Garden City, KS vs Shawnee, KS

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Garden City is 21.4% cheaper than Shawnee. With a cost index of 76 vs 97, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Garden City to Shawnee should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Garden City is $990/month compared to $1,233/month in Shawnee — a 20% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Garden City is more affordable at $186,200 median vs $332,900.

Median household income in Garden City is $72,511 compared to $106,312 in Shawnee (-31.8%). While Shawnee 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, more than the 13.9% in Shawnee.