City comparison
Kansas City, MO vs Roanoke, VA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Roanoke, VA are 1.2% higher than in Kansas City, MO. Someone earning $100,000 in Kansas City, MO would need about $101,200 in Roanoke, VA to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,197 a month in Kansas City, MO versus $1,053 in Roanoke, VA. On $100,000, that's 19% of take-home pay in Kansas City, MO and 17% in Roanoke, VA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,173 a year higher in Roanoke, VA than in Kansas City, MO.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −1.6% moving from Kansas City, MO to Roanoke, VA ($108,173 → $106,437), while prices change by +1.2%. Net effect of the transfer: −2.7% in real buying power.
- Kansas City, MO: price level 92.5 (cheaper)
- Roanoke, VA: price level 93.6 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Kansas City, MO | Roanoke, VA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 92.5 | 93.6 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $101,162 in Roanoke | $98,852 in Kansas City |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,197/mo | $1,053/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,417 | $74,244 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,763 (MO) | $4,936 (VA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 19% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $50,820 | $47,140 |
| 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 Roanoke, VA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Kansas City, MO-KS and Roanoke, VA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Kansas City | Roanoke |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 86.6 | 78.5 |
| Goods | 94.1 | 96.8 |
| Utilities | 89.0 | 88.9 |
| Other services | 93.4 | 98.6 |
| Overall | 92.5 | 93.6 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Kansas City, MO → Roanoke, VA
Roughly even
Buying power −1.1%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax +$1,173/yr.
65 Fair offer
Roanoke, VA → Kansas City, MO
Roughly even
Buying power +1.2%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax −$1,173/yr.
72 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Kansas City, MO is in the Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City, MO-KS pay area; Roanoke, VA is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Kansas City, MO to Roanoke, VA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Kansas City, MO | Roanoke, VA | Real change, Kansas City → Roanoke |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,729 | $61,722 | −2.7% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,897 | $74,678 | −2.7% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $90,968 | $89,508 | −2.7% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $108,173 | $106,437 | −2.7% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $127,829 | $125,776 | −2.7% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Kansas City, MO | Roanoke, VA | Roanoke pay in Kansas City dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,060 | $62,010 | $61,298 (+0.4%) |
| Software Developers | $124,990 | $121,110 | $119,719 (−4.2%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $80,040 | $77,240 | $76,353 (−4.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $83,040 | $80,090 | $79,170 (−4.7%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.