City comparison
Greeley, CO vs Kennewick, WA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Greeley, CO (100.2) and Kennewick, WA (100.1, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Greeley, CO goes as far as $99,900 in Kennewick, WA.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,238 a month in Greeley, CO and $1,268 in Kennewick, WA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,692 a year higher in Greeley, CO than in Kennewick, WA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −10.3% moving from Greeley, CO to Kennewick, WA ($118,675 → $106,437), while prices change by −0.1%. Net effect of the transfer: −10.2% in real buying power.
- Greeley, CO: price level 100.2 (about average)
- Kennewick, WA: price level 100.1 (about average)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Greeley, CO | Kennewick, WA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 100.2 | 100.1 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,903 in Kennewick | $100,097 in Greeley |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,238/mo | $1,268/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,488 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,692 (CO) | $0 (WA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 20% | 19% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $55,070 | $57,290 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Denver-Aurora, CO | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Greeley, CO MSA and Kennewick-Richland, WA MSA. Metro areas: Greeley, CO and Kennewick-Richland, WA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Greeley | Kennewick |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 112.6 | 94.8 |
| Goods | 96.1 | 105.0 |
| Utilities | 82.0 | 93.6 |
| Other services | 99.8 | 99.5 |
| Overall | 100.2 | 100.1 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Greeley, CO → Kennewick, WA
Roughly even
Buying power +0.1%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax −$3,692/yr.
69 Fair offer
Kennewick, WA → Greeley, CO
Roughly even
Buying power −0.1%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax +$3,692/yr.
68 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Greeley, CO is in the Denver-Aurora, CO pay area; Kennewick, WA is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Greeley, CO to Kennewick, WA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Greeley, CO | Kennewick, WA | Real change, Greeley → Kennewick |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $68,819 | $61,722 | −10.2% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $83,265 | $74,678 | −10.2% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $99,800 | $89,508 | −10.2% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $118,675 | $106,437 | −10.2% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $140,239 | $125,776 | −10.2% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Greeley, CO | Kennewick, WA | Kennewick pay in Greeley dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $60,160 | $100,380 | $100,477 (+67.0%) |
| Software Developers | $129,480 | $127,800 | $127,924 (−1.2%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $87,240 | $93,280 | $93,370 (+7.0%) |
| Registered Nurses | $96,300 | $106,410 | $106,513 (+10.6%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.