City comparison
Cost indices by category, with the US city average (100) marked.
Index: 100 = US city average. Lower is more affordable.
Side-by-side costs, salaries, and sub-category indices.
| Metric | Lawrence | Topeka | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $1,038/mo | $926/mo | 12.1% higher in A |
| Median home value | $247,300 | $124,700 | 98.3% higher in A |
| Median household income | $59,834 | $54,052 | 10.7% higher in A |
| Groceries index | 96.3 | 96.3 | ≈ equal |
| Utilities index | 91.7 | 91.7 | ≈ equal |
| Transportation index | 96.9 | 96.9 | ≈ equal |
| Healthcare index | 99.1 | 99.1 | ≈ equal |
How much you'd need to earn in the other city to keep the same standard of living.
If you earn $100,000 in Lawrence, you'd need $89,213 in Topeka to maintain your standard of living.
Climate, safety, and demographics side by side.
Topeka, KS is about 10.8% cheaper overall than Lawrence, KS, based on our cost-of-living index. Housing costs are roughly 11% lower in Topeka than in Lawrence. If you earn $80,000 in Lawrence, you'd need about $71,371 in Topeka to keep the same standard of living.