Wichita’s cost of living saw a slight increase from 2024 to 2025, according to a new report by financial website SmartAsset, while residents of another city in Kansas saw relief. SmartAsset named Wichita the 174th location nationally for increase in cost of living over a one-year period in its March 16 report “Where Cost of Living Increased and Decreased Most – 2026 Study.” The report found Wichita had an increase of 0.78%, although the city still has a cost of living 12.6% below the national average. Hutchinson saw a 2.75% decrease in cost of living, according to the analysis, landing 14.9% below the U.S. average. “The cost of living premium in a specific location reflects the relative cost of housing, groceries, utilities, transportation, and other common necessities, compared to the rest of the country,” SmartAsset’s report said.
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