Topeka, KS vs Lawrence, KS: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, Lawrence, KS is 1.6% more expensive than Topeka, KS (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Topeka works out to about $76,200 in Lawrence, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 10.2% more in Lawrence. Goods are 0.0% higher and other services 0.0% higher.
- Typical asking rent is $1,563 a month in Lawrence and $1,250 in Topeka, $3,756 a year more in Lawrence (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $336,000 in Lawrence and $217,000 in Topeka.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (1.5%).
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.
Housing drives the gap: 10.2% higher in Lawrence than in Topeka
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Topeka, KS
- Lawrence, KS
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Topeka, KS | Lawrence, KS | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 88.8 | 90.2 |
| Goods | 94.0 | 94.0 |
| Housing (rents) | 65.0 | 71.6 |
| Utilities | 88.9 | 89.3 |
| Other services | 93.8 | 93.8 |
| Category | Topeka | Lawrence | Lawrence vs Topeka |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 88.8 | 90.2 | +1.6% |
| Goods | 94.0 | 94.0 | 0.0% |
| Housing (rents) | 65.0 | 71.6 | +10.2% |
| Utilities | 88.9 | 89.3 | +0.4% |
| Other services | 93.8 | 93.8 | 0.0% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,250 | $1,563 | +25.0% |
| Typical home value | $217,000 | $336,000 | +54.7% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Topeka | $75,000 | $76,200 | +1.6% |
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 Topeka and Lawrence has narrowed since 2008: 6.7 points then, 1.4 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Topeka, KS
- Lawrence, KS
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Topeka, KS | Lawrence, KS | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 91.5 | 98.2 |
| 2009 | 92.6 | 97.7 |
| 2010 | 93.0 | 97.5 |
| 2011 | 92.0 | 95.9 |
| 2012 | 91.6 | 96.0 |
| 2013 | 91.6 | 96.1 |
| 2014 | 92.4 | 96.5 |
| 2015 | 90.3 | 93.1 |
| 2016 | 89.9 | 94.1 |
| 2017 | 89.2 | 94.3 |
| 2018 | 91.8 | 94.3 |
| 2019 | 90.8 | 92.2 |
| 2020 | 90.1 | 94.0 |
| 2021 | 89.3 | 92.8 |
| 2022 | 87.3 | 92.2 |
| 2023 | 85.8 | 90.9 |
| 2024 | 88.8 | 90.2 |
Goods
- Topeka, KS
- Lawrence, KS
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Topeka, KS | Lawrence, KS | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 93.1 | 98.7 |
| 2009 | 94.6 | 97.7 |
| 2010 | 95.8 | 96.4 |
| 2011 | 95.7 | 96.1 |
| 2012 | 96.7 | 97.2 |
| 2013 | 96.2 | 97.0 |
| 2014 | 97.4 | 98.2 |
| 2015 | 97.1 | 97.8 |
| 2016 | 96.2 | 97.0 |
| 2017 | 95.0 | 95.5 |
| 2018 | 95.0 | 95.0 |
| 2019 | 97.1 | 97.1 |
| 2020 | 95.9 | 95.9 |
| 2021 | 93.8 | 93.8 |
| 2022 | 93.6 | 93.6 |
| 2023 | 96.5 | 96.5 |
| 2024 | 94.0 | 94.0 |
Housing (rents)
- Topeka, KS
- Lawrence, KS
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Topeka, KS | Lawrence, KS | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 70.2 | 92.3 |
| 2009 | 72.7 | 91.8 |
| 2010 | 73.7 | 96.3 |
| 2011 | 75.8 | 95.2 |
| 2012 | 70.8 | 91.1 |
| 2013 | 69.4 | 89.0 |
| 2014 | 73.0 | 93.3 |
| 2015 | 68.6 | 76.9 |
| 2016 | 66.7 | 83.1 |
| 2017 | 66.6 | 88.5 |
| 2018 | 69.4 | 83.1 |
| 2019 | 63.2 | 68.7 |
| 2020 | 63.7 | 80.2 |
| 2021 | 61.9 | 78.3 |
| 2022 | 59.5 | 84.8 |
| 2023 | 53.4 | 74.1 |
| 2024 | 65.0 | 71.6 |
Utilities
- Topeka, KS
- Lawrence, KS
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Topeka, KS | Lawrence, KS | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 90.5 | 93.8 |
| 2009 | 93.7 | 97.5 |
| 2010 | 90.9 | 91.7 |
| 2011 | 90.7 | 94.1 |
| 2012 | 90.9 | 94.9 |
| 2013 | 93.1 | 95.9 |
| 2014 | 88.4 | 89.1 |
| 2015 | 87.8 | 87.6 |
| 2016 | 88.2 | 86.8 |
| 2017 | 94.3 | 94.2 |
| 2018 | 104.2 | 105.1 |
| 2019 | 100.6 | 101.8 |
| 2020 | 102.2 | 104.7 |
| 2021 | 102.1 | 105.3 |
| 2022 | 104.6 | 107.5 |
| 2023 | 91.6 | 92.8 |
| 2024 | 88.9 | 89.3 |
Other services
- Topeka, KS
- Lawrence, KS
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Topeka, KS | Lawrence, KS | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 98.7 | 100.0 |
| 2009 | 98.6 | 99.8 |
| 2010 | 98.1 | 99.1 |
| 2011 | 95.4 | 96.1 |
| 2012 | 96.2 | 96.9 |
| 2013 | 96.6 | 97.7 |
| 2014 | 96.0 | 96.9 |
| 2015 | 93.8 | 95.2 |
| 2016 | 94.2 | 96.3 |
| 2017 | 93.6 | 95.4 |
| 2018 | 97.0 | 97.0 |
| 2019 | 97.0 | 97.0 |
| 2020 | 97.1 | 97.1 |
| 2021 | 96.6 | 96.6 |
| 2022 | 92.9 | 92.9 |
| 2023 | 93.0 | 93.0 |
| 2024 | 93.8 | 93.8 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,563 in Lawrence vs $1,250 in Topeka
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Topeka, KS
- Lawrence, 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
