Centralia, KS vs Wathena, KS

Centralia, KS and Wathena, KS have a very similar cost of living, with only a 2.2% difference in their overall index. Centralia scores 66 while Wathena scores 67 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Centralia is $930/month compared to $794/month in Wathena — a 17% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Wathena has cheaper rent, Centralia actually has lower median home values ($80,600 vs $154,800).

Median household income in Centralia is $58,125 compared to $84,531 in Wathena (-31.2%). While Wathena is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Centralia spend roughly 19.2% of their income on rent, more than the 11.3% in Wathena.