City comparison
Indianapolis, IN vs Kansas City, MO
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Indianapolis, IN are 3.4% higher than in Kansas City, MO. Someone earning $100,000 in Kansas City, MO would need about $103,400 in Indianapolis, IN to live the same way.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,267 a month in Indianapolis, IN versus $1,197 in Kansas City, MO. On $100,000, that's 20% of take-home pay in Indianapolis, IN and 19% in Kansas City, MO.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $842 a year higher in Kansas City, MO than in Indianapolis, IN.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +0.7% moving from Indianapolis, IN to Kansas City, MO ($107,428 → $108,173), while prices change by −3.3%. Net effect of the transfer: +4.1% in real buying power.
- Indianapolis, IN: price level 95.7 (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
| Indianapolis, IN | Kansas City, MO | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 95.7 | 92.5 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $96,705 in Kansas City | $103,407 in Indianapolis |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,267/mo | $1,197/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,260 | $75,417 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $2,921 (IN) | $3,763 (MO) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 20% | 19% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,340 | $50,820 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie, IN | Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City, MO-KS |
Rent areas: Indianapolis-Carmel, IN HUD Metro FMR Area and Kansas City, MO-KS HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN and Kansas City, MO-KS.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Indianapolis | Kansas City |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 88.9 | 86.6 |
| Goods | 94.3 | 94.1 |
| Utilities | 86.4 | 89.0 |
| Other services | 99.1 | 93.4 |
| Overall | 95.7 | 92.5 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Indianapolis, IN → Kansas City, MO
Same pay goes further
Buying power +3.4%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax +$842/yr.
79 Strong offer
Kansas City, MO → Indianapolis, IN
Same pay buys less
Buying power −3.3%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax −$842/yr.
58 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Indianapolis, IN is in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie, IN pay area; Kansas City, MO is in Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City, MO-KS. The last column shows what a transfer from Indianapolis, IN to Kansas City, MO at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Indianapolis, IN | Kansas City, MO | Real change, Indianapolis → Kansas City |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,297 | $62,729 | +4.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,374 | $75,897 | +4.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $90,341 | $90,968 | +4.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $107,428 | $108,173 | +4.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $126,947 | $127,829 | +4.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Indianapolis, IN | Kansas City, MO | Kansas City pay in Indianapolis dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $60,510 | $61,060 | $63,140 (+4.3%) |
| Software Developers | $106,870 | $124,990 | $129,248 (+20.9%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,290 | $80,040 | $82,767 (+4.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $84,230 | $83,040 | $85,869 (+1.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.