Abilene, KS vs St. Marys, KS

Abilene is moderately more affordable than St. Marys, with a 10.3% lower cost of living index. Abilene scores 66 compared to 74 for St. Marys, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of St. Marys can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Abilene is $788/month compared to $863/month in St. Marys — a 9% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Abilene is more affordable at $136,000 median vs $196,300.

Median household income in Abilene is $56,592 compared to $71,723 in St. Marys (-21.1%). While St. Marys is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Abilene spend roughly 16.7% of their income on rent, more than the 14.4% in St. Marys.