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Cost of living in Topeka, KS

Compared with New York. Change city

$2,670a month less for the typical home than in New York1,2

That's $32,036 a year, enough to cover 22 months of the mortgage in Topeka. The average commute is 15 minutes shorter each way, about 2.5 hours a week back4.

Typical home $256,200 vs $742,000. 2-bedroom rent3 $983 vs $1,997. See the math

By Sol Lakein.Checked October 2026.How we compare costs

The Kansas State Capitol, TopekaMegan Burns / Unsplash
All cities
  • Suburban spaceShawnee County

Topeka at a glance, next to New York

5

What the median home costs each month

1,2
New York metro$4,078/mo
$742,000 typical home
Topeka$1,408/mo
$256,200 typical home

If you rent: median 2-bedroom

3
New York metro$1,997/mo
Topeka$983/mo
About $1,014 a month less in rent
Rent by apartment size in Topeka

Home prices next to New York

1
Typical home for sale
New York metro$742,000
Topeka$256,200
65% less, a $485,800 difference
Price per square foot
New York metro$494
Topeka$139
3.6 times the space for the money

Pays you to move

9
$15,000 cashChoose Topeka Relocation IncentiveOn-site workers: up to $10,000 for renters or up to $15,000 for homebuyers, split between employer and GO Topeka/JEDO. Remote workers: up to $5,000 for renters or up to $10,000 for homebuyers. Separate $5,000 Boomerang and $5,000 transitioning military tiers.Who qualifies: On-site track: new full-time hire at a participating Shawnee County employer who rents or buys in Shawnee County within a year; employer must match. Remote track: employer outside Shawnee County, one incentive per household. Boomerang and military tiers need a Shawnee County employer, $50,000 salary, a home purchase in the county and an application before relocating.Program details, choosetopeka.com accessed 2026-10-30 (undated); WIBW 2026-04-10

Weather

8
  • 20°January low
  • 90.2°July high
  • 17.1 inSnow per year

Day-to-day costs

  • Housing costs635% cheaper than averageNew York: 49% above
  • Salary that matches $150,000 in New York6$118,360
Topeka in a paragraph

The median listed home in Topeka is $256,200 (Realtor.com, September 2026), 39% below the US median of $419,250. With 20% down at 7.32%, principal and interest come to about $1,408 a month. The median 2-bedroom rent is $983 a month, utilities included (Census, 2025). Everyday prices index at 88.8, where the US average is 100 (BEA, 2024). A $150,000 salary in New York buys the same as $118,360 here.

Your New York, in Topeka

We're matching Topeka's parks, museums, arenas and food halls to their New York counterparts. Until then, see how it works for Raleigh.

See how Topeka ranks for your household

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Is Topeka a good place to live?

Topeka fits families who want prices 11% below the US average and homes list 39% below the US median. The main trade-off is hot summers. Here is what you gain and what you give up.

What you gain

  • Prices 11% below the US averageEveryday prices, rent included, index at 88.8 against a US average of 100.BEA regional price parities, 2024
  • Homes list 39% below the US median$256,200 median listing against $419,250 nationally.Realtor.com via FRED, September 2026
  • Nonstop flights to New YorkFrom MCI to LGA, JFK, EWR.Airport route page, accessed October 14, 2026
  • Pays you to moveChoose Topeka Relocation Incentive: $15,000 cash.Program page, choosetopeka.com accessed 2026-10-30 (undated); WIBW 2026-04-10

What you trade

  • Hot summersJuly highs average 90.2°F.NOAA 1991-2020 normals

More on Topeka and Kansas

Topeka cost of living: questions people ask

What is the cost of living in Topeka, KS?

The median listed home in Topeka is $256,200 (Realtor.com, September 2026), 39% below the US median of $419,250. With 20% down at 7.32%, principal and interest come to about $1,408 a month. The median 2-bedroom rent is $983 a month, utilities included (Census, 2025). Everyday prices index at 88.8, where the US average is 100 (BEA, 2024). A $150,000 salary in New York buys the same as $118,360 here.

How much would I save moving from New York to Topeka?

The median listed home is $256,200 in Topeka against $742,000 in the New York metro, 65% less. On a mortgage for each median home, that is about $2,670 a month less in principal and interest (20% down, 7.32%, Freddie Mac, October 22, 2026).

How much is rent in Topeka?

The median gross rent for a 2-bedroom in the Topeka metro is $983 a month, including utilities the renter pays (Census American Community Survey, 2025). In the New York metro it is $1,997, $1,014 more. The US median is $1,563.

What salary in Topeka matches $150,000 in New York?

$118,360. That is $150,000 adjusted by the BEA regional price parities for both metros (88.8 in Topeka, 112.6 in New York, 2024).

Does Topeka pay you to move there?

Yes. Choose Topeka Relocation Incentive offers $15,000 cash. Who qualifies: On-site track: new full-time hire at a participating Shawnee County employer who rents or buys in Shawnee County within a year; employer must match. Remote track: employer outside Shawnee County, one incentive per household. Boomerang and military tiers need a Shawnee County employer, $50,000 salary, a home purchase in the county and an application before relocating.. Confirm current terms with the program.

What is the weather like in Topeka?

January lows average 20°F and July highs 90.2°F, with 17.1 inches of snow a year (NOAA 1991-2020 normals, Philip Billard Municipal Airport).

Notes on the numbers
  1. 1Home prices: the typical home is the median listing price, with price per square foot, from Realtor.com via FRED, September 2026. The comparison metro uses the same series and month.
  2. 2Monthly cost: Principal and interest on the median listed home with 20% down, 30-year fixed at 7.32% (Freddie Mac 30-year fixed average, week of October 22, 2026). Excludes taxes, insurance and HOA. Rate source
  3. 3Rent: Census ACS 2025 1-year, median gross rent for 2-bedroom units (rent plus utilities). Covers all renters, including long-time tenants, not only new leases. Census table
  4. 4Commute: Census ACS 2025 1-year, table S0801, mean travel time to work (one way, workers who do not work from home), 2025. Hours back assume a 5-day round trip. Census table
  5. 5At a glance: a difference within 5% counts as about the same.
  6. 6Everyday prices, housing costs and the matching salary: BEA regional price parities, 2024, US = 100.
  7. 7Flights: airport route pages, October 2026.
  8. 8Weather: NOAA 1991-2020 normals, Philip Billard Municipal Airport.
  9. 9Incentives: terms come from each program's page. Confirm eligibility with the program before you move.
Sources for this page