CICostIndexUSA

Gainesville, FL vs Lawrence, KS Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

FL
Gainesville
96.7
overall index
$1,675/mo rent
More AffordableKS
Lawrence
90.2
overall index
$1,300/mo rent

Lawrence is moderately cheaper than Gainesville — 6.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Gainesville, you would need $74,600 in Lawrence. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing23.0%
Gainesville
93
Lawrence
71.6
🛒 Groceries2.3%
Gainesville
96.2
Lawrence
94
🚗 Transportation5.1%
Gainesville
103.8
Lawrence
98.5
🏥 Healthcare5.1%
Gainesville
93.9
Lawrence
89.1
Utilities+1.2%
Gainesville
88.2
Lawrence
89.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Gainesville to see what you'd need to earn in Lawrence to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Lawrence, KS
$74,600
$5,400 less needed in Lawrence

Formula: salary × (90.2 ÷ 96.7) = salary × 0.9328. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Gainesville, FL

Median Home Price
$306,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,675
Housing Index
93
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.2×

Lawrence, KS

Median Home Price
$344,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,300
Housing Index
71.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
22.1×

Gainesville has 23.0% lower housing costs compared to Lawrence.

Income & Job Market

Gainesville, FL

Median Household Income
$61,900
Per Capita Income
$35,300
Unemployment Rate
4.5%
Population
140,003
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnologyGovernmentResearch

Lawrence, KS

Median Household Income
$72,400
Per Capita Income
$41,300
Unemployment Rate
4.2%
Population
98,004
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnologyRetailManufacturing

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Gainesville, FL
3.1×income-to-rent ratio

68% of income left after rent (median)

Lawrence, KS
4.6×income-to-rent ratio

78% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.