Median rent is 17% lower in Wichita ($975/mo vs $1,171/mo). Buying is cheaper in Wichita, where the median home runs $190,800 versus $293,600. Households earn more in Huntsville ($74,714 vs $64,620 a year). Taken together, Huntsville is the more affordable choice with a cost index of 88.1 against 89.4 — about 1% lower overall prices. After adjusting income for local prices, a typical paycheck stretches further in Huntsville, AL.
Cost of living verdict
Huntsville is 1% cheaper overall
Cost of Living Index: 88.1 in Huntsville vs 89.4 in Wichita (US national average = 100)
City A
Huntsville, AL
City B
Wichita, KS
How much would you need to earn in Wichita, KS to maintain your standard of living from Huntsville, AL?
Equivalent salary in Wichita, KS
$76,119
You'd need $1,119 more (1% higher).
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each metro area. This estimates overall purchasing power; it does not account for taxes or take-home pay differences.
Metric
Huntsville
Alabama
Wichita
Kansas
Population
Median Household Income
Annual
Median Gross Rent
Per month
Median Home Value
Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: Census ACS, BEA, HUD Fair Market Rents, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Median rent is modestly lower in Wichita at $975/mo compared to $1,171/mo in Huntsville (17% gap). Home buyers face a steeper market in Huntsville: the median home is $293,600 versus $190,800 in Wichita — 35% more expensive.
Metric
Huntsville
Wichita
Software Developer
Registered Nurse
Elementary Teacher
Electrician
Accountant
Higher wage highlighted · BLS OEWS 2023 (metro-level data)
State tax data is not yet available for these cities.
Huntsville
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Wichita
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Wichita has cleaner air on average: 24.0 AQI (Good) compared to 28.0 AQI (Good) in the other city. Lower AQI means cleaner, healthier air.
Pick Huntsville if you prioritize higher median household income ($74,714/yr).
Pick Wichita if you prioritize cheaper rent ($975/mo median).
Huntsville is cheaper overall, with a cost of living index of 88.1 versus 89.4 (US average = 100). That means prices run about 1% lower in Huntsville.
Median rent is $1,171/mo in Huntsville, AL and $975/mo in Wichita, KS. Wichita, KS has the lower rent by about 17%.
Median household income is $74,714 in Huntsville, AL and $64,620 in Wichita, KS. Huntsville, AL has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Wichita, KS has better air quality on average: 24.0 AQI versus 28.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
To maintain the same purchasing power, a salary of $100,000 in Huntsville, AL is equivalent to roughly $101,491 in Wichita, KS (using the BEA Regional Price Parity ratio). Use the salary calculator above for any income amount.
Data last updated: June 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
