New government figures show Lawrence is the most expensive metro area in Kansas.

Numbers released recently by the federal Bureau of Economic Analysis show that although the city’s cost of living is lower than the national average, it’s higher than in any other metro area in Kansas. Lawrence residents also earn less than residents in other Kansas communities.

The Lawrence Journal-World reports the new figures are part of a project by the Bureau of Economic Analysis designed to give people a better idea of how much it costs to live in various metro areas.

The agency measured both income levels and how much it costs for goods and services such as transportation, education, household staples, entertainment and other categories based on 2012 data.
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