1.75

+5% in Wilmington, DE

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.21

+39% in Topeka, KS

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$6.45

+5% in Topeka, KS

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$1.90

+9% in Topeka, KS

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (KS / DE)

6.5%

None

+6.5 pp in KS

Income Tax (top rate)

5.58%

6.60%

+1.0 pp in DE

Topeka vs Wilmington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Topeka or Wilmington?: Topeka, KS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 25% below Wilmington, DE's $1,250, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Topeka than in Wilmington?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $30,000 a year in Topeka versus $41,000 in Wilmington.
Which has lower taxes, Topeka or Wilmington?: Topeka is taxed under Kansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Wilmington under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no 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).