City comparison
Kansas City, MO vs Memphis, TN
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Kansas City, MO (92.5) and Memphis, TN (92.2, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Kansas City, MO goes as far as $99,600 in Memphis, TN.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,197 a month in Kansas City, MO and $1,154 in Memphis, TN.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,763 a year higher in Kansas City, MO than in Memphis, TN.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −1.6% moving from Kansas City, MO to Memphis, TN ($108,173 → $106,437), while prices change by −0.4%. Net effect of the transfer: −1.2% in real buying power.
- Kansas City, MO: price level 92.5 (cheaper)
- Memphis, TN: price level 92.2 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Kansas City, MO | Memphis, TN | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 92.5 | 92.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,607 in Memphis | $100,395 in Kansas City |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,197/mo | $1,154/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,417 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,763 (MO) | $0 (TN) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 19% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $50,820 | $46,890 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City, MO-KS | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Kansas City, MO-KS HUD Metro FMR Area and Memphis, TN-MS-AR HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Kansas City, MO-KS and Memphis, TN-MS-AR.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Kansas City | Memphis |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 86.6 | 79.8 |
| Goods | 94.1 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 89.0 | 74.1 |
| Other services | 93.4 | 95.4 |
| Overall | 92.5 | 92.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Kansas City, MO → Memphis, TN
Roughly even
Buying power +0.4%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$3,763/yr.
70 Fair offer
Memphis, TN → Kansas City, MO
Roughly even
Buying power −0.4%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax +$3,763/yr.
68 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Kansas City, MO is in the Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City, MO-KS pay area; Memphis, TN is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Kansas City, MO to Memphis, TN at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Kansas City, MO | Memphis, TN | Real change, Kansas City → Memphis |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,729 | $61,722 | −1.2% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,897 | $74,678 | −1.2% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $90,968 | $89,508 | −1.2% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $108,173 | $106,437 | −1.2% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $127,829 | $125,776 | −1.2% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Kansas City, MO | Memphis, TN | Memphis pay in Kansas City dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,060 | $61,510 | $61,753 (+1.1%) |
| Software Developers | $124,990 | $125,580 | $126,076 (+0.9%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $80,040 | $76,960 | $77,264 (−3.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $83,040 | $81,500 | $81,822 (−1.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.