City comparison
Boise City, ID vs Kansas City, MO
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Boise City, ID are 6.3% higher than in Kansas City, MO. Someone earning $100,000 in Kansas City, MO would need about $106,300 in Boise City, ID to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,381 a month in Boise City, ID versus $1,197 in Kansas City, MO. On $100,000, that's 22% of take-home pay in Boise City, ID and 19% in Kansas City, MO.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $429 a year higher in Boise City, ID than in Kansas City, MO.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +1.6% moving from Boise City, ID to Kansas City, MO ($106,437 → $108,173), while prices change by −5.9%. Net effect of the transfer: +8.1% in real buying power.
- Boise City, ID: price level 98.4 (about average)
- Kansas City, MO: 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
| Boise City, ID | Kansas City, MO | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 98.4 | 92.5 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $94,056 in Kansas City | $106,319 in Boise City |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,381/mo | $1,197/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,988 | $75,417 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,192 (ID) | $3,763 (MO) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 22% | 19% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,100 | $50,820 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City, MO-KS |
Rent areas: Boise City, ID HUD Metro FMR Area and Kansas City, MO-KS HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Boise City, ID and Kansas City, MO-KS.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Boise City | Kansas City |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 105.6 | 86.6 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 94.1 |
| Utilities | 70.7 | 89.0 |
| Other services | 99.0 | 93.4 |
| Overall | 98.4 | 92.5 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Boise City, ID → Kansas City, MO
Same pay goes further
Buying power +6.3%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax −$429/yr.
88 Strong offer
Kansas City, MO → Boise City, ID
Same pay buys less
Buying power −5.9%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax +$429/yr.
50 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Boise City, ID is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Kansas City, MO is in Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City, MO-KS. The last column shows what a transfer from Boise City, ID to Kansas City, MO at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Boise City, ID | Kansas City, MO | Real change, Boise City → Kansas City |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $62,729 | +8.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $75,897 | +8.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $90,968 | +8.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $108,173 | +8.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $127,829 | +8.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Boise City, ID | Kansas City, MO | Kansas City pay in Boise City dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,230 | $61,060 | $64,919 (+6.0%) |
| Software Developers | $131,590 | $124,990 | $132,888 (+1.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,700 | $80,040 | $85,098 (+10.9%) |
| Registered Nurses | $97,880 | $83,040 | $88,287 (−9.8%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.