What is the cost of living in Topeka, KS?

Topeka indexes at 76 for day-to-day costs against a national baseline of 100, with a typical two-bedroom renting for $1,016/mo and a acs median home value of $144,200.

How much does a house cost in Topeka?

The acs median home value in Topeka is $144,200, 25% below the Kansas median (Census ACS estimate; individual listings vary).

How much is rent in Topeka?

A two-bedroom in Topeka rents for about $1,016/mo.

City data & comparisons

Shawnee County · Kansas · Midwest · 126k residents

Topeka, KS: cost of living, taxes & quality of life

Residential facts for Topeka: housing, taxes, monthly costs, climate, schools, and household income, with the Kansas median as the yardstick. Compare it live against any of 3,000 US cities.

Data coverage: ACS place data; supplementary fields may use state estimates.

The acs median home value in Topeka is $144,200, 25% below the Kansas median. A two-bedroom rents for about $1,016/mo. Day-to-day costs index at 76 against a national baseline of 100. The median household here earns $56,956 a year.

What the numbers show

Source-confirmed findings

Housing value: The ACS median home value in Topeka is $144,200, 25.3% below the median for ACS-covered places in Kansas.
Household income: Median household income is $56,956, 17.1% below the median for ACS-covered places in Kansas.
Adult education: 29% of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher, 11% below the median for ACS-covered places in Kansas.
Home value to income: The ACS median home value is about 2.5 times median household income. This is a comparison measure, not a mortgage qualification or affordability promise.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates(2024 ACS 5-year; tables B01003, B15003, B19013, B25077). Geography: Census place where available. This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

WhereToHQ calculates the comparisons. Figures are estimates for context, not a guarantee or personal financial advice. Read the methodology or send a correction.

What makes this place distinctive

A factual snapshot of the place, based on the profile data. It is not a tourism or cultural claim.

Kansas’s capital, where civic history, prairie landscapes, and a quiet arts community meet.

Known for: State government, Brown v. Board history, parks, and Kansas heritage.

Calendar note: Tulip Time and the Kansas State Fair regionally anchor the calendar.

Story source: Visit Topeka

Scale: A mid-sized city with a population between 50,000 and 250,000 in the profile data.
Setting: The profile places Topeka about 66 miles from the nearest tracked lake.
Climate signal: The profile records 230 sunny days.
Daily pace: The profile records a walk score of 38 and an average commute of 20 minutes.

WhereToHQ derives these signals from the committed city dataset. Read the methodology for coverage and source limits.

Compare Topeka for residents

Compare Topeka side by side

Cost of living index

cheaper than 96% of US cities

ACS median home value

$144,200

−25% vs state mediancheaper than 94% of US cities

2-bedroom rent

$1,016/mo

cheaper than 85% of US cities

Median household income

$56,956

−17% vs state medianhigher than 15% of US cities

Housing momentum

How fast Topeka's housing market is moving, ranked against the US cities we track.

60/100

Steady

Rents YoY: +4.9% (top 19%)Home prices YoY: -0.4% (bottom 31%)Home prices MoM: +0.2% (top 15%)

Momentum slowing · −8 over 2 yr

Ranks Topeka's home-price and rent growth against the US cities we cover. The label is relative pace, not a direction, so a market can rank low while some figures still rise. A higher score moves faster, it is not cheaper or better. Not investment or relocation advice.

What does your salary buy in Topeka?

$a year

Adjusted by Topeka's cost-of-living index versus the US average.

All facets · Topeka

Housing — Buy
ACS median home value	$144,200
Price per sq. ft.	$145
Property tax rate	1.34%

Housing — Rent
1-bedroom rent	$760/mo
2-bedroom rent	$1,016/mo

Taxes
State & local income tax	4.09%
Sales tax	8.7%

Monthly Costs
Cost of living index	76
Groceries index	95
Utilities	$165/mo
Transit pass	$50/mo
Gas price	$3.00/gal
Healthcare index	94
Childcare (per child)	$950/mo

Economy & Jobs
Median household income	$56,956
Unemployment rate	2.9%
Population	126k

Quality of Life
Crime index	48/100
School rating	6.0/10
Walkability	38/100
Disaster risk	88/100
Avg. commute	20 min

Climate
Sunny days / year	230 days
July high	89°F
January low	19°F
Annual snowfall	—

Market Trends
Home price YoY	-0.4%
Home price MoM	+0.2%
Rent YoY	+4.9%
Rent MoM	+0.8%

Location & Access
Ocean coast	642 mi
Big lake	66 mi
Mountains	254 mi
Major airport	54 mi
Ski resort	272 mi

Compare & explore

Popular comparisons

Nearby

Similar size

Real listings in Topeka

Homes on Zillow ↗Realtor.com ↗Rentals on Zillow ↗Apartments.com ↗

Links open third-party listing searches. WhereToHQ has no paid relationship with these sites.

Questions & answers

What is the cost of living in Topeka, KS?: Topeka indexes at 76 for day-to-day costs against a national baseline of 100, with a typical two-bedroom renting for $1,016/mo and a acs median home value of $144,200.
How much does a house cost in Topeka?: The acs median home value in Topeka is $144,200, 25% below the Kansas median (Census ACS estimate; individual listings vary).
How much is rent in Topeka?: A two-bedroom in Topeka rents for about $1,016/mo.