City comparison
Chattanooga, TN vs Wichita, KS
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Chattanooga, TN are 2.8% higher than in Wichita, KS. Someone earning $100,000 in Wichita, KS would need about $102,800 in Chattanooga, TN to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,263 a month in Chattanooga, TN versus $849 in Wichita, KS. On $100,000, that's 19% of take-home pay in Chattanooga, TN and 14% in Wichita, KS.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $4,780 a year higher in Wichita, KS than in Chattanooga, TN.
- Both cities are in the same federal pay area (Rest of U.S.), so a GS-13 step 1 earns $106,437 in either. A transfer from Chattanooga, TN to Wichita, KS changes real buying power by +2.8%, purely from prices.
- Chattanooga, TN: price level 91.5 (much cheaper)
- Wichita, KS: price level 88.9 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Chattanooga, TN | Wichita, KS | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 91.5 | 88.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $97,247 in Wichita | $102,831 in Chattanooga |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,263/mo | $849/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $74,400 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (TN) | $4,780 (KS) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 19% | 14% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,700 | $47,630 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Chattanooga, TN-GA MSA and Wichita, KS HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Chattanooga, TN-GA and Wichita, KS.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Chattanooga | Wichita |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 76.5 | 66.2 |
| Goods | 96.0 | 94.0 |
| Utilities | 74.2 | 88.5 |
| Other services | 95.3 | 93.8 |
| Overall | 91.5 | 88.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Chattanooga, TN → Wichita, KS
Same pay goes further
Buying power +2.8%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax +$4,780/yr.
78 Strong offer
Wichita, KS → Chattanooga, TN
Same pay buys less
Buying power −2.8%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax −$4,780/yr.
60 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Both metros are in the Rest of U.S. locality pay area, so GS salaries are identical. The last column shows what a transfer from Chattanooga, TN to Wichita, KS at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Chattanooga, TN | Wichita, KS | Real change, Chattanooga → Wichita |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +2.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +2.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +2.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +2.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +2.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Chattanooga, TN | Wichita, KS | Wichita pay in Chattanooga dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $59,830 | $58,640 | $60,300 (+0.8%) |
| Software Developers | $106,750 | $105,980 | $108,980 (+2.1%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,680 | $79,270 | $81,514 (+6.3%) |
| Registered Nurses | $79,770 | $76,540 | $78,707 (−1.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.