Garden City, KS vs Ottawa, KS

Garden City, KS and Ottawa, KS have a very similar cost of living, with only a 4% difference in their overall index. Garden City scores 76 while Ottawa scores 74 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 Garden City is $990/month compared to $949/month in Ottawa — a 4% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Ottawa is more affordable at $165,700 median vs $186,200.

Median household income in Garden City is $72,511 compared to $64,655 in Ottawa (+12.2%). While Garden City is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Garden City spend roughly 16.4% of their income on rent, less than the 17.6% in Ottawa.