Retiring in Kansas: what taxes actually cost you

The short answer

On $80,000 of retirement income, Kansas costs about $11,108 a year across state income, property and sales tax. That ranks 48 of 51, or $4,473 above the median state. State income tax alone is $4,103, which is 5.1% of gross income.

Run it on your own numbers

The figures above use a reference profile. Change them and every number on this page moves, including the ranking.

State income tax $4,103/yr
Property tax $5,640/yr
Sales tax $1,365/yr
Total $11,108/yr

Verdict

One of the most expensive states to retire in

Rank 48 of 51 on these numbers.

Kansas $11,108
Median state $6,635
Cheapest (Wyoming) $3,280

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Florida $4,820

Kansas costs $6,288 more a year. Over 25 years of retirement that is $157K.

How Kansas treats retirement income

Kansas runs a graduated income tax from 3.1% to 5.7%, with the top rate starting at $30,000 of taxable income for a single filer.

Social Security

Taxed as ordinary income

Pension income

Taxed as ordinary income

401(k) and IRA withdrawals

Taxed as ordinary income

Capital gains

Taxed as ordinary income

Property tax

Averages 1.41% of assessed value, so $5,640 a year on a $400K home.

Sales tax

State rate of 6.5%, before any local addition.

Worth knowing: Social Security taxed for high earners (AGI > $75K).

Where Kansas sits against the rest

The spread across all 51 runs from $3,280 in Wyoming to $14,004 in Connecticut, a difference of $10,724 a year on the same income.

Five cheapest on these numbers

Five states with the lowest retiree tax burden
StateTotal tax
Wyoming$3,280
Nevada$3,639
Colorado$4,009
Tennessee$4,310
Louisiana$4,678

Five most expensive on these numbers

Five states with the highest retiree tax burden
StateTotal tax
Connecticut$14,004
New Jersey$12,953
Vermont$12,755
Kansas$11,108
Minnesota$10,888

Worth keeping in proportion. The gap between the best and worst state here is real money, but it is smaller than the gap between two housing markets, and it is far smaller than the effect of your withdrawal rate. Safe withdrawal rate covers that one.

Common questions

Does Kansas tax Social Security?

Yes. Kansas taxes Social Security benefits as ordinary income, which is unusual: most states exempt them entirely. Federal tax may apply on top.

How much tax would a retiree pay in Kansas?

On $80,000 of retirement income with a $400,000 home and $70,000 of annual spending, Kansas works out at roughly $11,108 a year across income, property and sales tax. That ranks 48 of 51, against a median of $6,635.

Does Kansas tax 401(k) and IRA withdrawals?

Yes. Kansas taxes withdrawals from 401(k)s and IRAs as ordinary income, with no retirement-specific exclusion.

Is Kansas a good state to retire in for taxes?

One of the most expensive states to retire in. On the reference profile it costs $4,473 more than the median state, and $7,828 more than Wyoming, which is the cheapest. Tax is one input though. Cost of living, housing and proximity to family usually move a retirement budget further than the tax code does.

Assumptions on this page. Rates and brackets are 2025 figures for a single filer at age 67, sourced from state revenue departments and the Tax Foundation. Federal tax is excluded, this page is only the state layer. Local and municipal income taxes are not modelled, which understates the bill in states where cities levy their own. Property tax uses the state average effective rate against your home value, so an actual assessment will differ. Sales tax assumes 30% of spending is on taxable goods, a national average that is high for states exempting food and clothing. Age-gated exemptions are applied only when the age qualifies. These are planning estimates, not tax advice. Read the model's limitations.

Related: Taxes in retirement, Withdrawal order, Roth conversions, All 51 states.