| Index | Garden City | Kansas | National |
| Cost of living | 93 | 90 | 100 |
| Groceries | 97 | 97 | 100 |
| Health care | 96 | 96 | 100 |
| Housing | 87 | 77 | 100 |
| Transportation | 97 | 96 | 100 |
| Utilities | 97 | 95 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 95 | 94 | 100 |
| Household Items | 99 | 97 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 91 | 93 | 100 |

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Garden City? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Garden City stands at 93, making it 7% 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.
The cost of living in Garden City aligns closely with the national average when compared to other cities across the nation. Everyday essentials such as groceries, household expenses, health care and utility bills are priced at a level consistent with the average in similar urban areas. Garden City residents can anticipate that their daily expenses won't be significantly higher than those in an average city, ensuring that the cost of living remains manageable.
The real experts on a city are its residents. That's why we reached out to 11 locals to get their views on the cost of living in Garden City. We surveyed the residents and asked them if they felt like prices were affordable or out of reach. The results were as follows. 9% found it budget-friendly with decreasing prices, while 91% said it's simply not affordable as prices have continued to rise.
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 13.5% lower than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 11.5% lower than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Garden City has a median household income of $82,519, which is 1.5% higher 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 Garden City, the transportation index is 3.4% lower than the national average.
Subsidies: Certain cities or states may implement government subsidies or assistance programs with the goal of alleviating the cost of living pressures on their residents. These programs encompass a broad spectrum of support mechanisms, 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 farming subsidies. Areas offering fewer subsidies may experience a rise in their cost of living.
Healthcare: Healthcare costs and insurance premiums can fluctuate greatly based on the city or state. Access to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor\’s visits, dentist costs, medication costs and specialized care costs can all impact the cost of living. In Garden City, the healthcare costs are 4.3% lower than the national average.
The Garden City cost of living estimates above use a normalized U.S. average of 100 as the baseline for comparison. Housing values incorporate local home price and rental information from the U.S. Census, while all other estimates are AI-assisted and modeled using expected everyday expenses, local market trends, climate, and transportation-related cost pressures. The results are intended for practical city-to-city comparisons.
| Cost of living index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $110,264 | $9,189 | $2,573 | $3,308 |
| Renters | $67,293 | $5,608 | $1,570 | $2,019 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Kansas | 6.5% | 11.5% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Kansas | 3.1% | 4.7% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Deerfield, KS | 879 | 79 | 20.6% |
| Holcomb, KS | 2,416 | 93 | 7.4% |
| Garden City, KS | 27,354 | 93 | 6.6% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Pearl, MS | 27,352 | 90 | 10.1% |
| Bayonet Point, FL | 27,360 | 93 | 7.2% |
| Xenia, OH | 27,373 | 86 | 13.9% |
| Paramus, NJ | 27,330 | 173 | 72.8% |
| Cabot, AR | 27,309 | 94 | 6.1% |
| Garden City, KS | 27,354 | 93 | 6.6% |