| Index | Salina | Kansas | National |
| Cost of living | 90 | 90 | 100 |
| Groceries | 100 | 97 | 100 |
| Health care | 97 | 96 | 100 |
| Housing | 74 | 77 | 100 |
| Transportation | 93 | 96 | 100 |
| Utilities | 93 | 95 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 98 | 94 | 100 |
| Household Items | 98 | 97 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 96 | 93 | 100 |
Knowing the cost of living in Salina 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 Salina stands at 90, marking it 10% lower than the national average.
Locals have the inside scoop on their city. So, we polled 17 residents in Salina 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? 6% find it reasonable with decreasing prices, but 94% think it's quite pricey, with prices that continue to rise.
Wondering if Salina is affordable? It's a question that often comes up when you're thinking about a new city since affordability can really shape your decisions. The cost of living index (covered earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a part in the affordability equation. In Salina, for example, the median home price is 27.7% lower than what folks pay nationally, and monthly rent is 21.2% lower than the usual rates. Plus, income levels matter too, with Salina boasting a median household income of $74,280, which is 8.7% lower than the national average.
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 Salina, the groceries index is 0.5% lower 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 Salina, the transportation index is 6.6% lower than the national average.
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 Salina, the utilities index registers 6.9% lower than the national average.
The Salina 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 | $96,548 | $8,046 | $2,253 | $2,897 |
| Renters | $44,784 | $3,732 | $1,045 | $1,344 |
| 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. |
| Falun, KS | 58 | 96 | 3.5% |
| Kipp, KS | 0 | 96 | 3.5% |
| Culver, KS | 98 | 74 | 26.3% |
| Tescott, KS | 310 | 82 | 17.9% |
| New Cambria, KS | 94 | 83 | 17.4% |
| Salina, KS | 47,832 | 90 | 10.2% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Hattiesburg, MS | 47,823 | 87 | 13.5% |
| Four Corners, FL | 47,768 | 110 | 9.6% |
| Titusville, FL | 47,899 | 101 | 1.1% |
| Bothell, WA | 47,762 | 162 | 62.3% |
| Cornwall, ON | 47,736 | n/a | |
| Salina, KS | 47,832 | 90 | 10.2% |
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