City comparison
Harrisburg, PA vs Kansas City, MO
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Harrisburg, PA are 6.6% higher than in Kansas City, MO. Someone earning $100,000 in Kansas City, MO would need about $106,600 in Harrisburg, PA to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,212 a month in Harrisburg, PA and $1,197 in Kansas City, MO.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $693 a year higher in Kansas City, MO than in Harrisburg, PA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −0.4% moving from Harrisburg, PA to Kansas City, MO ($108,592 → $108,173), while prices change by −6.2%. Net effect of the transfer: +6.2% in real buying power.
- Harrisburg, PA: price level 98.7 (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
| Harrisburg, PA | Kansas City, MO | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 98.7 | 92.5 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $93,809 in Kansas City | $106,599 in Harrisburg |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,212/mo | $1,197/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,110 | $75,417 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,070 (PA) | $3,763 (MO) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 19% | 19% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,610 | $50,820 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Harrisburg-Lebanon, PA | Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City, MO-KS |
Rent areas: Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA MSA and Kansas City, MO-KS HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA and Kansas City, MO-KS.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Harrisburg | Kansas City |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 96.3 | 86.6 |
| Goods | 100.7 | 94.1 |
| Utilities | 108.1 | 89.0 |
| Other services | 97.7 | 93.4 |
| Overall | 98.7 | 92.5 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Harrisburg, PA → Kansas City, MO
Same pay goes further
Buying power +6.6%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax +$693/yr.
89 Strong offer
Kansas City, MO → Harrisburg, PA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −6.2%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax −$693/yr.
49 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Harrisburg, PA is in the Harrisburg-Lebanon, PA pay area; Kansas City, MO is in Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City, MO-KS. The last column shows what a transfer from Harrisburg, PA to Kansas City, MO at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Harrisburg, PA | Kansas City, MO | Real change, Harrisburg → Kansas City |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,972 | $62,729 | +6.2% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $76,190 | $75,897 | +6.2% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $91,320 | $90,968 | +6.2% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $108,592 | $108,173 | +6.2% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $128,323 | $127,829 | +6.2% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Harrisburg, PA | Kansas City, MO | Kansas City pay in Harrisburg dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $77,160 | $61,060 | $65,089 (−15.6%) |
| Software Developers | $109,470 | $124,990 | $133,238 (+21.7%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,510 | $80,040 | $85,322 (+11.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $96,770 | $83,040 | $88,520 (−8.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.