City comparison
Akron, OH vs Kansas City, MO
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Akron, OH (93.4) and Kansas City, MO (92.5, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Akron, OH goes as far as $99,100 in Kansas City, MO.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,197 a month in Kansas City, MO versus $985 in Akron, OH. On $100,000, that's 19% of take-home pay in Kansas City, MO and 15% in Akron, OH.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,795 a year higher in Kansas City, MO than in Akron, OH.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −2.7% moving from Akron, OH to Kansas City, MO ($111,138 → $108,173), while prices change by −0.9%. Net effect of the transfer: −1.8% in real buying power.
- Akron, OH: price level 93.4 (cheaper)
- Kansas City, MO: price level 92.5 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Akron, OH | Kansas City, MO | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 93.4 | 92.5 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,114 in Kansas City | $100,894 in Akron |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $985/mo | $1,197/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $77,212 | $75,417 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $1,968 (OH) | $3,763 (MO) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 15% | 19% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,840 | $50,820 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA | Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City, MO-KS |
Rent areas: Akron, OH MSA and Kansas City, MO-KS HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Akron, OH and Kansas City, MO-KS.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Akron | Kansas City |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 76.8 | 86.6 |
| Goods | 93.6 | 94.1 |
| Utilities | 96.4 | 89.0 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 93.4 |
| Overall | 93.4 | 92.5 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Akron, OH → Kansas City, MO
Roughly even
Buying power +0.9%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax +$1,795/yr.
72 Strong offer
Kansas City, MO → Akron, OH
Roughly even
Buying power −0.9%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax −$1,795/yr.
66 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Akron, OH is in the Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA pay area; Kansas City, MO is in Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City, MO-KS. The last column shows what a transfer from Akron, OH to Kansas City, MO at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Akron, OH | Kansas City, MO | Real change, Akron → Kansas City |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,448 | $62,729 | −1.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $77,977 | $75,897 | −1.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,461 | $90,968 | −1.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $111,138 | $108,173 | −1.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $131,331 | $127,829 | −1.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Akron, OH | Kansas City, MO | Kansas City pay in Akron dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $78,560 | $61,060 | $61,606 (−21.6%) |
| Software Developers | $105,430 | $124,990 | $126,107 (+19.6%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $78,540 | $80,040 | $80,755 (+2.8%) |
| Registered Nurses | $80,770 | $83,040 | $83,782 (+3.7%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.