Cost of Living in Topeka, KS
| Cost of Living in Topeka, KS | Compared to State Average | Compared to National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (Buy and Rent) | 6% higher | 25% lower |
| Utilities (Monthly) | 6% lower | 4% lower |
| Food | 17% lower | 18% lower |
| Healthcare | 2% lower | 2% lower |
| Transportation | 1% lower | 7% lower |
| Goods & Services | 13% lower | 20% lower |
The cost of living in Topeka, KS is 7% lower than the state average and 18% lower than the national average. Topeka, KS housing is 25% cheaper than the U.S average, while utilities are about 4% less pricey. When it comes to basic necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 20% less in Topeka, KS than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 20% less .
Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry cost 2% less here compared to the U.S. average. At the same time, non-necessary expenses such as entertainment and grooming services are 20% cheaper in Topeka, KS.
Housing is the most significant expense for most American households. The cost of living in a certain city takes into account both the price of rent and the price of a home. The average monthly rent in Topeka is $848, while home prices circle around $374,715.
Both owning and renting come with utility expenses. These costs include basic services such as energy and telecommunications. In Topeka, energy bills cost around $160.13 per month.
Food is the most important necessity and its cost varies around the country. This section includes the prices of everyday foods such as produce, meat and dairy. A bottle of milk costs about $1.80 in Topeka, a dozen eggs go for around $2.17 and a pound of potatoes circles around $2.81.
The benchmark for this category is based on the prices of family doctor visits and specialized services such as optometry. In Topeka, an optometry check-up costs around $121.43, while a dentist appointment is priced $103.40 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $3.45 in Topeka, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $54.71.
The cost of clothing tells you how much more or less money you need to buy basic items such as jeans, shirts or slacks in a new city. A men's shirt costs around $20.53 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $17.22.
The cost of entertainment and everyday services is based on common expenses in each category. For a movie ticket in Topeka, you should budget around $12.22 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $17.55, while dry cleaning costs about $12.60.
The cost of living also takes median household income into account, so you can estimate how much more or less you could be earning in a new city by comparing it to the income in your current area. In Topeka, the median household income is $54,052.