B+
5%
Overall NAT. AVG.
9%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
30%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Olathe Kansas National
Cost of living10589100
Goods & Services9292100
Groceries9797100
Health care8497100
Housing13076100
Transportation8990100
Utilities109107100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Olathe, KS

Are you thinking about relocating, but curious about the potential cost of living in Olathe? Is it more expensive or more affordable than average? Based on the most recent report, the cost of living in Olathe stands at 105, making it 5% higher than the national average. The cost of living directly affects the affordability of one's desired lifestyle. Knowing the cost of housing, transportation, groceries and other essentials in the new area allows people to gauge whether they can maintain their preferred standard of living.

In Olathe, daily expenses such as food, housing, goods and services, transportation and health care are in line with comparable areas and about average when compared to all cities across the nation. This ensures that the cost of living in Olathe will resemble that of an average city, contributing to a manageable cost of living.

When it comes to the cost of living in Olathe, housing costs are a real heavyweight, often hogging a significant chunk of your earnings. Sadly, in this area, housing expenses for both buying and renting were 29.7% more expensive compared to your average city. That means you'll be shelling out more for homes, rents, mortgage rates and insurance.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Olathe?

Locals have the inside scoop on their city. So, we polled 17 residents in Olathe 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? 76% find it reasonable with decreasing prices, but 24% think it's quite pricey, with prices that continue to rise.

Is Olathe Affordable?

Is Olathe affordable? It's a key consideration when pondering a move, as affordability often shapes your choices. The cost of living index (we discussed it earlier), coupled with housing costs and income levels, serves as the cornerstone for determining a location's affordability. Take Olathe, for instance, where the median home price falls 36.9% higher than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 12.8% higher than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Olathe flaunting a median household income of $96,548, 74.5% higher than the national norm.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Olathe?

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 Olathe, the utilities index registers 9% higher than the national average.

Healthcare: Healthcare costs and insurance premiums can fluctuate greatly based on the city or state. Access to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor\’s visits, dentist costs, medication costs and specialized care costs can all impact the cost of living. In Olathe, the healthcare costs are 15.6% lower than the national average.

Subsidies: Certain cities or states may institute government subsidies or assistance programs designed to alleviate the financial burdens associated with the cost of living for their residents. These programs encompass a variety of support mechanisms, including Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and farm subsidies. Areas that provide fewer subsidies may see an uptick in their overall cost of living.

Where is the Data From?

The Olathe cost of living data you see above is sourced from the C2ER cost of living index, providing a practical and accurate means of comparing living expenses in urban areas. Updated quarterly, this index gathers data from over 300 independent researchers, covering more than 60 goods and services, in 6 different categories. These selections are made meticulously to represent a wide range of consumer expenditure categories. The weightings applied to cost differences are based on government survey data that tracks spending patterns among professional and executive households. It's important to note that while the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes factors tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Olathe is 17% higher than the Kansas average
  • The cost of living in Olathe is 5% higher than the national average
  • Olathe housing is 30% higher than the national average
  • Kansas general sales tax is 27% higher than the national average
  • Kansas state income tax is 19% higher than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Olathe

See all the best places to live around Olathe

Compare Olathe, KS Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$112,852$9,404$2,633$3,386
      Renters$47,147$3,929$1,100$1,415
      A good way to judge both the affordability of the housing and the cost of living in Olathe is by simply calculating the maximum that should be spent on housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The plan is to avoid spending more than 28 percent of the gross income on costs that pertain to housing and no more than 36 percent on all expenses and debts. Olathe has a median income of about $112,852 for people who own homes. Based on that number, a maximum of $2,633 should be spent on expenses related to housing. Renters have a slightly different median income, which is $47,147. Based on this average, renters should spend no more than $1,100 on all rental costs if they want to maintain a non-impoverished standard of living.

      Kansas Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Kansas 6.5% 11.5%

      Kansas Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Kansas 3.1% 4.7%

      Goods & Services

      Item Olathe National avg. Difference
      Haircut $20.30$24.2616.3%
      Beauty Salon $33.43$45.5626.6%
      Toothpaste $3.70$3.700.2%
      Shampoo $1.42$1.2810.9%
      Movie $12.03$12.130.9%
      Bowling $15.57$18.0013.5%

      Groceries

      Item Olathe National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $6.31$5.848.0%
      Fried Chicken $1.40$1.5711.0%
      Milk $4.62$4.671.0%
      Potatoes $5.24$4.936.2%
      Pizza $11.48$12.095.0%
      Beer $9.39$10.419.8%

      Health Care

      Item Olathe National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $96.50$125.6823.2%
      Doctor $90.20$135.7833.6%
      Dentist $100.33$113.2911.4%
      Ibuprofen $10.67$10.650.2%
      Lipitor $474.53$468.601.3%

      Housing

      Item Olathe National avg. Difference
      Home Price $252,900.00$184,700.0036.9%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $2,152.92$2,346.698.3%
      Apartment Rent $1,070.00$949.0012.8%

      Transportation

      Item Olathe National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.17$3.468.3%
      Tire Balancing $49.17$59.9217.9%

      Utilities

      Item Olathe National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $217.10$193.9911.9%
      Phone $199.94$192.254.0%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Bucyrus, KS2698218.4%
      Linwood, KS4208812.4%
      Edwardsville, KS4,5068910.7%
      Wellsville, KS1,9219010.1%
      Edgerton, KS1,750928.1%
      Olathe, KS139,2161054.8%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Orange, CA139,32217272.4%
      Surprise, AZ139,00711514.8%
      Roseville, CA138,86014847.8%
      Trois-Rivières, QC138,766n/a 
      Denton, TX139,73411515.3%
      Olathe, KS139,2161054.8%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.