How affordable is Wichita? Here’s how monthly bills in the city compare to US average
Wichitans spend less money on bills each year than the average American, according to one analysis released by online bill-pay company doxo.
The analysis found the average Wichita household spends $1,813 on bills each month, coming out to more than $21,000 a year. But that’s $2,807 less than the American yearly average, the company reports.
Paying for bills takes up 38% of Wichita’s average household income, pinned at $60,566, according to doxoINSIGHTS.
The firm used data on actual bill payment activity from more than 8 million American households in the analysis, the website reports.
Bills in Wichita could be going up, however. In April, major energy provider Evergy requested a 9.7% utility rate increase for customers living in the city, as well as Hutchinson, Topeka and Pittsburg. If approved, the rate hike would add an additional $14.24 each month on average, starting at the end of the year.
Here’s a look at Wichita’s monthly bill cost and how it compares to the U.S. and other Kansas locations.
Which monthly bills cost less in Wichita?
There are six monthly expenses Wichitans pay less for compared to the national averages, doxoINSIGHTS reports.
The average Wichita homeowner pays $1,074 per month on their mortgage, compared to the U.S. average of $1,321. Those paying rent in Wichita shell out around $300 less than the national average, which is $1,191 compared to Wichita’s $864.
The monthly auto loan bill for the city is more than $100 less than the national average, $343 to the national figure of $467. Additionally, auto insurance in Wichita averages $148, while the national average is $207 monthly.
The average phone bill cost is just a little less in Wichita than the national average, as well. In Wichita, the average sits at $107, while the national number is $119.
The average cost of life insurance in Wichita is just $17 less than the national number, $72 compared to $89 across the U.S.
Which monthly bills are more expensive in Wichita?
While bills, on average, cost 11.4% less in Wichita then the U.S. as a whole, there are some that come out higher, the doxoINSIGHTS analysis found.
The average cost for utilities in Wichita is $359, $8 higher than the national number. At $128, the cable and internet costs also are greater by $10.
The average monthly health insurance cost in Wichita is $100 higher then the national figure.
Paying for alarm and security comes out pricier in Wichita, too. The average monthly bill in Wichita is $108, compared to the nation’s $84 average.
Most expensive cities in Kansas for monthly bills
Wichita is the 15th most expensive city when it comes to bills in Kansas. Leawood takes the No. 1 spot in the state, with bills costing $7,672 more each year than the U.S. average.
The top 10 most expensive cities in the state for monthly bills are, according to doxo:
Leawood
Prairie Village
Lenexa
Overland Park
Olathe
Gardner
Shawnee
Mission
Derby
Topeka
Additionally, the five Kansas counties with the most expensive bills are Miami, Johnson, Leavenworth, Riley and Douglas.
How to get help paying your bills in Wichita
If you’re in need of bill assistance, there are several resources you can turn to for help.
For help paying your energy bill, the Kansas Corporation Commission says to call United Way at 211 to get connected to a program. Help is available through the Salvation Army depending on your income, and project DESERVE helps those older than 65.
The state has several assistance programs as well, including a water assistance program, rental housing, rental assistance and more. You can view details and see if you qualify on the state’s website.
