Is $28,000 a good salary in Kansas?

$28,000 in Kansas provides a monthly take-home of approximately $1,955 after taxes. Across major Kansas cities, this salary is rated very tight, with an average monthly surplus of $-102.

What is the cost of living on $28,000 in Kansas?

The average monthly living cost across major Kansas cities is approximately $2,057 for a single adult (rent, food, transport, utilities, healthcare). On $28,000 take-home pay of $1,955/month, you would have roughly $-102/month remaining.

Living in Kansas · 2026

Is $28,000 enough to live in Kansas?

Single adult · KS · 2026 tax brackets · Real cost-of-living data

Statewide verdict:Very tight

Monthly take-home

$1,955

Avg monthly expenses

$2,057

Avg monthly surplus

$-102

Savings potential

~0%

After-tax take-home in Kansas

Gross salary$28,000

Federal income tax− $1,254

State income tax− $1,148

Social Security− $1,736

Medicare− $406

Annual take-home$23,456

Effective tax rate16.23%

How $28,000 feels in Kansas cities

Rent: HUD FMR 2026 · Food: USDA Low-Cost Plan × COL · Transport/Utilities/Healthcare: BLS CES × COL

Wichita

COL index: 0.85× national avg

Manageable

Rent (1BR)

$950

Food

$387

Transport

$149

Utilities

$140

Healthcare

$170

Total: $1,796/mo

Surplus: $159/mo

Rent burden: 48.6% — High (35–50%)

Full Wichita analysis →

Overland Park

COL index: 1.05× national avg

Very tight

Rent (1BR)

$1,350

Food

$449

Transport

$184

Utilities

$173

Healthcare

$210

Total: $2,366/mo

Surplus: $-411/mo

Rent burden: 69.1% — Unaffordable (> 50%)

Full Overland Park analysis →

Kansas City

COL index: 0.96× national avg

Very tight

Rent (1BR)

$1,200

Food

$418

Transport

$168

Utilities

$158

Healthcare

$192

Total: $2,136/mo

Surplus: $-181/mo

Rent burden: 61.4% — Unaffordable (> 50%)

Full Kansas City analysis →

Topeka

COL index: 0.83× national avg

Manageable

Rent (1BR)

$900

Food

$378

Transport

$145

Utilities

$137

Healthcare

$166

Total: $1,726/mo

Surplus: $229/mo

Rent burden: 46.0% — High (35–50%)

Full Topeka analysis →

Olathe

COL index: 1.03× national avg

Very tight

Rent (1BR)

$1,300

Food

$440

Transport

$180

Utilities

$170

Healthcare

$206

Total: $2,296/mo

Surplus: $-341/mo

Rent burden: 66.5% — Unaffordable (> 50%)

Full Olathe analysis →

Lawrence

COL index: 0.93× national avg

Very tight

Rent (1BR)

$1,100

Food

$418

Transport

$163

Utilities

$153

Healthcare

$186

Total: $2,020/mo

Surplus: $-65/mo

Rent burden: 56.3% — Unaffordable (> 50%)

Full Lawrence analysis →

50 / 30 / 20 Budget Planner

Based on your monthly take-home of $1,955 ($23,460/yr)

Needs 50%Wants 30%Savings 20%

Needs50%

$978

per month

›Rent / mortgage
›Groceries
›Utilities
›Insurance
›Minimum debt payments
›Transportation

Wants30%

$587

per month

›Dining out
›Streaming services
›Gym
›Hobbies
›Travel
›Shopping

Savings20%

$391

per month

›Emergency fund
›401(k) / IRA
›Investments
›Down payment fund
›Debt payoff (extra)

Needs / year

$11,730

Wants / year

$7,038

Savings / year

$4,692

Salary Intelligence

Below comfortable level in Wichita

Rent would consume 49% of take-home income — above the 35% stress threshold. A higher salary or lower-cost housing is needed for financial stability in this city.

Lifestyle score: 3.9/10 (Challenging)

Lifestyle Assessment

A $28,000 salary can cover essential living costs for a single adult in Wichita, Kansas, but leaves little room for savings (~8% of take-home). Lifestyle is rated challenging, with careful budgeting required to avoid month-to-month shortfalls.

Purchasing Power

Due to Wichita's low cost of living (index: 0.85), $28,000 here has the purchasing power of roughly $60,941 in San Francisco or $64,235 in New York City. Your dollar goes significantly further here.

State & National Benchmark

$28,000 is 31% below the Kansas individual median of $40,500. Consider negotiating a higher salary or exploring higher-paying roles in this state.

State individual median

$40,500

-31%

State household median

$69,747

-60%

Tax reduction strategies

Maximize 401(k) Contributions — Up to $5,170 in federal tax (22% bracket)

Contribute to a Traditional IRA — Up to $1,540 in federal tax (22% bracket)

$28,000 vs. Kansas income benchmarks

Individual median (Kansas)

$40,500

-31% vs. this salary

Household median (Kansas)

$69,747

-60% vs. this salary

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 2023

Related salary insights

Explore other salary levels in Kansas

$40,000 $60,000 $100,000 $150,000 $200,000 $300,000

Reviewed by

Finance Editor

CPA, 10+ years in personal finance

Data Sources

•Tax calculations: IRS federal tax tables
•Rent data: HUD Fair Market Rents
•Cost-of-living index: C2ER / ACCRA Cost of Living Index

Data updated monthly using government datasets.