City comparison
Kansas City, MO vs Worcester, MA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Worcester, MA are 10.8% higher than in Kansas City, MO. Someone earning $100,000 in Kansas City, MO would need about $110,800 in Worcester, MA to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,599 a month in Worcester, MA versus $1,197 in Kansas City, MO. On $100,000, that's 26% of take-home pay in Worcester, MA and 19% in Kansas City, MO.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,017 a year higher in Worcester, MA than in Kansas City, MO.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +11.4% moving from Kansas City, MO to Worcester, MA ($108,173 → $120,548), while prices change by +10.8%. Net effect of the transfer: +0.6% in real buying power.
- Kansas City, MO: price level 92.5 (cheaper)
- Worcester, MA: price level 102.5 (pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Kansas City, MO | Worcester, MA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 92.5 | 102.5 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $110,784 in Worcester | $90,266 in Kansas City |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,197/mo | $1,599/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,417 | $74,400 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,763 (MO) | $4,780 (MA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 19% | 26% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $50,820 | $57,830 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City, MO-KS | Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT |
Rent areas: Kansas City, MO-KS HUD Metro FMR Area and Worcester, MA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Kansas City, MO-KS and Worcester, MA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Kansas City | Worcester |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 86.6 | 113.0 |
| Goods | 94.1 | 97.0 |
| Utilities | 89.0 | 155.2 |
| Other services | 93.4 | 101.2 |
| Overall | 92.5 | 102.5 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Kansas City, MO → Worcester, MA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −9.7%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax +$1,017/yr.
37 Weak offer
Worcester, MA → Kansas City, MO
Same pay goes further
Buying power +10.8%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax −$1,017/yr.
100 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Kansas City, MO is in the Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City, MO-KS pay area; Worcester, MA is in Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT. The last column shows what a transfer from Kansas City, MO to Worcester, MA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Kansas City, MO | Worcester, MA | Real change, Kansas City → Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,729 | $69,905 | +0.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,897 | $84,579 | +0.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $90,968 | $101,375 | +0.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $108,173 | $120,548 | +0.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $127,829 | $142,452 | +0.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Kansas City, MO | Worcester, MA | Worcester pay in Kansas City dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,060 | $82,810 | $74,749 (+22.4%) |
| Software Developers | $124,990 | $146,950 | $132,645 (+6.1%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $80,040 | $94,070 | $84,913 (+6.1%) |
| Registered Nurses | $83,040 | $100,240 | $90,482 (+9.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.