Is it cheaper to live in Wichita or Worcester?

Wichita, KS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 29% below Worcester, MA's $1,340, mainly because of rent.

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

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

Which has lower taxes, Wichita or Worcester?

Wichita is taxed under Kansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Worcester under Massachusetts's (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Wichita vs Worcester Cost of Living 2026

Wichita

Kansas

$950/mo est.

Worcester

Massachusetts

$1,340/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $950 in Wichita, KS versus $1,340 in Worcester, MA. Overall, Wichita, KS is roughly 29% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Worcester, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,072 in Wichita, KS and $67,544 in Worcester, MA — about 7% higher in Worcester, MA. Kansas has a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax; Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Wichita, KS

Worcester, MA

Rent

Studio

$726

$1,087

+50% in Worcester, MA

1 Bedroom

$761

$1,028

+35% in Worcester, MA

2 Bedroom

$976

$1,476

+51% in Worcester, MA

3 Bedroom

$1,199

$1,675

+40% in Worcester, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$179,500

$339,500

+89% in Worcester, MA

Income

Median Household Income

$63,072

$67,544

+7% in Worcester, MA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$47,630

$57,830

+21% in Worcester, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.7 yr

34.1 yr

+1.6 yr in Wichita, KS

Homeownership

58.4%

42.4%

+16.0 pp in Wichita, KS

Bachelor's+ (25+)

30.9%

34.1%

+3.2 pp in Worcester, MA

Avg Commute

18.9 min

25.1 min

+6.2 min in Worcester, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,238.7

640.2

+48% in Wichita, KS

Property Crime

5,284.9

1,580.3

+70% 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

57.0°F

47.9°F

+9.1°F in Wichita, KS

Annual Precipitation

32.6 in

48.1 in

+15.4 in in Worcester, MA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$4.07/gal

+6% in Worcester, MA

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Massachusetts.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.7

29.6

+88% in Worcester, MA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$25.12

$30.66

+22% in Worcester, MA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$1.92

+16% in Worcester, MA

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Wichita, KS

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$6.90

+2% in Worcester, MA

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.19

+4% in Worcester, MA

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Worcester, MA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (KS / MA)

6.5%

6.25%

+0.3 pp in KS

Income Tax (top rate)

5.58%

9.00%

+3.4 pp in MA

Wichita vs Worcester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Wichita or Worcester?: Wichita, KS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 29% below Worcester, MA's $1,340, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Wichita than in Worcester?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $30,000 a year in Wichita versus $41,000 in Worcester.
Which has lower taxes, Wichita or Worcester?: Wichita is taxed under Kansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Worcester under Massachusetts's (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% 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).