City comparison
Kansas City, MO vs Washington, DC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Washington, DC are 17.7% higher than in Kansas City, MO. Someone earning $100,000 in Kansas City, MO would need about $117,700 in Washington, DC to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $2,015 a month in Washington, DC versus $1,197 in Kansas City, MO. On $100,000, that's 33% of take-home pay in Washington, DC and 19% in Kansas City, MO.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,769 a year higher in Washington, DC than in Kansas City, MO.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +12.6% moving from Kansas City, MO to Washington, DC ($108,173 → $121,785), while prices change by +17.7%. Net effect of the transfer: −4.3% in real buying power.
- Kansas City, MO: price level 92.5 (cheaper)
- Washington, DC: price level 108.9 (much pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Kansas City, MO | Washington, DC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 92.5 | 108.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $117,658 in Washington | $84,992 in Kansas City |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,197/mo | $2,015/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,417 | $73,649 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,763 (MO) | $5,532 (DC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 19% | 33% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $50,820 | $71,060 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City, MO-KS | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA |
Rent areas: Kansas City, MO-KS HUD Metro FMR Area and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Kansas City, MO-KS and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Kansas City | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 86.6 | 151.1 |
| Goods | 94.1 | 104.8 |
| Utilities | 89.0 | 106.7 |
| Other services | 93.4 | 102.3 |
| Overall | 92.5 | 108.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Kansas City, MO → Washington, DC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −15.0%; rent takes 33% of take-home; state tax +$1,769/yr.
26 Weak offer
Washington, DC → Kansas City, MO
Same pay goes further
Buying power +17.7%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax −$1,769/yr.
100 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Kansas City, MO is in the Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City, MO-KS pay area; Washington, DC is in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Kansas City, MO to Washington, DC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Kansas City, MO | Washington, DC | Real change, Kansas City → Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,729 | $70,623 | −4.3% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,897 | $85,447 | −4.3% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $90,968 | $102,415 | −4.3% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $108,173 | $121,785 | −4.3% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $127,829 | $143,913 | −4.3% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Kansas City, MO | Washington, DC | Washington pay in Kansas City dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,060 | $79,470 | $67,543 (+10.6%) |
| Software Developers | $124,990 | $154,930 | $131,679 (+5.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $80,040 | $102,140 | $86,811 (+8.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $83,040 | $102,710 | $87,296 (+5.1%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.