Jefferson City, MO vs Topeka, KS: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, living costs in Topeka, KS and Jefferson City, MO are within 1% of each other (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Jefferson City works out to about $75,700 in Topeka, before taxes.
- Housing is 4.6% higher in Topeka, goods 0.2% lower and other services 0.8% higher, which roughly cancel out.
- Typical asking rent is $1,250 a month in Topeka and $1,010 in Jefferson City, $2,880 a year more in Topeka (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $217,000 in Topeka and $275,000 in Jefferson City.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (0.3%).
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Overall prices are about the same in Jefferson City and Topeka
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Jefferson City, MO
- Topeka, KS
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Jefferson City, MO | Topeka, KS | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 88.0 | 88.8 |
| Goods | 94.2 | 94.0 |
| Housing (rents) | 62.1 | 65.0 |
| Utilities | 85.5 | 88.9 |
| Other services | 93.0 | 93.8 |
| Category | Jefferson City | Topeka | Topeka vs Jefferson City |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 88.0 | 88.8 | +1.0% |
| Goods | 94.2 | 94.0 | −0.2% |
| Housing (rents) | 62.1 | 65.0 | +4.6% |
| Utilities | 85.5 | 88.9 | +4.0% |
| Other services | 93.0 | 93.8 | +0.8% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,010 | $1,250 | +23.8% |
| Typical home value | $275,000 | $217,000 | −21.2% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Jefferson City | $75,000 | $75,700 | +1.0% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Jefferson City and Topeka has narrowed since 2008: 10.1 points then, 0.8 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Jefferson City, MO
- Topeka, KS
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Jefferson City, MO | Topeka, KS | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 81.4 | 91.5 |
| 2009 | 84.7 | 92.6 |
| 2010 | 87.8 | 93.0 |
| 2011 | 87.4 | 92.0 |
| 2012 | 89.9 | 91.6 |
| 2013 | 88.3 | 91.6 |
| 2014 | 86.8 | 92.4 |
| 2015 | 86.7 | 90.3 |
| 2016 | 85.8 | 89.9 |
| 2017 | 82.5 | 89.2 |
| 2018 | 89.3 | 91.8 |
| 2019 | 91.1 | 90.8 |
| 2020 | 88.9 | 90.1 |
| 2021 | 88.2 | 89.3 |
| 2022 | 87.0 | 87.3 |
| 2023 | 87.4 | 85.8 |
| 2024 | 88.0 | 88.8 |
Goods
- Jefferson City, MO
- Topeka, KS
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Jefferson City, MO | Topeka, KS | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 76.5 | 93.1 |
| 2009 | 85.3 | 94.6 |
| 2010 | 94.1 | 95.8 |
| 2011 | 94.5 | 95.7 |
| 2012 | 95.5 | 96.7 |
| 2013 | 95.0 | 96.2 |
| 2014 | 95.7 | 97.4 |
| 2015 | 96.2 | 97.1 |
| 2016 | 94.6 | 96.2 |
| 2017 | 93.8 | 95.0 |
| 2018 | 95.1 | 95.0 |
| 2019 | 97.1 | 97.1 |
| 2020 | 95.8 | 95.9 |
| 2021 | 94.1 | 93.8 |
| 2022 | 93.7 | 93.6 |
| 2023 | 96.6 | 96.5 |
| 2024 | 94.2 | 94.0 |
Housing (rents)
- Jefferson City, MO
- Topeka, KS
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Jefferson City, MO | Topeka, KS | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 60.6 | 70.2 |
| 2009 | 59.5 | 72.7 |
| 2010 | 60.3 | 73.7 |
| 2011 | 62.1 | 75.8 |
| 2012 | 66.7 | 70.8 |
| 2013 | 62.9 | 69.4 |
| 2014 | 54.6 | 73.0 |
| 2015 | 60.9 | 68.6 |
| 2016 | 60.7 | 66.7 |
| 2017 | 49.3 | 66.6 |
| 2018 | 57.2 | 69.4 |
| 2019 | 67.6 | 63.2 |
| 2020 | 59.4 | 63.7 |
| 2021 | 58.9 | 61.9 |
| 2022 | 60.0 | 59.5 |
| 2023 | 57.7 | 53.4 |
| 2024 | 62.1 | 65.0 |
Utilities
- Jefferson City, MO
- Topeka, KS
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Jefferson City, MO | Topeka, KS | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 74.7 | 90.5 |
| 2009 | 77.4 | 93.7 |
| 2010 | 82.4 | 90.9 |
| 2011 | 79.2 | 90.7 |
| 2012 | 80.7 | 90.9 |
| 2013 | 83.4 | 93.1 |
| 2014 | 81.2 | 88.4 |
| 2015 | 85.0 | 87.8 |
| 2016 | 85.5 | 88.2 |
| 2017 | 86.7 | 94.3 |
| 2018 | 92.7 | 104.2 |
| 2019 | 92.5 | 100.6 |
| 2020 | 92.9 | 102.2 |
| 2021 | 90.2 | 102.1 |
| 2022 | 88.1 | 104.6 |
| 2023 | 86.6 | 91.6 |
| 2024 | 85.5 | 88.9 |
Other services
- Jefferson City, MO
- Topeka, KS
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Jefferson City, MO | Topeka, KS | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 93.6 | 98.7 |
| 2009 | 94.4 | 98.6 |
| 2010 | 94.4 | 98.1 |
| 2011 | 91.8 | 95.4 |
| 2012 | 94.1 | 96.2 |
| 2013 | 93.6 | 96.6 |
| 2014 | 93.6 | 96.0 |
| 2015 | 90.3 | 93.8 |
| 2016 | 89.1 | 94.2 |
| 2017 | 88.4 | 93.6 |
| 2018 | 96.3 | 97.0 |
| 2019 | 96.2 | 97.0 |
| 2020 | 96.4 | 97.1 |
| 2021 | 95.2 | 96.6 |
| 2022 | 91.8 | 92.9 |
| 2023 | 92.3 | 93.0 |
| 2024 | 93.0 | 93.8 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,250 in Topeka vs $1,010 in Jefferson City
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Jefferson City, MO
- Topeka, KS
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Jefferson City, MO | Topeka, KS | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | – | $711 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | – | $729 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | – | $721 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | – | $722 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | – | $722 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | – | $745 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | – | $758 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | – | $742 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | – | $733 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | – | $754 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | – | $759 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | – | $755 