A+
24%
Overall NAT. AVG.
17%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
54%
Housing NAT. AVG.
Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; 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 Arkansas City Kansas National
Cost of living7688100
Goods & Services8491100
Groceries9496100
Health care9594100
Housing4677100
Transportation8990100
Utilities9598100
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An Overview of Cost of Living in Arkansas City, KS

The cost of living in Arkansas City 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 Arkansas City is 76, which is 24% lower than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.

According to the latest cost of living report, Arkansas City stands out as one of the most budget-friendly places to reside in the nation. In fact, only a handful of cities boast a cost of living index that is at least 20% below the national average, and Arkansas City proudly belongs to that select group. This underscores the exceptional affordability of this region in comparison to other urban centers.

Housing costs often consume a significant share of your take-home income, often surpassing 30%. Fortunately, Arkansas City distinguishes itself by reporting housing expenses that are 54.1% below the national average. This indicates that both owning a home and renting in this area are notably more budget-friendly compared to the rest of the nation. With such favorable housing affordability, residents of Arkansas City can allocate more of their income to housing, enhancing their financial flexibility.

Everyday basics like clothes, personal care items and entertainment factor into your overall living costs. But here's the good news: in Arkansas City, these things are 16.5% more affordable than the national average. So, you can get what you need and have fun without emptying your wallet. With these savings, you can stash more money in your savings or put it towards other financial goals, ultimately improving your financial health.

Is Arkansas City Affordable?

Is Arkansas 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 Arkansas City is 63.7% lower than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 31.8% lower than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Arkansas City has a median household income of $69,601, which is 14.4% lower than the national average.

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

Healthcare: Healthcare expenses and insurance premiums can vary significantly depending on the specific city or state. Factors such as accessibility to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor's visits, dental care expenses, prescription costs and specialized medical care fees can all influence the overall cost of living. In Arkansas City, healthcare costs are 4.9% lower than the national average.

Transportation: When public transportation options are limited or non-existent, residents frequently resort to vehicle ownership, which can significantly contribute to the overall cost of living. Monthly financial obligations encompass fuel, insurance, regular maintenance and potentially lease or financing expenses. In Arkansas City, the transportation index is 10.7% lower than the national average.

Utilities: Like everything else, utilities costs can range significantly depending on factors like climate, energy sources available, location and even state regulations. Things like electricity, water, heating and waste disposal costs can be higher or lower, depending on the city or state. The utilities index in Arkansas City comes in at 5.4% lower than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Arkansas City cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. The index takes into account data from 300 independent researches, covering more than 60 goods and services across 6 different categories, to create an overall index for each area, with 100 being the average. The C2ER index does not include sales or income tax rates in their data, however AreaVibes does include both income and sales tax rates in the overall cost of living score for each area.

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Arkansas City is 14% lower than the Kansas average
  • The cost of living in Arkansas City is 24% lower than the national average
  • Arkansas City housing is 54% 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 Arkansas City

See all the best places to live around Arkansas City

Compare Arkansas 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$84,673$7,056$1,976$2,540
      Renters$48,412$4,034$1,130$1,453
      A good way to judge both the affordability of the housing and the cost of living in Arkansas City is by simply calculating the maximum that should be spent on housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The plan is to avoid spending more than 28 percent of the gross income on costs that pertain to housing and no more than 36 percent on all expenses and debts. Arkansas City has a median income of about $84,673 for people who own homes. Based on that number, a maximum of $1,976 should be spent on expenses related to housing. Renters have a slightly different median income, which is $48,412. Based on this average, renters should spend no more than $1,130 on all rental costs if they want to maintain a non-impoverished standard of living.

      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 Arkansas City National avg. Difference
      Haircut $17.50$27.6236.6%
      Beauty Salon $44.78$51.1112.4%
      Toothpaste $4.18$4.092.1%
      Shampoo $1.14$1.5426.1%
      Movie $6.88$12.8846.6%
      Yoga $20.00$19.661.7%

      Groceries

      Item Arkansas City National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $7.56$7.701.9%
      Fried Chicken $1.56$1.666.2%
      Milk $4.51$4.734.7%
      Potatoes $5.31$5.261.0%
      Pizza $12.00$12.766.0%
      Beer $10.01$10.555.1%

      Health Care

      Item Arkansas City National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $113.47$140.0619.0%
      Doctor $81.33$153.8247.1%
      Dentist $101.27$123.1517.8%
      Ibuprofen $11.18$11.734.7%
      Lipitor $37.91$23.6160.6%

      Housing

      Item Arkansas City National avg. Difference
      Home Price $118,648.00$326,622.0063.7%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,015.19$2,480.2518.8%
      Apartment Rent $985.00$1,444.0031.8%

      Transportation

      Item Arkansas City National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $2.64$3.0613.7%
      Tire Balancing $62.89$65.213.6%

      Utilities

      Item Arkansas City National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $197.80$220.1210.1%
      Phone $200.92$195.712.7%
      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.
      Geuda Springs, KS1366930.7%
      Oxford, KS1,0878218.2%
      Newkirk, OK2,1297722.7%
      Winfield, KS12,3217921.2%
      Parkerfield, KS5358812.2%
      Arkansas City, KS12,2287624.3%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Lake Station, IN12,227936.6%
      Martinsville, IN12,2308910.5%
      Blackfoot, ID12,225919.2%
      Dranesville, VA12,22317474.5%
      Alum Rock, CA12,23318585.4%
      Arkansas City, KS12,2287624.3%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2025 and was released from C2ER in January, 2026; this is the most current data available.