A+
16%
Overall NAT. AVG.
9%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
41%
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 Atchison Kansas National
Cost of living8489100
Goods & Services9292100
Groceries9797100
Health care8497100
Housing5976100
Transportation8990100
Utilities109107100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Atchison, KS

Understanding the cost of living in Atchison can help future residents assess whether their current financial situation aligns with the expenses they will encounter. It enables them to plan for potential changes in their budget and lifestyle. The Atchison cost of living index is 84, which is 16% lower than the national average. The cost of living index is calculated by taking into account multiple categories, which encompass both the cost of everyday expenditures and larger expenses as well.

It's not uncommon for housing expenses to eat up a substantial portion of your income, oten exceeding 30%. The good news is that Atchison stands out by reporting housing costs that are 41.3% lower than the national average. This signifies that both homeownership and rental expenses in this region are considerably more affordable compared to the rest of the country. This favorable housing situation allows residents to allocate a more manageable portion of their income to housing, resulting in greater financial flexibility.

Is Atchison Affordable?

Is Atchison affordable? This is a pivotal question, especially when mulling over a move, as affordability carries substantial weight in your decision-making process. Factors such as the cost of living index (discussed earlier), housing expenses and income levels all contribute to a location's affordability. For instance, in Atchison, the median home price is 46.1% lower than the national average and monthly rent prices are 30% lower than the typical rates. Additionally, the median income levels play a role in affordability, with Atchison boasting a median household income of $47,742, 13.7% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Atchison?

Taxes: Locations with elevated tax rates, encompassing both sales and income taxes, can be a factor in driving up the cost of living. When you're paying more in taxes for everyday goods and services, it naturally translates into higher expenses. Similarly, a higher income tax rate can also contribute to an overall higher cost of living. In Atchison, the standard sales tax rate starts at 6.5%, and the income tax rates commence at 3.1%.

Groceries: Grocery costs have continued to increase significantly over the last 2-3 years. In some markets the cost of food has gone up by more than 20% in that period. While other markets have managed to see only a moderate uptick. These food costs can have a major impact on the cost of living in any area. In Atchison, the groceries index is 3.5% lower than the national average.

Housing: When everyone's vying for homes in popular areas, it drives up property prices and rents, making the overall cost of living surge. On the flip side, in less sought-after locales, where housing demand is low, prices tend to dip, resulting in a more economical cost of living. In Atchison, the housing index comes in at 41.3% lower than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Atchison 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.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Atchison is 6% lower than the Kansas average
  • The cost of living in Atchison is 16% lower than the national average
  • Atchison housing is 41% 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 Atchison

See all the best places to live around Atchison

Compare Atchison, 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$60,951$5,079$1,422$1,829
      Renters$27,962$2,330$652$839
      The affordability of the housing market in Atchison, 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 Atchison homeowners, the median income is $60,951. This indicates that a monthly maximum of $1,422 should be spent by homeowners on all housing related costs. Renters have a median income of $27,962. This indicates that renters would have a maximum of $652 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% 4.7%

      Goods & Services

      Item Atchison 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 Atchison 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 Atchison 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 Atchison National avg. Difference
      Home Price $99,600.00$184,700.0046.1%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,152.92$2,346.698.3%
      Apartment Rent $664.00$949.0030.0%

      Transportation

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

      Utilities

      Item Atchison 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.
      Iatan, MO16945.8%
      Huron, KS547128.6%
      Severance, KS777525.5%
      Rushville, MO2907722.9%
      Lancaster, KS3478020.3%
      Atchison, KS10,5618416.5%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Ogdensburg, NY10,5599010.2%
      Vermilion, OH10,559918.9%
      Marinette, WI10,5668416.0%
      Gateway, FL10,55211919.2%
      Monroe, WI10,573973.3%
      Atchison, KS10,5618416.5%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.