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | – | $754 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | – | $774 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | – | $778 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | – | $779 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | – | $785 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | – | $815 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | – | $828 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | – | $808 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | – | $829 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | – | $826 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | – | $833 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | – | $850 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | – | $846 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | – | $891 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | – | $919 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | – | $940 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | – | $978 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | – | $997 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | – | $1,016 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | – | $1,027 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $770 | $1,042 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $763 | $1,077 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $771 | $1,074 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $807 | $1,086 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $810 | $1,089 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $849 | $1,120 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $878 | $1,146 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $881 | $1,148 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $894 | $1,177 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $911 | $1,191 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $950 | $1,199 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $957 | $1,222 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $980 | $1,229 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $966 | $1,255 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,010 | $1,250 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $217,000 in Topeka vs $275,000 in Jefferson City
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Jefferson City, MO
- Topeka, KS
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Jefferson City, MO | Topeka, KS | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $136K | $109K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $138K | $110K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $140K | $111K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $142K | $112K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $144K | $113K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $145K | $113K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $146K | $112K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $148K | $114K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $150K | $115K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $151K | $116K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $153K | $118K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $155K | $119K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $158K | $121K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $163K | $123K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $165K | $125K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $167K | $126K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $169K | $128K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $169K | $130K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $169K | $131K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $171K | $134K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $173K | $136K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $175K | $139K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $180K | $144K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $189K | $149K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $195K | $152K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $202K | $158K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $206K | $164K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $209K | $168K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $218K | $174K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $227K | $181K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $229K | $184K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $229K | $185K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $229K | $187K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $233K | $192K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $236K | $196K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $237K | $197K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $241K | $199K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $246K | $205K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $248K | $208K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $252K | $211K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $255K | $212K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $255K | $211K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $257K | $214K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $263K | $214K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $268K | $214K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $271K | $215K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $275K | $217K | $366K |
More about each city
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.