City comparison
Columbus, GA vs Wichita, KS
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Columbus, GA (89.3) and Wichita, KS (88.9, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Columbus, GA goes as far as $99,600 in Wichita, KS.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $939 a month in Columbus, GA versus $849 in Wichita, KS. On $100,000, that's 15% of take-home pay in Columbus, GA and 14% in Wichita, KS.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $4,567 a year in GA and $4,780 in KS.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −5.4% moving from Columbus, GA to Wichita, KS ($112,556 → $106,437), while prices change by −0.4%. Net effect of the transfer: −5.1% in real buying power.
- Columbus, GA: price level 89.3 (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
| Columbus, GA | Wichita, KS | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 89.3 | 88.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,608 in Wichita | $100,393 in Columbus |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $939/mo | $849/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,613 | $74,400 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,567 (GA) | $4,780 (KS) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 15% | 14% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $43,540 | $47,630 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Atlanta-Athens-Clarke County-Sandy Springs, GA-AL | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Columbus, GA-AL HUD Metro FMR Area and Wichita, KS HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Columbus, GA-AL and Wichita, KS.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Columbus | Wichita |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 61.2 | 66.2 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 94.0 |
| Utilities | 89.7 | 88.5 |
| Other services | 98.6 | 93.8 |
| Overall | 89.3 | 88.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Columbus, GA → Wichita, KS
Roughly even
Buying power +0.4%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax +$213/yr.
70 Fair offer
Wichita, KS → Columbus, GA
Roughly even
Buying power −0.4%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax −$213/yr.
68 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Columbus, GA is in the Atlanta-Athens-Clarke County-Sandy Springs, GA-AL pay area; Wichita, KS is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Columbus, GA to Wichita, KS at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Columbus, GA | Wichita, KS | Real change, Columbus → Wichita |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $65,271 | $61,722 | −5.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $78,972 | $74,678 | −5.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $94,654 | $89,508 | −5.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $112,556 | $106,437 | −5.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $133,007 | $125,776 | −5.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Columbus, GA | Wichita, KS | Wichita pay in Columbus dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,360 | $58,640 | $58,871 (−4.1%) |
| Software Developers | $116,150 | $105,980 | $106,397 (−8.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $73,640 | $79,270 | $79,582 (+8.1%) |
| Registered Nurses | $82,500 | $76,540 | $76,841 (−6.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.