Uprootmap
Phoenix vs Topeka
Phoenix and Topeka
Photo: Mike Linksvayer / Wikimedia, CC0
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in Topeka are above the US rate in this release, 10.6 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Phoenix to Topeka
In 2022-2023, 29 households filed a move from Phoenix to Topeka (about 52 people, average adjusted gross income $104,379). 29 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,277 in Phoenix and $1,022 in Topeka. Phoenix has a state tax on wages. Topeka has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Topeka is 93% of the national level for the same work, against 97% in Phoenix.
Topeka averages 223 sunny days, with July highs around 88°F and January nights around 22°F. Phoenix is 299 sunny days, 106°F in July, 46°F in January. Commutes average 20 minutes in Topeka and 26 in Phoenix.
These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.
Who already made this move
In 2022-2023, 29 households moved Phoenix → Topeka (about 52 people, average AGI $104,379). 29 households went the other way.
Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.
The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between Phoenix and Topeka changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 1,190 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $2,900–$5,400
- Container or pod
- $2,050–$3,800
- Rent a truck
- $1,150–$2,150
Explore more
Dig into Topeka
Questions
Is Topeka cheaper than Phoenix after tax and rent?
Yes. Topeka leaves about $253 more a month, so the cost of living is lower there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,277 in Phoenix and $1,022 in Topeka.
Does Topeka have state income tax?
Topeka is in Kansas, which taxes wage income.
Did people actually move from Phoenix to Topeka?
Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.