A+
7%
Overall NAT. AVG.
6%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
14%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Garden City Kansas National
Cost of living9389100
Goods & Services9492100
Groceries10097100
Health care10497100
Housing8676100
Transportation8690100
Utilities106107100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Garden City, KS

Getting a feel for the cost of living in Garden City is essential for anyone planning to relocate, as it empowers them to make informed financial decisions, secure a comfortable lifestyle and maintain financial stability in their new environment. The cost of living in Garden City is 93, which is 7% lower than the national average. Relocating individuals may need to adjust their savings and investment strategies based on the cost of living in the new location. It influences decisions about retirement planning, investments and financial goals.

In Garden City, daily expenses such as food, housing, goods and services, transportation and health care are in line with comparable areas and about average when compared to all cities across the nation. This ensures that the cost of living in Garden City will resemble that of an average city, contributing to a manageable cost of living.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Garden City?

The most insightful perspective on a city comes from its residents. We recently surveyed 9 locals to gauge their perception of the cost of living in Garden City. The feedback revealed that 11% of respondents found the cost of living to be reasonable, with prices on the decline, while 89% regarded it as notably expensive with prices that continue to rise.

Is Garden City Affordable?

Is Garden City an affordable place to live? It's a good question and one that you might want to ask when considering any new city, as affordability can play a huge role in the decision making process. The cost of living index (which we covered above), as well as housing costs and income levels play a vital role in determining the affordability of an area. The median home price in Garden City is 15.1% lower than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 11.7% lower than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Garden City has a median household income of $56,274, which is 1.7% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Garden City?

Healthcare: Healthcare expenditures and insurance premium rates can vary significantly, contingent upon the particular city or state. Factors such as the accessibility of healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor's appointments, dental care charges, prescription medication costs, and expenses related to specialized medical care can all have an impact on the overall cost of living. In Garden City, healthcare costs are 3.8% higher than the national average.

Urbanization: Urban areas with a wealth of amenities and employment opportunities tend to come with a higher price tag for living. Why? Well, more people want to be there, which drives up home prices and rents. On the flip side, less densely populated rural areas or places where there's not as much demand usually mean fewer attractions, things to do and slower job growth. That often results in a lower cost of living.

Subsidies: Some areas might offer government subsidies or assistance programs that help lower cost of living for residents. These programs can include anything from Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and crop subsidies. Areas that offer less subsidies, could see an increase in their cost of living.

Where is the Data From?

The Garden City cost of living data you see above is sourced from the C2ER cost of living index, providing a practical and accurate means of comparing living expenses in urban areas. Updated quarterly, this index gathers data from over 300 independent researchers, covering more than 60 goods and services, in 6 different categories. These selections are made meticulously to represent a wide range of consumer expenditure categories. The weightings applied to cost differences are based on government survey data that tracks spending patterns among professional and executive households. It's important to note that while the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes factors tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Garden City is 5% higher than the Kansas average
  • The cost of living in Garden City is 7% lower than the national average
  • Garden City housing is 14% lower than the national average
  • Kansas general sales tax is 27% higher than the national average
  • Kansas state income tax is 19% higher than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Garden City

See all the best places to live around Garden City

Compare Garden City, KS Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$73,256$6,105$1,709$2,198
      Renters$44,841$3,737$1,046$1,345
      The percentage of monthly income spent on housing related expenses can help predict the affordability of housing in Garden City, KS, as well as what the overall cost of living might be. Generally, a good rule to follow is that the debt-to-income (DTI) level you want to maintain is 28 percent or less of your income on your rent or mortgage payments and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses and debts. In Garden City, homeowners have a median income of $73,256. Using that number, a maximum of $1,709 per month should be allocated to housing expenses. For those who are renting instead of owning, the median income is $44,841, which means there is a maximum of $1,046 to be spent on the costs of renting a home or apartment.

      Kansas Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Kansas 6.5% 11.5%

      Kansas Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Kansas 3.1% 4.7%

      Goods & Services

      Item Garden City National avg. Difference
      Haircut $15.84$24.2634.7%
      Beauty Salon $30.99$45.5632.0%
      Toothpaste $3.68$3.700.5%
      Shampoo $1.17$1.288.9%
      Movie $12.89$12.136.2%
      Bowling $12.54$18.0030.3%

      Groceries

      Item Garden City National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.70$5.842.4%
      Fried Chicken $1.41$1.5710.2%
      Milk $4.78$4.672.4%
      Potatoes $4.96$4.930.5%
      Pizza $12.15$12.090.6%
      Beer $9.86$10.415.3%

      Health Care

      Item Garden City National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $221.30$125.6876.1%
      Doctor $147.70$135.788.8%
      Dentist $94.01$113.2917.0%
      Ibuprofen $10.49$10.651.6%
      Lipitor $526.83$468.6012.4%

      Housing

      Item Garden City National avg. Difference
      Home Price $156,900.00$184,700.0015.1%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,613.36$2,346.6931.2%
      Apartment Rent $838.00$949.0011.7%

      Transportation

      Item Garden City National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.05$3.4611.8%
      Tire Balancing $49.15$59.9218.0%

      Utilities

      Item Garden City National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $207.69$193.997.1%
      Phone $200.29$192.254.2%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Deerfield, KS8518020.5%
      Holcomb, KS2,367927.7%
      Garden City, KS26,403936.7%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Paramus, NJ26,40316868.1%
      Vernon Hills, IL26,39612727.4%
      Auburn, NY26,383919.1%
      Cabot, AR26,376963.6%
      Fremont, NE26,362919.1%
      Garden City, KS26,403936.7%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.