City comparison
Washington, DC vs Wichita, KS
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Washington, DC are 22.4% higher than in Wichita, KS. Someone earning $100,000 in Wichita, KS would need about $122,400 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 $849 in Wichita, KS. On $100,000, that's 33% of take-home pay in Washington, DC and 14% in Wichita, KS.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $751 a year higher in Washington, DC than in Wichita, KS.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −12.6% moving from Washington, DC to Wichita, KS ($121,785 → $106,437), while prices change by −18.3%. Net effect of the transfer: +7.0% in real buying power.
- Washington, DC: price level 108.9 (much pricier)
- 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
| Washington, DC | Wichita, KS | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 108.9 | 88.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $81,689 in Wichita | $122,416 in Washington |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $2,015/mo | $849/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $73,649 | $74,400 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $5,532 (DC) | $4,780 (KS) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 33% | 14% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $71,060 | $47,630 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area and Wichita, KS HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV and Wichita, KS.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Washington | Wichita |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 151.1 | 66.2 |
| Goods | 104.8 | 94.0 |
| Utilities | 106.7 | 88.5 |
| Other services | 102.3 | 93.8 |
| Overall | 108.9 | 88.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Washington, DC → Wichita, KS
Same pay goes further
Buying power +22.4%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax −$751/yr.
100 Strong offer
Wichita, KS → Washington, DC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −18.3%; rent takes 33% of take-home; state tax +$751/yr.
26 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Washington, DC is in the Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA pay area; Wichita, KS is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Washington, DC to Wichita, KS at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Washington, DC | Wichita, KS | Real change, Washington → Wichita |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $70,623 | $61,722 | +7.0% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $85,447 | $74,678 | +7.0% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $102,415 | $89,508 | +7.0% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $121,785 | $106,437 | +7.0% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $143,913 | $125,776 | +7.0% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Washington, DC | Wichita, KS | Wichita pay in Washington dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,470 | $58,640 | $71,785 (−9.7%) |
| Software Developers | $154,930 | $105,980 | $129,736 (−16.3%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $102,140 | $79,270 | $97,039 (−5.0%) |
| Registered Nurses | $102,710 | $76,540 | $93,697 (−8.8%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.