A+
15%
Overall NAT. AVG.
1%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
44%
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 El Dorado Kansas National
Cost of living8589100
Goods & Services9992100
Groceries9897100
Health care9497100
Housing5676100
Transportation9290100
Utilities104107100

An Overview of Cost of Living in El Dorado, KS

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in El Dorado? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in El Dorado stands at 85, making it 15% lower than the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.

It's not uncommon for housing expenses to eat up a substantial portion of your income, oten exceeding 30%. The good news is that El Dorado stands out by reporting housing costs that are 43.8% 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 El Dorado Affordable?

Is El Dorado 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 El Dorado, the median home price is 53% lower than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 22.6% lower than the usual rates. Income levels in El Dorado come in at $41,467, which is 25% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in El Dorado?

Transportation: In cities with limited or no public transportation, residents may find it necessary to own and maintain vehicles, thereby elevating the cost of living. Monthly expenditures include fuel, insurance, routine maintenance and potential lease or financing commitments. In El Dorado, the transportation index stands at 8.2% lower than the national average.

Subsidies: Some cities and states may extend government subsidies or aid programs aimed at reducing the cost of living for their residents. These initiatives encompass diverse forms of support, including 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 farm subsidies. Regions with limited subsidy provisions may witness an increase in their overall cost of living.

Utilities: As with the prices of anything else, utility costs can exhibit significant variations, contingent on factors like climate, energy source availability, geographic location and state regulations. The expenses associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can fluctuate, either upward or downward, depending on the particular city or state. In El Dorado, the utilities index registers 3.7% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The cost of living in El Dorado, presented above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index, offering a practical method for assessing living cost disparities in urban areas. Published quarterly, this index compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services in 6 categories. The weightings assigned to cost variances are informed by government survey data tracking the expenditure patterns of professional and executive households. It should be noted that the C2ER index does not include data on sales or income tax rates, however, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each area.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in El Dorado is 4% lower than the Kansas average
  • The cost of living in El Dorado is 15% lower than the national average
  • El Dorado housing is 44% lower 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 El Dorado

See all the best places to live around El Dorado

Compare El Dorado, 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$61,786$5,149$1,442$1,854
      Renters$25,195$2,100$588$756
      The percentage of monthly income spent on housing related expenses can help predict the affordability of housing in El Dorado, 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 El Dorado, homeowners have a median income of $61,786. Using that number, a maximum of $1,442 per month should be allocated to housing expenses. For those who are renting instead of owning, the median income is $25,195, which means there is a maximum of $588 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% 5.7%

      Goods & Services

      Item El Dorado National avg. Difference
      Haircut $25.61$24.265.6%
      Beauty Salon $47.04$45.563.2%
      Toothpaste $3.63$3.701.9%
      Shampoo $1.15$1.2810.1%
      Movie $11.66$12.133.9%
      Bowling $12.94$18.0028.1%

      Groceries

      Item El Dorado National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $6.07$5.843.9%
      Fried Chicken $1.37$1.5713.0%
      Milk $4.68$4.670.1%
      Potatoes $4.62$4.936.4%
      Pizza $12.02$12.090.5%
      Beer $9.70$10.416.8%

      Health Care

      Item El Dorado National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $150.93$125.6820.1%
      Doctor $112.22$135.7817.3%
      Dentist $99.52$113.2912.1%
      Ibuprofen $10.31$10.653.2%
      Lipitor $521.48$468.6011.3%

      Housing

      Item El Dorado National avg. Difference
      Home Price $86,900.00$184,700.0053.0%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,619.59$2,346.6931.0%
      Apartment Rent $735.00$949.0022.6%

      Transportation

      Item El Dorado National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.14$3.469.4%
      Tire Balancing $56.76$59.925.3%

      Utilities

      Item El Dorado National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $200.72$193.993.5%
      Phone $199.37$192.253.7%
      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.
      Potwin, KS7078218.2%
      Rosalia, KS1008316.6%
      Leon, KS4648515.0%
      Towanda, KS1,5798613.5%
      Augusta, KS9,363919.0%
      El Dorado, KS12,9768514.5%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Los Alamos, NM12,97811514.5%
      New Kingman-Butler, AZ12,9817821.7%
      Plover, WI12,981936.8%
      Claremont, NH12,9691066.0%
      Lynnfield, MA12,96818080.3%
      El Dorado, KS12,9768514.5%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.