Cost of Living Comparison Between Wichita, KS and Barrie Cost of Living Comparison Between Wichita, KS and Barrie

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,165 in Wichita, KS versus $2,609 in Barrie.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,401 in Wichita, KS versus $3,673 in Barrie.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,636 in Wichita, KS versus $4,736 in Barrie.

Living in Wichita, KS costs roughly 17% less than in Barrie, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Wichita, KS 62% above, Barrie 95% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Wichita, KS
Barrie
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.67 $19.67
$14.98 CA$20.88
31.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$56.1 $56.1
$73.0 CA$102
-23.19%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.03 $10.03
$10.23 CA$14.25
-1.96%
Cappuccino
$4.66 $4.66
$3.40 CA$4.74
37.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41 $2.41
$1.86 CA$2.60
29.57%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73 $1.73
$1.17 CA$1.63
47.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.38 $5.38
$6.36 CA$8.87
-15.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.93 $5.93
$5.90 CA$8.23
0.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Wichita, KS
Barrie
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.86 $0.86
$2.80 CA$3.91
-69.29%
White Bread (500g)
$3.72 $3.72
$2.96 CA$4.12
25.68%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.32 $4.32
$3.93 CA$5.48
9.92%
Eggs
$3.96 $3.96
$3.13 CA$4.37
26.52%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.92 $9.92
$8.70 CA$12.13
14.02%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.66 $10.66
$14.80 CA$20.63
-27.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.58 $17.58
$24.52 CA$34.17
-28.30%
Apples (1kg)
$5.53 $5.53
$3.58 CA$4.99
54.47%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 $1.66
$1.27 CA$1.77
30.71%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.10 $5.10
$2.96 CA$4.12
72.30%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.48 $4.48
$5.12 CA$7.14
-12.50%
Potato (1kg)
$2.60 $2.60
$1.67 CA$2.33
55.69%
Onion (1kg)
$2.64 $2.64
$3.68 CA$5.12
-28.26%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.09 $2.09
$2.71 CA$3.78
-22.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.83 $1.83
$1.75 CA$2.44
4.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.22 $9.22
$11.93 CA$16.62
-22.72%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.17 $15.17
$10.40 CA$14.49
45.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.25 $2.25
$2.39 CA$3.33
-5.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.76 $3.76
$2.30 CA$3.21
63.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Wichita, KS
Barrie
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.70 $1.70
$2.63 CA$3.66
-35.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$54.4 $54.4
$66.7 CA$92.9
-18.42%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.52 $2.52
$2.89 CA$4.03
-12.80%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.57 $1.57
$2.11 CA$2.94
-25.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$26.48 $26.48
$25.89 CA$36.08
2.28%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.80 $0.80
$1.14 CA$1.60
-29.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.6K $27.6K
$25.2K CA$35.1K
9.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.1K $24.1K
$20.8K CA$29.0K
16.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Wichita, KS
Barrie
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$326 $326
$197 CA$274
65.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$55.5 $55.5
$42.53 CA$59.3
30.52%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$73.3 $73.3
$74.8 CA$104
-2.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Wichita, KS
Barrie
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.72 $47.72
$36.90 CA$51.4
29.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.87 $19.87
$37.25 CA$51.9
-46.66%
Cinema Ticket
$12.95 $12.95
$13.30 CA$18.54
-2.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Wichita, KS
Barrie
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$921 $921
$1,487 CA$2,073
-38.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.2K $16.2K
$11.9K CA$16.6K
35.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Wichita, KS
Barrie
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.34 $45.34
$72.1 CA$101
-37.12%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.93 $38.93
$56.0 CA$78.0
-30.42%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$111 $111
$143 CA$199
-22.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 $109
$113 CA$157
-2.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Wichita, KS
Barrie
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$992 $992
$1,406 CA$1,959
-29.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$777 $777
$1,310 CA$1,825
-40.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,930 $1,930
$2,169 CA$3,023
-11.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,783 $1,783
$1,898 CA$2,646
-6.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,549 $1,549
$5,063 CA$7,057
-69.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,477 $1,477
$4,295 CA$5,986
-65.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Wichita, KS
Barrie
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,528 $3,528
$3,121 CA$4,350
13.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.52
6.63
-1.66%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Wichita, KS: June 1, 2026

Last update for Barrie: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $992 in Wichita, KS and $1,406 in Barrie. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Wichita, KS pays 13% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $56.0 in Wichita, KS vs $73.0 in Barrie for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $387 vs $404 per month, with Wichita, KS cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Wichita, KS vs Barrie: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Wichita, KS and Barrie?
Wichita, KS and Barrie differ by about 20% in total monthly costs ($2,165 vs $2,609 including rent). Wichita, KS is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Wichita, KS or Barrie?
Wichita, KS pays 13% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Wichita, KS and Barrie?
Rent for a central apartment: $992 in Wichita, KS versus $1,406 in Barrie. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Wichita, KS and Barrie?
A monthly transit pass in Wichita, KS runs roughly 23% less than in Barrie. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Wichita, KS and Barrie?
Childcare runs $921 in Wichita, KS versus $1,487 in Barrie. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $2,165 in Wichita, KS versus $2,609 in Barrie, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Wichita, KS but tight or insufficient in Barrie. The gap between the two cities makes Wichita, KS the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Wichita, KS and Barrie?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Wichita, KS or Barrie?
Expats usually find Wichita, KS gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Barrie. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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