Emporia, KS vs Pittsburg, KS

Emporia, KS and Pittsburg, KS have a very similar cost of living, with only a 2% difference in their overall index. Emporia scores 66 while Pittsburg scores 64 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 Emporia is $793/month compared to $840/month in Pittsburg — a 6% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Emporia has cheaper rent, Pittsburg actually has lower median home values ($110,800 vs $127,500).

Median household income in Emporia is $52,787 compared to $40,220 in Pittsburg (+31.2%). While Emporia is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Emporia spend roughly 18% of their income on rent, less than the 25.1% in Pittsburg.