City comparison
Kansas City, MO vs Milwaukee, WI
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Milwaukee, WI are 4.7% higher than in Kansas City, MO. Someone earning $100,000 in Kansas City, MO would need about $104,700 in Milwaukee, WI to live the same way.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,197 a month in Kansas City, MO versus $1,119 in Milwaukee, WI. On $100,000, that's 19% of take-home pay in Kansas City, MO and 18% in Milwaukee, WI.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $3,763 a year in MO and $3,919 in WI.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +2.9% moving from Kansas City, MO to Milwaukee, WI ($108,173 → $111,310), while prices change by +4.7%. Net effect of the transfer: −1.8% in real buying power.
- Kansas City, MO: price level 92.5 (cheaper)
- Milwaukee, WI: price level 96.9 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Kansas City, MO | Milwaukee, WI | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 92.5 | 96.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $104,748 in Milwaukee | $95,467 in Kansas City |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,197/mo | $1,119/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,417 | $75,261 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,763 (MO) | $3,919 (WI) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 19% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $50,820 | $51,160 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City, MO-KS | Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI |
Rent areas: Kansas City, MO-KS HUD Metro FMR Area and Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI MSA. Metro areas: Kansas City, MO-KS and Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Kansas City | Milwaukee |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 86.6 | 97.1 |
| Goods | 94.1 | 93.8 |
| Utilities | 89.0 | 91.6 |
| Other services | 93.4 | 99.4 |
| Overall | 92.5 | 96.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Kansas City, MO → Milwaukee, WI
Same pay buys less
Buying power −4.5%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$157/yr.
55 Fair offer
Milwaukee, WI → Kansas City, MO
Same pay goes further
Buying power +4.7%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax −$157/yr.
84 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Kansas City, MO is in the Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City, MO-KS pay area; Milwaukee, WI is in Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI. The last column shows what a transfer from Kansas City, MO to Milwaukee, WI at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Kansas City, MO | Milwaukee, WI | Real change, Kansas City → Milwaukee |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,729 | $64,548 | −1.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,897 | $78,098 | −1.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $90,968 | $93,606 | −1.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $108,173 | $111,310 | −1.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $127,829 | $131,535 | −1.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Kansas City, MO | Milwaukee, WI | Milwaukee pay in Kansas City dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,060 | $61,480 | $58,693 (−3.9%) |
| Software Developers | $124,990 | $123,730 | $118,122 (−5.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $80,040 | $80,290 | $76,651 (−4.2%) |
| Registered Nurses | $83,040 | $97,360 | $92,947 (+11.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.