A+
4%
Overall NAT. AVG.
9%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
2%
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 Merriam Kansas National
Cost of living9689100
Goods & Services9292100
Groceries9797100
Health care8497100
Housing10276100
Transportation8990100
Utilities109107100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Merriam, KS

The cost of living in Merriam affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in Merriam is 96, which is 4% lower than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.

The cost of living in Merriam closely mirrors the national average in comparison to other cities nationwide. Essential items such as groceries, goods and services, health care and utilities are priced at a level consistent with similar urban areas. This means that residents of Merriam can anticipate that their daily expenses will remain reasonably in line with those of an average city, contributing to a manageable cost of living.

Is Merriam Affordable?

Is Merriam an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Merriam, the median home price is 1.5% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 1.9% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in Merriam come in at $63,347, which is 14.5% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Merriam?

Utilities: Similar to the prices of any goods or services, utility expenses can fluctuate widely, contingent on variables such as climate, available energy sources, geographical location and state regulations. Costs associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can differ in magnitude, depending on the specific city or state. In Merriam, the utilities index registers at 9% higher than the national average.

Healthcare: The costs associated with healthcare and insurance premiums can exhibit notable disparities based on the city or state of residence. Access to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for medical appointments, dental care charges, prescription medication costs and specialized medical care expenses all contribute to variations in the cost of living. In Merriam, healthcare costs are 15.6% lower than the national average.

Groceries: Over the past 2-3 years, grocery expenses have experienced substantial upward trends. In certain markets, food prices have surged by over 20% during this period, while others have witnessed more modest increases. These fluctuations in food costs can wield significant influence over the overall cost of living in a given region. In Merriam, the groceries index is 3.5% lower than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Merriam 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 Merriam is 8% higher than the Kansas average
  • The cost of living in Merriam is 4% lower than the national average
  • Merriam housing is 2% higher than the national average
  • Kansas general sales tax is 27% higher than the national average
  • Kansas state income tax is 37% higher than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Merriam

See all the best places to live around Merriam

Compare Merriam, 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$77,981$6,498$1,819$2,340
      Renters$45,436$3,786$1,060$1,363
      The affordability of the housing market in Merriam, KS as well as the overall cost of living can be predicted by what percent of the monthly income is spent on housing related costs. This is konwn as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The overall rule of thumb is that no more than 28% of your gross income should be spent on the overall costs related to housing and no more than 36% of gross income on all expenses and debts. Among Merriam homeowners, the median income is $77,981. This indicates that a monthly maximum of $1,819 should be spent by homeowners on all housing related costs. Renters have a median income of $45,436. This indicates that renters would have a maximum of $1,060 for their rent related monthly costs.

      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% 5.7%

      Goods & Services

      Item Merriam National avg. Difference
      Haircut $20.30$24.2616.3%
      Beauty Salon $33.43$45.5626.6%
      Toothpaste $3.70$3.700.2%
      Shampoo $1.42$1.2810.9%
      Movie $12.03$12.130.9%
      Bowling $15.57$18.0013.5%

      Groceries

      Item Merriam National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $6.31$5.848.0%
      Fried Chicken $1.40$1.5711.0%
      Milk $4.62$4.671.0%
      Potatoes $5.24$4.936.2%
      Pizza $11.48$12.095.0%
      Beer $9.39$10.419.8%

      Health Care

      Item Merriam National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $96.50$125.6823.2%
      Doctor $90.20$135.7833.6%
      Dentist $100.33$113.2911.4%
      Ibuprofen $10.67$10.650.2%
      Lipitor $474.53$468.601.3%

      Housing

      Item Merriam National avg. Difference
      Home Price $187,500.00$184,700.001.5%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,152.92$2,346.698.3%
      Apartment Rent $967.00$949.001.9%

      Transportation

      Item Merriam National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.17$3.468.3%
      Tire Balancing $49.17$59.9217.9%

      Utilities

      Item Merriam National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $217.10$193.9911.9%
      Phone $199.94$192.254.0%
      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.
      Randolph, MO288218.3%
      Sugar Creek, MO3,2818316.6%
      Kansas City, KS153,0148614.2%
      Claycomo, MO1,7868613.9%
      Birmingham, MO1728713.0%
      Merriam, KS11,191963.6%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Garden City, SC11,193982.5%
      Scottdale, GA11,1961065.9%
      East Glenville, NY11,1841087.7%
      Kalaoa, HI11,19817372.6%
      Springdale, OH11,201972.8%
      Merriam, KS11,191963.6%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.