| Index | Gardner | Kansas | National |
| Cost of living | 101 | 90 | 100 |
| Groceries | 98 | 97 | 100 |
| Health care | 94 | 96 | 100 |
| Housing | 112 | 77 | 100 |
| Transportation | 94 | 96 | 100 |
| Utilities | 99 | 95 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 95 | 94 | 100 |
| Household Items | 96 | 97 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 100 | 93 | 100 |

Getting a feel for the cost of living in Gardner is essential for anyone planning to relocate, as it empowers them to make informed financial decisions, secure a comfortable lifestyle and maintain financial stability in their new environment. The cost of living in Gardner is 101, which is 1% higher than the national average. Relocating individuals may need to adjust their savings and investment strategies based on the cost of living in the new location. It influences decisions about retirement planning, investments and financial goals.
In Gardner, daily expenses such as food, housing, lifestyle expenses, transportation and health care are in line with comparable areas and about average when compared to all cities across the nation. This ensures that the cost of living in Gardner will resemble that of an average city, contributing to a manageable cost of living.
Is Gardner 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 Gardner, the median home price is 11.5% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 13.1% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in Gardner come in at $115,354, which is 41.8% higher than the national average.
Transportation: If public transportation is limited or not available, residents may need to own and maintain vehicles, which can add to the cost of living. Gas, insurance, regular maintenance and potentially lease or finance payments will all need to be paid on a monthly basis. In Gardner, the transportation index is 5.6% 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 Gardner, the housing index comes in at 12% higher than the national average.
Taxes: Cities that enforce higher taxes, covering both sales taxes and income taxes, can be a factor contributing to a higher cost of living. Paying more in taxes for everyday essentials like clothing and food inevitably leads to higher expenses. A higher income tax rate can further contribute to an overall elevated cost of living. In Gardner, the baseline sales tax rate begins at 6.5%, and income tax rates start at 3.1%.
The Gardner cost of living data above is designed around a U.S. average baseline of 100, allowing for easy comparisons of relative living costs. Housing incorporates U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other figures are AI-assisted estimates that account for regional price trends, climate, transportation dynamics, and common everyday expenses. These values are best used as directional 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 | $138,088 | $11,507 | $3,222 | $4,143 |
| Renters | $80,258 | $6,688 | $1,873 | $2,408 |
| 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. |
| Bucyrus, KS | 278 | 84 | 16.3% |
| Linwood, KS | 429 | 88 | 12.2% |
| Wellsville, KS | 1,998 | 92 | 7.9% |
| Edgerton, KS | 1,800 | 93 | 6.8% |
| Hillsdale, KS | 291 | 94 | 6.1% |
| Gardner, KS | 22,733 | 101 | 1.1% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Happy Valley, OR | 22,736 | 153 | 52.8% |
| Fort Walton Beach, FL | 22,726 | 106 | 5.9% |
| Prairie Village, KS | 22,725 | 117 | 17.3% |
| Hayesville, OR | 22,758 | 108 | 8.1% |
| Rose Hill, VA | 22,707 | 148 | 47.5% |
| Gardner, KS | 22,733 | 101 | 1.1% |