City comparison
Kansas City, MO vs Omaha, NE
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 Omaha, NE (91.9, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Kansas City, MO goes as far as $99,300 in Omaha, NE.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,197 a month in Kansas City, MO and $1,148 in Omaha, NE.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $3,763 a year in MO and $3,670 in NE.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −0.6% moving from Kansas City, MO to Omaha, NE ($108,173 → $107,501), while prices change by −0.7%. Net effect of the transfer: +0.1% in real buying power.
- Kansas City, MO: price level 92.5 (cheaper)
- Omaha, NE: price level 91.9 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Kansas City, MO | Omaha, NE | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 92.5 | 91.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,317 in Omaha | $100,688 in Kansas City |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,197/mo | $1,148/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,417 | $75,510 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,763 (MO) | $3,670 (NE) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 19% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $50,820 | $49,660 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City, MO-KS | Omaha-Council Bluffs-Fremont, NE-IA |
Rent areas: Kansas City, MO-KS HUD Metro FMR Area and Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Kansas City, MO-KS and Omaha, NE-IA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Kansas City | Omaha |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 86.6 | 86.4 |
| Goods | 94.1 | 94.1 |
| Utilities | 89.0 | 76.4 |
| Other services | 93.4 | 93.0 |
| Overall | 92.5 | 91.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Kansas City, MO → Omaha, NE
Roughly even
Buying power +0.7%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax −$92/yr.
71 Strong offer
Omaha, NE → Kansas City, MO
Roughly even
Buying power −0.7%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax +$92/yr.
67 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Kansas City, MO is in the Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City, MO-KS pay area; Omaha, NE is in Omaha-Council Bluffs-Fremont, NE-IA. The last column shows what a transfer from Kansas City, MO to Omaha, NE at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Kansas City, MO | Omaha, NE | Real change, Kansas City → Omaha |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,729 | $62,339 | +0.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,897 | $75,425 | +0.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $90,968 | $90,402 | +0.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $108,173 | $107,501 | +0.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $127,829 | $127,033 | +0.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Kansas City, MO | Omaha, NE | Omaha pay in Kansas City dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,060 | $62,670 | $63,101 (+3.3%) |
| Software Developers | $124,990 | $125,220 | $126,081 (+0.9%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $80,040 | $77,030 | $77,560 (−3.1%) |
| Registered Nurses | $83,040 | $84,600 | $85,182 (+2.6%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.