City comparison
Chattanooga, TN vs Kansas City, MO
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Kansas City, MO are 1.2% higher than in Chattanooga, TN. Someone earning $100,000 in Chattanooga, TN would need about $101,200 in Kansas City, MO to live the same way.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,263 a month in Chattanooga, TN versus $1,197 in Kansas City, MO. On $100,000, that's 19% of take-home pay in Chattanooga, TN and 19% in Kansas City, MO.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,763 a year higher in Kansas City, MO than in Chattanooga, TN.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +1.6% moving from Chattanooga, TN to Kansas City, MO ($106,437 → $108,173), while prices change by +1.2%. Net effect of the transfer: +0.4% in real buying power.
- Chattanooga, TN: price level 91.5 (much 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
| Chattanooga, TN | Kansas City, MO | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 91.5 | 92.5 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $101,180 in Kansas City | $98,834 in Chattanooga |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,263/mo | $1,197/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $75,417 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (TN) | $3,763 (MO) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 19% | 19% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,700 | $50,820 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City, MO-KS |
Rent areas: Chattanooga, TN-GA MSA and Kansas City, MO-KS HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Chattanooga, TN-GA and Kansas City, MO-KS.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Chattanooga | Kansas City |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 76.5 | 86.6 |
| Goods | 96.0 | 94.1 |
| Utilities | 74.2 | 89.0 |
| Other services | 95.3 | 93.4 |
| Overall | 91.5 | 92.5 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Chattanooga, TN → Kansas City, MO
Roughly even
Buying power −1.2%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax +$3,763/yr.
65 Fair offer
Kansas City, MO → Chattanooga, TN
Roughly even
Buying power +1.2%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax −$3,763/yr.
72 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Chattanooga, TN is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Kansas City, MO is in Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City, MO-KS. The last column shows what a transfer from Chattanooga, TN to Kansas City, MO at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Chattanooga, TN | Kansas City, MO | Real change, Chattanooga → Kansas City |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $62,729 | +0.4% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $75,897 | +0.4% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $90,968 | +0.4% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $108,173 | +0.4% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $127,829 | +0.4% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Chattanooga, TN | Kansas City, MO | Kansas City pay in Chattanooga dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $59,830 | $61,060 | $60,348 (+0.9%) |
| Software Developers | $106,750 | $124,990 | $123,533 (+15.7%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,680 | $80,040 | $79,107 (+3.2%) |
| Registered Nurses | $79,770 | $83,040 | $82,072 (+2.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.