| Index | Hutchinson | Kansas | National |
| Cost of living | 86 | 90 | 100 |
| Groceries | 97 | 97 | 100 |
| Health care | 96 | 96 | 100 |
| Housing | 62 | 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 |

Knowing the cost of living in Hutchinson allows individuals to create a realistic budget. This helps them understand how their income will cover expenses and whether they need to make financial adjustments. The cost of living in any region can fluctuate due to various factors. To assess the cost of living consistently across different areas, a national average of 100 serves as the basis for the cost of living index. The cost of living in Hutchinson stands at 86, marking it 14% lower than the national average.
Locals have the inside scoop on their city. So, we polled 18 residents in Hutchinson to learn how they view the cost of living. We asked how they felt about the cost of living in their area, and if they thought that prices were increasing, decreasing or staying the same. The verdict? 44% find it reasonable with decreasing prices, but 56% think it's quite pricey, with prices that continue to rise.
Is Hutchinson 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 Hutchinson, the median home price is 44.7% lower than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 21.6% lower than the usual rates. Income levels in Hutchinson come in at $72,429, which is 10.9% lower than the national average.
Subsidies: Some areas might offer government subsidies or assistance programs that help lower cost of living for residents. These programs can include anything from 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 crop subsidies. Areas that offer less subsidies, could see an increase in their cost of living.
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 Hutchinson, the transportation index is 3.4% lower than the national average.
Housing: Elevated demand for housing within coveted locales has the propensity to escalate both property values and rental rates, thereby serving as a primary catalyst for an augmented cost of living. Conversely, areas witnessing diminished housing demand, particularly within less desirable environs, often experience an inversely proportional effect, leading to price reductions and subsequently contributing to a more modest cost of living. In Hutchinson, the housing index is 37.8% lower than the national average.
The cost of living data for Hutchinson shown above is based on a U.S. average baseline score of 100, making it easier to compare how far your dollar may go from one city to another. Housing uses U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all remaining values are AI-assisted estimates informed by regional pricing, climate, transportation dynamics, and local economic factors. These scores are best used for directional comparisons between cities.
| 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 | $93,513 | $7,793 | $2,182 | $2,806 |
| Renters | $47,141 | $3,928 | $1,100 | $1,414 |
| 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. |
| Yoder, KS | 169 | 75 | 24.6% |
| Arlington, KS | 603 | 80 | 20.3% |
| Burrton, KS | 1,054 | 82 | 18.2% |
| Partridge, KS | 179 | 82 | 18.1% |
| Nickerson, KS | 882 | 82 | 17.8% |
| Hutchinson, KS | 42,073 | 86 | 14.1% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Hickory, NC | 42,059 | 98 | 2.1% |
| Shelton, CT | 42,033 | 128 | 27.7% |
| Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, QC | 42,121 | n/a | |
| Weslaco, TX | 42,136 | 87 | 13.1% |
| Cedar Falls, IA | 42,150 | 100 | 0.2% |
| Hutchinson, KS | 42,073 | 86 | 14.1% |