Colby, KS vs Great Bend, KS

Colby, KS and Great Bend, KS have a very similar cost of living, with only a 3.8% difference in their overall index. Colby scores 66 while Great Bend scores 63 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 Colby is $736/month compared to $744/month in Great Bend — a 1% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Colby has cheaper rent, Great Bend actually has lower median home values ($118,700 vs $150,700).

Median household income in Colby is $66,731 compared to $53,323 in Great Bend (+25.1%). 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 Colby spend roughly 13.2% of their income on rent, less than the 16.7% in Great Bend.

Climate-wise, Great Bend is notably warmer with an average of 54.8°F compared to 51.7°F in Colby. Great Bend receives more rainfall at 24.8" per year compared to 19.1" in Colby.