City comparison
Greensboro, NC vs Kansas City, MO
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Greensboro, NC (92.9) and Kansas City, MO (92.5, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Greensboro, NC goes as far as $99,700 in Kansas City, MO.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,213 a month in Greensboro, NC and $1,197 in Kansas City, MO.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $281 a year higher in Kansas City, MO than in Greensboro, NC.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +1.6% moving from Greensboro, NC to Kansas City, MO ($106,437 → $108,173), while prices change by −0.3%. Net effect of the transfer: +2.0% in real buying power.
- Greensboro, NC: price level 92.9 (cheaper)
- 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
| Greensboro, NC | Kansas City, MO | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 92.9 | 92.5 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,653 in Kansas City | $100,348 in Greensboro |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,213/mo | $1,197/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,699 | $75,417 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,481 (NC) | $3,763 (MO) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 19% | 19% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,570 | $50,820 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City, MO-KS |
Rent areas: Greensboro-High Point, NC HUD Metro FMR Area and Kansas City, MO-KS HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Greensboro-High Point, NC and Kansas City, MO-KS.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Greensboro | Kansas City |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 74.5 | 86.6 |
| Goods | 96.6 | 94.1 |
| Utilities | 89.1 | 89.0 |
| Other services | 98.2 | 93.4 |
| Overall | 92.9 | 92.5 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Greensboro, NC → Kansas City, MO
Roughly even
Buying power +0.3%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax +$281/yr.
70 Fair offer
Kansas City, MO → Greensboro, NC
Roughly even
Buying power −0.3%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax −$281/yr.
68 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Greensboro, NC 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 Greensboro, NC to Kansas City, MO at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Greensboro, NC | Kansas City, MO | Real change, Greensboro → Kansas City |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $62,729 | +2.0% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $75,897 | +2.0% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $90,968 | +2.0% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $108,173 | +2.0% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $127,829 | +2.0% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Greensboro, NC | Kansas City, MO | Kansas City pay in Greensboro dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $59,730 | $61,060 | $61,272 (+2.6%) |
| Software Developers | $125,190 | $124,990 | $125,425 (+0.2%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $80,170 | $80,040 | $80,318 (+0.2%) |
| Registered Nurses | $82,860 | $83,040 | $83,329 (+0.6%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.