City comparison
Albany, NY vs Kansas City, MO
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Albany, NY are 7.6% higher than in Kansas City, MO. Someone earning $100,000 in Kansas City, MO would need about $107,600 in Albany, NY to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,417 a month in Albany, NY versus $1,197 in Kansas City, MO. On $100,000, that's 23% of take-home pay in Albany, NY and 19% in Kansas City, MO.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,097 a year higher in Albany, NY than in Kansas City, MO.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −1.5% moving from Albany, NY to Kansas City, MO ($109,810 → $108,173), while prices change by −7.1%. Net effect of the transfer: +6.0% in real buying power.
- Albany, NY: price level 99.6 (about average)
- 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
| Albany, NY | Kansas City, MO | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 99.6 | 92.5 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $92,946 in Kansas City | $107,589 in Albany |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,417/mo | $1,197/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,320 | $75,417 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,860 (NY) | $3,763 (MO) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 23% | 19% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $58,460 | $50,820 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Albany-Schenectady, NY-MA | Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City, MO-KS |
Rent areas: Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY MSA and Kansas City, MO-KS HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY and Kansas City, MO-KS.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Albany | Kansas City |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 102.6 | 86.6 |
| Goods | 99.7 | 94.1 |
| Utilities | 134.0 | 89.0 |
| Other services | 97.8 | 93.4 |
| Overall | 99.6 | 92.5 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Albany, NY → Kansas City, MO
Same pay goes further
Buying power +7.6%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax −$1,097/yr.
92 Strong offer
Kansas City, MO → Albany, NY
Same pay buys less
Buying power −7.1%; rent takes 23% of take-home; state tax +$1,097/yr.
47 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Albany, NY is in the Albany-Schenectady, NY-MA pay area; Kansas City, MO is in Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City, MO-KS. The last column shows what a transfer from Albany, NY to Kansas City, MO at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Albany, NY | Kansas City, MO | Real change, Albany → Kansas City |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $63,678 | $62,729 | +6.0% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $77,045 | $75,897 | +6.0% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $92,344 | $90,968 | +6.0% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $109,810 | $108,173 | +6.0% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $129,763 | $127,829 | +6.0% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Albany, NY | Kansas City, MO | Kansas City pay in Albany dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,240 | $61,060 | $65,694 (−17.1%) |
| Software Developers | $127,910 | $124,990 | $134,475 (+5.1%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $84,660 | $80,040 | $86,114 (+1.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $99,970 | $83,040 | $89,342 (−10.6%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.