City comparison
Huntsville, AL vs Kansas City, MO
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Huntsville, AL (93.1) and Kansas City, MO (92.5, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Huntsville, AL goes as far as $99,400 in Kansas City, MO.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,197 a month in Kansas City, MO versus $1,136 in Huntsville, AL. On $100,000, that's 19% of take-home pay in Kansas City, MO and 18% in Huntsville, AL.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $972 a year higher in Huntsville, AL than in Kansas City, MO.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −2.4% moving from Huntsville, AL to Kansas City, MO ($110,847 → $108,173), while prices change by −0.6%. Net effect of the transfer: −1.9% in real buying power.
- Huntsville, AL: price level 93.1 (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
| Huntsville, AL | Kansas City, MO | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 93.1 | 92.5 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,432 in Kansas City | $100,572 in Huntsville |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,136/mo | $1,197/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,445 | $75,417 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,735 (AL) | $3,763 (MO) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 19% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $51,740 | $50,820 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Huntsville-Decatur, AL-TN | Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City, MO-KS |
Rent areas: Huntsville, AL MSA and Kansas City, MO-KS HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Huntsville, AL and Kansas City, MO-KS.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Huntsville | Kansas City |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 77.9 | 86.6 |
| Goods | 96.4 | 94.1 |
| Utilities | 83.9 | 89.0 |
| Other services | 96.7 | 93.4 |
| Overall | 93.1 | 92.5 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Huntsville, AL → Kansas City, MO
Roughly even
Buying power +0.6%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax −$972/yr.
71 Strong offer
Kansas City, MO → Huntsville, AL
Roughly even
Buying power −0.6%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$972/yr.
67 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Huntsville, AL is in the Huntsville-Decatur, AL-TN pay area; Kansas City, MO is in Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City, MO-KS. The last column shows what a transfer from Huntsville, AL to Kansas City, MO at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Huntsville, AL | Kansas City, MO | Real change, Huntsville → Kansas City |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,279 | $62,729 | −1.9% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $77,772 | $75,897 | −1.9% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,216 | $90,968 | −1.9% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $110,847 | $108,173 | −1.9% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $130,987 | $127,829 | −1.9% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Huntsville, AL | Kansas City, MO | Kansas City pay in Huntsville dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $62,250 | $61,060 | $61,409 (−1.4%) |
| Software Developers | $128,080 | $124,990 | $125,704 (−1.9%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,220 | $80,040 | $80,498 (+1.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $77,090 | $83,040 | $83,515 (+8.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.