City comparison
Montgomery, AL vs Wichita, KS
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Montgomery, AL (89.7) and Wichita, KS (88.9, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Montgomery, AL goes as far as $99,200 in Wichita, KS.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $870 a month in Montgomery, AL and $849 in Wichita, KS.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $4,735 a year in AL and $4,780 in KS.
- Both cities are in the same federal pay area (Rest of U.S.), so a GS-13 step 1 earns $106,437 in either. A transfer from Montgomery, AL to Wichita, KS changes real buying power by +0.8%, purely from prices.
- Montgomery, AL: price level 89.7 (much cheaper)
- Wichita, KS: price level 88.9 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Montgomery, AL | Wichita, KS | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 89.7 | 88.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,179 in Wichita | $100,827 in Montgomery |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $870/mo | $849/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,445 | $74,400 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,735 (AL) | $4,780 (KS) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 14% | 14% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $44,950 | $47,630 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Montgomery, AL MSA and Wichita, KS HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Montgomery, AL and Wichita, KS.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Montgomery | Wichita |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 64.3 | 66.2 |
| Goods | 96.4 | 94.0 |
| Utilities | 84.9 | 88.5 |
| Other services | 96.7 | 93.8 |
| Overall | 89.7 | 88.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Montgomery, AL → Wichita, KS
Roughly even
Buying power +0.8%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax +$45/yr.
71 Strong offer
Wichita, KS → Montgomery, AL
Roughly even
Buying power −0.8%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax −$45/yr.
66 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Both metros are in the Rest of U.S. locality pay area, so GS salaries are identical. The last column shows what a transfer from Montgomery, AL to Wichita, KS at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Montgomery, AL | Wichita, KS | Real change, Montgomery → Wichita |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +0.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +0.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +0.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +0.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +0.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Montgomery, AL | Wichita, KS | Wichita pay in Montgomery dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $59,610 | $58,640 | $59,125 (−0.8%) |
| Software Developers | $110,620 | $105,980 | $106,857 (−3.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $75,040 | $79,270 | $79,926 (+6.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $79,570 | $76,540 | $77,173 (−3.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.