Rents are 4% above what Wichita's 10-year trend predicts — running hotter than its own history.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,158 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: August 17, 2026
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Who lives here
Wichita, KS is majority owner-occupied, has a median income below the national average, 31.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Wichita, KS has changed in 5 years
Rent in Wichita, KS has increased 33.7% since 2021, going from about $866 per month to roughly $1,158 today. Census figures show median household income at $64,620 today, compared with $56,374 five years earlier. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 19.1 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.
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Can you afford rent in Wichita on your salary?
At $1,158/mo, how Wichita rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Wichita rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Wichita. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Wichita
Last updated: August 17, 2026
The median rent in Wichita is $1,158/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $742/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,074/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $820/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,408/mo.
At 22% of local median household income ($64,620/yr), Wichita ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 5.1% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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What percentage of Wichita residents rent vs. own?
How does Wichita rent compare to the national average?
At $1,158/mo, rent takes ~22% of Wichita's median household income ($64,620/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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