Illinois
High tax burden · COL index 92
Wins 4 categories
Kansas
Moderate tax burden · COL index 86
Wins 8 categories
Property taxes are meaningfully different: Illinois averages 1.73% annually vs Kansas's 1.24%. Politically, Kansas voted Republican in 2024 (R+20.0) while Illinois went Democratic (D+14.0).
Taxes
Housing & Cost of Living
Crime & Safety
Healthcare
Education
Childcare
Utilities & Daily Costs
Social Policy
Category wins
4
Illinois
8
Kansas
Run the full slider tool to score these states against your specific income, home value, retirement, and lifestyle priorities.
Score For My Profile →People Also Ask
Is Kansas cheaper than Illinois?
Overall cost of living in Chicago, IL is 32.3% higher than in Kansas City, KS. The average listing price for a home in Chicago, IL is $621,136, which is 43.0% higher than Kansas City, KS. The average cost of groceries in Chicago, IL is 6.4% higher than Kansas City, KS.
Is Illinois or Kansas flatter?
What are the pros and cons of living in Kansas?
Which part of Kansas is the best to live in?
The three best cities to live in Kansas are Olathe, Overland Park and Shawnee, all in Johnson County, says U.S. News & World Report.