City Comparison
Wichita vs Salina
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Salina scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Wichita
Salina
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Wichita is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
2% lower than in Salina.
| Metric | Wichita | Salina | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $950 | $920 | +3% |
| Groceries | $380 | $400 | -5% |
| Utilities | $170 | $180 | -6% |
| Transport | $110 | $120 | -8% |
| Healthcare | $220 | $250 | -12% |
| Monthly Total | $1,830 | $1,870 | -2% |
| Cost Index | 88 | 82 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Salina offers 12% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Salina delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Wichita is estimated at
$48,000 vs $36,792 in Salina.
| Metric | Wichita | Salina |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $58,000 | $65,745 |
| Salary Needed | $48,000 | $36,792 |
| Purchasing Power | 65,909 idx | 80,177 idx |
| Household Income | $65,200 | $61,783 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 1.1°F of each other.
Winter severity differs too — Salina sees 8.3 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Wichita | Salina |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 58.40°F | 57.30°F |
| Summer High | 87.20°F | 88.10°F |
| Winter Low | 23.60°F | 20.50°F |
| Rainfall | 35.90 in | 26.10 in |
| Snowfall | 7.90 in | 16.20 in |
| Sunny Days | 280 | 280 |
| Humidity | 65.00% | 65.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Salina has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
2,000 minutes (33 hours) per year compared to Wichita.
For walkability, Wichita leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Wichita | Salina |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 19 min | 15 min |
| Transit Score | 35.0/100 | 35.0/100 |
| Walkability | 42.0/100 | 39.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 32.00 | |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Wichita is the larger city
— approximately 8.6x the population of Salina.
From a growth perspective, Wichita is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Wichita has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Wichita | Salina |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 397,532 | 46,307 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.40% | — |
| Median Age | 35.2 | 39.3 |
| Unemployment | 3.20% | 3.90% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Wichita
Advantages
Median home prices in Wichita are significantly lower than the national average, making homeownership highly accessible per Zillow data.
Average daily commute times are notably shorter than the U.S. average, reducing daily transit stress per Census Bureau reports.
The city offers a robust and growing arts and culinary scene, particularly in the historic Old Town and Delano districts.
Wichita serves as a major regional healthcare hub with world-class hospital systems like Ascension Via Christi and Wesley Medical Center.
Abundant green spaces, including the Arkansas River multi-use paths and Botanica Gardens, provide strong outdoor recreation options.
Drawbacks
The local economy experiences cyclical fluctuations due to its heavy reliance on the aerospace manufacturing sector.
Public transportation options are limited, resulting in a high degree of car dependency for daily commuting and errands.
Summer temperatures can be quite high and breezy, while winters occasionally bring unpredictable severe weather and ice storms.
Certain urban core neighborhoods experience higher property crime rates relative to suburban developments.
Voter-approved public transit and infrastructure funding have historically lagged behind growing metropolitan expansion needs.
Salina
Advantages
Affordable cost of living, with housing costs significantly below the national average.
Diverse and robust economy with key industries in manufacturing, healthcare, and agriculture.
Shorter than average commute times, with an average of 14.8 minutes.
Strong sense of community and family-friendly atmosphere.
Regional healthcare and educational hub for North Central Kansas.
Drawbacks
Car-dependent with limited public transportation and low walkability scores.
Crime rates, particularly violent crime, are higher than the national average.
Limited entertainment and dining options compared to larger cities.
Population has shown a declining trend in recent years.
Property crime rate remains above the Kansas average.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Wichita
#290Kansas, USA
61.4 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$950
Avg Salary
$58,000
Cost Index
88
Commute
19 min
Transit Score
35.0/100
Walkability
42.0/100
Sunny Days
280/yr
Avg Temp
58.40°F
Pop. Growth
0.40%
Unemployment
3.20%
Livability
75
Business
70
Salina
#129Kansas, USA
66.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$920
Avg Salary
$65,745
Cost Index
82
Commute
15 min
Transit Score
35.0/100
Walkability
39.0/100
Sunny Days
280/yr
Avg Temp
57.30°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
3.90%
Livability
74
Business
68
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