City comparison
Eugene, OR vs Wichita, KS
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Eugene, OR are 14.2% higher than in Wichita, KS. Someone earning $100,000 in Wichita, KS would need about $114,200 in Eugene, OR to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,286 a month in Eugene, OR versus $849 in Wichita, KS. On $100,000, that's 22% of take-home pay in Eugene, OR and 14% in Wichita, KS.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,140 a year higher in Eugene, OR than in Wichita, KS.
- 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 Eugene, OR to Wichita, KS changes real buying power by +14.2%, purely from prices.
- Eugene, OR: price level 101.6 (about average)
- 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
| Eugene, OR | Wichita, KS | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 101.6 | 88.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $87,573 in Wichita | $114,191 in Eugene |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,286/mo | $849/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $71,260 | $74,400 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $7,920 (OR) | $4,780 (KS) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 22% | 14% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,680 | $47,630 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Eugene-Springfield, OR MSA and Wichita, KS HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Eugene-Springfield, OR and Wichita, KS.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Eugene | Wichita |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 98.3 | 66.2 |
| Goods | 105.3 | 94.0 |
| Utilities | 102.5 | 88.5 |
| Other services | 100.3 | 93.8 |
| Overall | 101.6 | 88.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Eugene, OR → Wichita, KS
Same pay goes further
Buying power +14.2%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax −$3,140/yr.
100 Strong offer
Wichita, KS → Eugene, OR
Same pay buys less
Buying power −12.4%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax +$3,140/yr.
38 Weak 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 Eugene, OR to Wichita, KS at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Eugene, OR | Wichita, KS | Real change, Eugene → Wichita |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +14.2% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +14.2% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +14.2% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +14.2% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +14.2% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Eugene, OR | Wichita, KS | Wichita pay in Eugene dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $64,260 | $58,640 | $66,961 (+4.2%) |
| Software Developers | $121,050 | $105,980 | $121,019 (−0.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,930 | $79,270 | $90,519 (+13.2%) |
| Registered Nurses | $113,720 | $76,540 | $87,402 (−23.1%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.