WichitaMoney Index August 2026
"Plains pragmatism."
Wichita — Money Index — Key Facts
- 14% Savings Rate. Wichita households save about 14% of income — well above the ~8% US average. Quiet wealth, compounding fast.
- Happiness Score: 68/100. Residents rate life in Wichita a 68/100 — roughly the US average.
- Wichita Quirk. Wichita's cost of living is consistently more than 15% below the US average.
- Work-Life Balance: 64/100. Wichita scores 64/100 on work-life balance — one of the more livable big US metros.
- Cost of Living: 82. Wichita is roughly 18% cheaper than the typical US city. A $75k paycheck here spends like $91k somewhere average.
- 8% of Land Is Parks. Only about 8% of Wichita's land is parkland — well below the big-city median. Outdoor recreation costs more here.
- Financial Stress: 46/100. Money stress in Wichita sits at 46/100 — calmer than most big US cities.
- 19-Minute Commute. Wichita's one-way commute is just 19 minutes — 8 minutes shorter than the US average. That's ~146 hours a year behind the wheel instead of ~207.
- Median Household: $54k. Wichita households earn about $54k — roughly 28% below the US average.
- 58% Own Their Home. Only 58% of Wichita households own — well below the US average of ~65%. Most residents are still renting.
Wichita is one of the most affordable major cities in the US — paychecks stretch further here than almost anywhere.
With a median household income of ~$54k, a 14% savings rate, and a cost-of-living index of 82, Wichita ranks #14 of 50 US cities in our overall money index.
Green space & commute
Two underrated money levers: how long you spend getting to work, and how much nature you can reach without paying for it.
Only ~8% of Wichita's land is parkland — below the big-city median. Free outdoor recreation is scarcer here.
- • Source: Trust for Public Land ParkScore
- • Parks lower stress and lift nearby property values
- • Free recreation = zero-cost lifestyle upgrade
Wichita has a short ~19-minute one-way commute — well below the US average of ~27 minutes. Time saved compounds: 10 minutes less per day ≈ 80 hours and a few hundred dollars in fuel every year.
- • Source: US Census ACS mean one-way travel time
- • Owning a car runs ~$10k/year on average in the US
- • 10 fewer commute minutes/day ≈ 80 hours back per year
Typical Wichita household budget
Modeled split of $100 of after-tax income, scaled to Wichita's cost of living and savings rate.
How Wichita feels about money
Four Wichita money truths
Wichita's savings rate runs 14% — automate even one extra percentage point and you compound serious money over a decade.
Wichita is cheaper than the US average — your paycheck stretches noticeably further than in coastal metros.
Owning unlocks fixed housing costs and equity. Renters here can still build wealth — just channel the difference into index funds and a high-yield savings account.
Kansas residents in Wichita report a 68/100 happiness score with stress at 46/100 — money habits and lifestyle here track that mix closely.
"Wichita's cost of living is consistently more than 15% below the US average."
Money lessons from Wichita
- 1
Cheap city = automatic 20% savings rate
- 2
Don't move for marginal pay bumps
- 3
Compound the math, year after year
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Wichita money FAQ
Is Wichita, Kansas a good city for saving money?+
Wichita households save about 14% of income, with a happiness score of 68/100 and a work-life balance score of 64/100. Wichita is one of the most affordable major cities in the US — paychecks stretch further here than almost anywhere.
What is the median household income in Wichita?+
The median household income in Wichita, Kansas is roughly $54,000 per year. About 48% of households have a 3-month emergency fund.
How affordable is Wichita?+
Wichita's cost of living index sits at 82 (100 = US average). Homeownership stands at 58%.
How long is the average commute in Wichita?+
Wichita has a short ~19-minute one-way commute — well below the US average of ~27 minutes. Time saved compounds: 10 minutes less per day ≈ 80 hours and a few hundred dollars in fuel every year.
How much urban green space does Wichita have?+
Only ~8% of Wichita's land is parkland — below the big-city median. Free outdoor recreation is scarcer here.
What money personality fits Wichita?+
The Saver — Frugal by nature; small wins compound into big wealth.
What's surprising about money in Wichita?+
Wichita's cost of living is consistently more than 15% below the US average.
