City comparison
Kansas City, MO vs Waco, TX
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Kansas City, MO (92.5) and Waco, TX (92.5, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Kansas City, MO goes as far as $100,000 in Waco, TX.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,197 a month in Kansas City, MO versus $996 in Waco, TX. On $100,000, that's 19% of take-home pay in Kansas City, MO and 15% in Waco, TX.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,763 a year higher in Kansas City, MO than in Waco, TX.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −1.6% moving from Kansas City, MO to Waco, TX ($108,173 → $106,437), while prices change by +0.0%. Net effect of the transfer: −1.6% in real buying power.
- Kansas City, MO: price level 92.5 (cheaper)
- Waco, TX: 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
| Kansas City, MO | Waco, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 92.5 | 92.5 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $100,008 in Waco | $99,992 in Kansas City |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,197/mo | $996/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,417 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,763 (MO) | $0 (TX) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 19% | 15% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $50,820 | $46,020 |
| 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 Waco, TX HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Kansas City, MO-KS and Waco, TX.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Kansas City | Waco |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 86.6 | 83.5 |
| Goods | 94.1 | 93.8 |
| Utilities | 89.0 | 81.0 |
| Other services | 93.4 | 96.2 |
| Overall | 92.5 | 92.5 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Kansas City, MO → Waco, TX
Roughly even
Buying power −0.0%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax −$3,763/yr.
69 Fair offer
Waco, TX → Kansas City, MO
Roughly even
Buying power +0.0%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax +$3,763/yr.
69 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Kansas City, MO is in the Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City, MO-KS pay area; Waco, TX is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Kansas City, MO to Waco, TX at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Kansas City, MO | Waco, TX | Real change, Kansas City → Waco |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,729 | $61,722 | −1.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,897 | $74,678 | −1.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $90,968 | $89,508 | −1.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $108,173 | $106,437 | −1.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $127,829 | $125,776 | −1.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Kansas City, MO | Waco, TX | Waco pay in Kansas City dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,060 | $59,100 | $59,096 (−3.2%) |
| Software Developers | $124,990 | $123,080 | $123,071 (−1.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $80,040 | $76,140 | $76,134 (−4.9%) |
| Registered Nurses | $83,040 | $92,890 | $92,883 (+11.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.