| Topeka, KS | Lawrence, 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 | $947 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $733 | $934 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $754 | $948 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $759 | $953 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $755 | $965 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $754 | $972 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $774 | $975 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $778 | $974 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $779 | $997 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $785 | $1,001 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $815 | $985 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $828 | $1,000 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $808 | $1,025 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $829 | $1,040 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $826 | $1,048 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $833 | $1,048 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $850 | $1,063 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $846 | $1,074 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $891 | $1,101 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $919 | $1,117 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $940 | $1,139 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $978 | $1,154 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $997 | $1,189 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,016 | $1,209 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,027 | $1,223 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,042 | $1,254 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,077 | $1,288 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,074 | $1,322 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,086 | $1,310 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,089 | $1,343 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,120 | $1,368 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,146 | $1,391 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,148 | $1,438 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,177 | $1,419 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,191 | $1,465 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,199 | $1,495 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,222 | $1,525 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,229 | $1,531 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,255 | $1,537 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,250 | $1,563 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $336,000 in Lawrence vs $217,000 in Topeka
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Topeka, KS
- Lawrence, 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
| Topeka, KS | Lawrence, KS | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $109K | $170K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $110K | $171K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $111K | $170K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $112K | $173K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $113K | $177K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $113K | $180K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $112K | $180K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $114K | $182K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $115K | $184K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $116K | $188K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $118K | $189K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $119K | $192K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $121K | $195K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $123K | $199K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $125K | $201K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $126K | $201K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $128K | $204K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $130K | $208K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $131K | $210K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $134K | $213K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $136K | $216K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $139K | $219K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $144K | $225K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $149K | $233K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $152K | $241K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $158K | $255K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $164K | $260K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $168K | $263K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $174K | $274K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $181K | $284K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $184K | $285K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $185K | $284K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $187K | $287K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $192K | $294K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $196K | $300K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $197K | $301K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $199K | $303K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $205K | $307K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $208K | $312K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $211K | $318K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $212K | $321K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $211K | $321K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $214K | $324K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $214K | $328K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $214K | $331K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $215K | $332K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $217K | $336K | $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.