City comparison
Providence, RI vs Wichita, KS
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Providence, RI are 14.4% higher than in Wichita, KS. Someone earning $100,000 in Wichita, KS would need about $114,400 in Providence, RI to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,402 a month in Providence, RI versus $849 in Wichita, KS. On $100,000, that's 22% of take-home pay in Providence, RI and 14% in Wichita, KS.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,632 a year higher in Wichita, KS than in Providence, RI.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −11.7% moving from Providence, RI to Wichita, KS ($120,548 → $106,437), while prices change by −12.6%. Net effect of the transfer: +1.0% in real buying power.
- Providence, RI: price level 101.8 (about average)
- Wichita, KS: price level 88.9 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Providence, RI | Wichita, KS | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 101.8 | 88.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $87,396 in Wichita | $114,421 in Providence |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,402/mo | $849/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,032 | $74,400 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,148 (RI) | $4,780 (KS) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 22% | 14% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $53,680 | $47,630 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Providence-Fall River, RI-MA HUD Metro FMR Area and Wichita, KS HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Providence-Warwick, RI-MA and Wichita, KS.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Providence | Wichita |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 103.9 | 66.2 |
| Goods | 97.1 | 94.0 |
| Utilities | 148.8 | 88.5 |
| Other services | 102.3 | 93.8 |
| Overall | 101.8 | 88.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Providence, RI → Wichita, KS
Same pay goes further
Buying power +14.4%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax +$1,632/yr.
100 Strong offer
Wichita, KS → Providence, RI
Same pay buys less
Buying power −12.6%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax −$1,632/yr.
38 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Providence, RI is in the Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT pay area; Wichita, KS is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Providence, RI to Wichita, KS at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Providence, RI | Wichita, KS | Real change, Providence → Wichita |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $69,905 | $61,722 | +1.0% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $84,579 | $74,678 | +1.0% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $101,375 | $89,508 | +1.0% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $120,548 | $106,437 | +1.0% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $142,452 | $125,776 | +1.0% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Providence, RI | Wichita, KS | Wichita pay in Providence dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $86,720 | $58,640 | $67,097 (−22.6%) |
| Software Developers | $130,690 | $105,980 | $121,263 (−7.2%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $95,020 | $79,270 | $90,702 (−4.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $99,880 | $76,540 | $87,578 (−12.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.