Arkansas City, KS vs Mulvane, KS

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Arkansas City is 24% cheaper than Mulvane. With a cost index of 61 vs 80, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Arkansas City to Mulvane should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Arkansas City is $762/month compared to $1,156/month in Mulvane — a 34% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Arkansas City is more affordable at $81,700 median vs $168,900.

Median household income in Arkansas City is $53,475 compared to $70,224 in Mulvane (-23.9%). The higher salaries in Mulvane partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Arkansas City spend roughly 17.1% of their income on rent, less than the 19.8% in Mulvane.