Arkansas City, KS vs Colby, KS

Arkansas City is moderately more affordable than Colby, with a 7.4% lower cost of living index. Arkansas City scores 61 compared to 66 for Colby, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Colby can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Arkansas City is $762/month compared to $736/month in Colby — a 4% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Colby has cheaper rent, Arkansas City actually has lower median home values ($81,700 vs $150,700).

Median household income in Arkansas City is $53,475 compared to $66,731 in Colby (-19.9%). While Colby is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Arkansas City spend roughly 17.1% of their income on rent, more than the 13.2% in Colby.

Climate-wise, Arkansas City is notably warmer with an average of 58.2°F compared to 51.7°F in Colby. Arkansas City receives more rainfall at 34.9" per year compared to 19.1" in Colby.