City Comparison

Topeka vs Yuma

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Topeka

Kansas
83
Very Affordable
$175,000
Median Home
$900/mo
Median Rent
$55,500
Median Income

Yuma

Arizona
92
Below Average
$284,000
Median Home
$1,100/mo
Median Rent
$54,100
Median Income

The Verdict

9.8%

Topeka is 9.8% less expensive than Yuma overall. A household earning $75,000 in Topeka would need approximately $83,133 in Yuma to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
55
Topeka
82
Yuma
Groceries
98
Topeka
101
Yuma
Utilities
97
Topeka
102
Yuma
Transportation
96
Topeka
97
Yuma
Healthcare
96
Topeka
87
Yuma

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Topeka has the same purchasing power as $83,133 in Yuma.

Conversely, $75,000 in Yuma equals $67,663 in Topeka.

Living in Topeka vs Yuma

Housing Costs

Topeka's housing index of 55 is lower Yuma's 82, translating to median home prices of $175,000 vs $284,000. The $109,000 difference in home prices means roughly $7,080 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $900/mo in Topeka compared to $1,100/mo in Yuma, a monthly difference of $200.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 98 in Topeka and 101 in Yuma. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $466/month in Topeka vs $480/month in Yuma. 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 97 in Topeka and 102 in Yuma. Monthly utility bills average approximately $388 in Topeka vs $408 in Yuma. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 96 in Topeka and 87 in Yuma. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 9-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $55,500 in Topeka and $54,100 in Yuma. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $66,867 and $58,804 respectively. Topeka residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,295/month to housing in Topeka vs $1,262/month in Yuma. In Topeka, median rent of $900/mo fits within this budget. In Yuma, median rent of $1,100/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 27 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Topeka is 9.8% more affordable overall with an index of 83 vs 92.
A $75,000 salary in Topeka has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $83,133 in Yuma, based on the cost of living difference.
Topeka's housing index is 55 with median homes at $175,000, while Yuma's is 82 with median homes at $284,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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