City comparison
Eugene, OR vs Kansas City, MO
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Eugene, OR are 9.8% higher than in Kansas City, MO. Someone earning $100,000 in Kansas City, MO would need about $109,800 in Eugene, OR to live the same way.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,286 a month in Eugene, OR versus $1,197 in Kansas City, MO. On $100,000, that's 22% of take-home pay in Eugene, OR and 19% in Kansas City, MO.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $4,158 a year higher in Eugene, OR than in Kansas City, MO.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +1.6% moving from Eugene, OR to Kansas City, MO ($106,437 → $108,173), while prices change by −8.9%. Net effect of the transfer: +11.5% in real buying power.
- Eugene, OR: price level 101.6 (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
| Eugene, OR | Kansas City, MO | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 101.6 | 92.5 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $91,114 in Kansas City | $109,752 in Eugene |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,286/mo | $1,197/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $71,260 | $75,417 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $7,920 (OR) | $3,763 (MO) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 22% | 19% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,680 | $50,820 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City, MO-KS |
Rent areas: Eugene-Springfield, OR MSA and Kansas City, MO-KS HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Eugene-Springfield, OR and Kansas City, MO-KS.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Eugene | Kansas City |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 98.3 | 86.6 |
| Goods | 105.3 | 94.1 |
| Utilities | 102.5 | 89.0 |
| Other services | 100.3 | 93.4 |
| Overall | 101.6 | 92.5 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Eugene, OR → Kansas City, MO
Same pay goes further
Buying power +9.8%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax −$4,158/yr.
99 Strong offer
Kansas City, MO → Eugene, OR
Same pay buys less
Buying power −8.9%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax +$4,158/yr.
41 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Eugene, OR 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 Eugene, OR to Kansas City, MO at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Eugene, OR | Kansas City, MO | Real change, Eugene → Kansas City |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $62,729 | +11.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $75,897 | +11.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $90,968 | +11.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $108,173 | +11.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $127,829 | +11.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Eugene, OR | Kansas City, MO | Kansas City pay in Eugene dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $64,260 | $61,060 | $67,015 (+4.3%) |
| Software Developers | $121,050 | $124,990 | $137,179 (+13.3%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,930 | $80,040 | $87,846 (+9.9%) |
| Registered Nurses | $113,720 | $83,040 | $91,138 (−19.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.