City Comparison

Odessa vs Olathe

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Odessa

Texas
85
Very Affordable
$223,000
Median Home
$1,150/mo
Median Rent
$73,500
Median Income

Olathe

Kansas
106
Above Average
$364,000
Median Home
$1,425/mo
Median Rent
$114,000
Median Income

The Verdict

19.8%

Odessa is 19.8% less expensive than Olathe overall. A household earning $75,000 in Odessa would need approximately $93,529 in Olathe to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
72
Odessa
106
Olathe
Groceries
96
Odessa
96
Olathe
Utilities
100
Odessa
98
Olathe
Transportation
93
Odessa
95
Olathe
Healthcare
96
Odessa
102
Olathe

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Odessa has the same purchasing power as $93,529 in Olathe.

Conversely, $75,000 in Olathe equals $60,142 in Odessa.

Living in Odessa vs Olathe

Housing Costs

Odessa's housing index of 72 is lower Olathe's 106, translating to median home prices of $223,000 vs $364,000. The $141,000 difference in home prices means roughly $9,168 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,150/mo in Odessa compared to $1,425/mo in Olathe, a monthly difference of $275.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 96 in Odessa and 96 in Olathe. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $456/month in Odessa vs $456/month in Olathe. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 100 in Odessa and 98 in Olathe. Monthly utility bills average approximately $400 in Odessa vs $392 in Olathe. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 96 in Odessa and 102 in Olathe. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $73,500 in Odessa and $114,000 in Olathe. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $86,471 and $107,547 respectively. Olathe residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,715/month to housing in Odessa vs $2,660/month in Olathe. In Odessa, median rent of $1,150/mo fits within this budget. In Olathe, median rent of $1,425/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 34 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Odessa is 19.8% more affordable overall with an index of 85 vs 106.
A $75,000 salary in Odessa has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $93,529 in Olathe, based on the cost of living difference.
Odessa's housing index is 72 with median homes at $223,000, while Olathe's is 106 with median homes at $364,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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