City comparison
Kansas City, MO vs Madison, WI
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Madison, WI are 5.1% higher than in Kansas City, MO. Someone earning $100,000 in Kansas City, MO would need about $105,100 in Madison, WI to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,482 a month in Madison, WI versus $1,197 in Kansas City, MO. On $100,000, that's 24% of take-home pay in Madison, WI and 19% in Kansas City, MO.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $3,763 a year in MO and $3,919 in WI.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −1.6% moving from Kansas City, MO to Madison, WI ($108,173 → $106,437), while prices change by +5.1%. Net effect of the transfer: −6.4% in real buying power.
- Kansas City, MO: price level 92.5 (cheaper)
- Madison, WI: price level 97.3 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Kansas City, MO | Madison, WI | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 92.5 | 97.3 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $105,126 in Madison | $95,124 in Kansas City |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,197/mo | $1,482/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,417 | $75,261 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,763 (MO) | $3,919 (WI) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 19% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $50,820 | $58,080 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City, MO-KS | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Kansas City, MO-KS HUD Metro FMR Area and Madison, WI HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Kansas City, MO-KS and Madison, WI.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Kansas City | Madison |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 86.6 | 99.7 |
| Goods | 94.1 | 93.8 |
| Utilities | 89.0 | 89.8 |
| Other services | 93.4 | 99.4 |
| Overall | 92.5 | 97.3 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Kansas City, MO → Madison, WI
Same pay buys less
Buying power −4.9%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$157/yr.
54 Fair offer
Madison, WI → Kansas City, MO
Same pay goes further
Buying power +5.1%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax −$157/yr.
85 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Kansas City, MO is in the Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City, MO-KS pay area; Madison, WI is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Kansas City, MO to Madison, WI at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Kansas City, MO | Madison, WI | Real change, Kansas City → Madison |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,729 | $61,722 | −6.4% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,897 | $74,678 | −6.4% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $90,968 | $89,508 | −6.4% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $108,173 | $106,437 | −6.4% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $127,829 | $125,776 | −6.4% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Kansas City, MO | Madison, WI | Madison pay in Kansas City dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,060 | $63,690 | $60,584 (−0.8%) |
| Software Developers | $124,990 | $130,630 | $124,260 (−0.6%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $80,040 | $81,130 | $77,174 (−3.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $83,040 | $101,190 | $96,256 (+15.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.