City comparison
Des Moines, IA vs Kansas City, MO
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Des Moines, IA (91.7) and Kansas City, MO (92.5, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Des Moines, IA goes as far as $100,900 in Kansas City, MO.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,197 a month in Kansas City, MO versus $1,109 in Des Moines, IA. On $100,000, that's 19% of take-home pay in Kansas City, MO and 18% in Des Moines, IA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $614 a year higher in Kansas City, MO than in Des Moines, IA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +0.8% moving from Des Moines, IA to Kansas City, MO ($107,301 → $108,173), while prices change by +0.9%. Net effect of the transfer: −0.1% in real buying power.
- Des Moines, IA: price level 91.7 (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
| Des Moines, IA | Kansas City, MO | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 91.7 | 92.5 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $100,918 in Kansas City | $99,090 in Des Moines |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,109/mo | $1,197/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,032 | $75,417 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,148 (IA) | $3,763 (MO) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 19% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $51,820 | $50,820 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA | Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City, MO-KS |
Rent areas: Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA HUD Metro FMR Area and Kansas City, MO-KS HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA and Kansas City, MO-KS.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Des Moines | Kansas City |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 84.7 | 86.6 |
| Goods | 93.7 | 94.1 |
| Utilities | 84.6 | 89.0 |
| Other services | 92.9 | 93.4 |
| Overall | 91.7 | 92.5 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Des Moines, IA → Kansas City, MO
Roughly even
Buying power −0.9%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax +$614/yr.
66 Fair offer
Kansas City, MO → Des Moines, IA
Roughly even
Buying power +0.9%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax −$614/yr.
72 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Des Moines, IA is in the Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA pay area; Kansas City, MO is in Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City, MO-KS. The last column shows what a transfer from Des Moines, IA to Kansas City, MO at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Des Moines, IA | Kansas City, MO | Real change, Des Moines → Kansas City |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,223 | $62,729 | −0.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,284 | $75,897 | −0.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $90,234 | $90,968 | −0.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $107,301 | $108,173 | −0.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $126,797 | $127,829 | −0.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Des Moines, IA | Kansas City, MO | Kansas City pay in Des Moines dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,650 | $61,060 | $60,504 (−1.9%) |
| Software Developers | $126,460 | $124,990 | $123,853 (−2.1%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,290 | $80,040 | $79,312 (+0.0%) |
| Registered Nurses | $78,630 | $83,040 | $82,284 (+4.6%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.