City comparison
Akron, OH vs Wichita, KS
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Akron, OH are 5.0% higher than in Wichita, KS. Someone earning $100,000 in Wichita, KS would need about $105,000 in Akron, OH to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $985 a month in Akron, OH versus $849 in Wichita, KS. On $100,000, that's 15% of take-home pay in Akron, OH and 14% in Wichita, KS.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $2,813 a year higher in Wichita, KS than in Akron, OH.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −4.2% moving from Akron, OH to Wichita, KS ($111,138 → $106,437), while prices change by −4.7%. Net effect of the transfer: +0.5% in real buying power.
- Akron, OH: price level 93.4 (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
| Akron, OH | Wichita, KS | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 93.4 | 88.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $95,262 in Wichita | $104,974 in Akron |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $985/mo | $849/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $77,212 | $74,400 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $1,968 (OH) | $4,780 (KS) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 15% | 14% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,840 | $47,630 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Akron, OH MSA and Wichita, KS HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Akron, OH and Wichita, KS.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Akron | Wichita |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 76.8 | 66.2 |
| Goods | 93.6 | 94.0 |
| Utilities | 96.4 | 88.5 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 93.8 |
| Overall | 93.4 | 88.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Akron, OH → Wichita, KS
Same pay goes further
Buying power +5.0%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax +$2,813/yr.
84 Strong offer
Wichita, KS → Akron, OH
Same pay buys less
Buying power −4.7%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax −$2,813/yr.
54 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Akron, OH is in the Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA pay area; Wichita, KS is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Akron, OH to Wichita, KS at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Akron, OH | Wichita, KS | Real change, Akron → Wichita |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,448 | $61,722 | +0.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $77,977 | $74,678 | +0.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,461 | $89,508 | +0.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $111,138 | $106,437 | +0.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $131,331 | $125,776 | +0.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Akron, OH | Wichita, KS | Wichita pay in Akron dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $78,560 | $58,640 | $61,557 (−21.6%) |
| Software Developers | $105,430 | $105,980 | $111,251 (+5.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $78,540 | $79,270 | $83,213 (+5.9%) |
| Registered Nurses | $80,770 | $76,540 | $80,347 (−0.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.