Colby, KS vs Lakin, KS

Colby is moderately more affordable than Lakin, with a 14.3% lower cost of living index. Colby scores 66 compared to 77 for Lakin, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Lakin can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Colby is $736/month compared to $1,123/month in Lakin — a 35% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Colby has cheaper rent, Lakin actually has lower median home values ($141,700 vs $150,700).

Median household income in Colby is $66,731 compared to $84,286 in Lakin (-20.8%). While Lakin 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% in Lakin.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (51.7°F vs 54.4°F). Colby receives more rainfall at 19.1" per year compared to 19" in Lakin.