City comparison
Salem, OR vs Wichita, KS
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Salem, OR are 16.5% higher than in Wichita, KS. Someone earning $100,000 in Wichita, KS would need about $116,500 in Salem, OR to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,201 a month in Salem, OR versus $849 in Wichita, KS. On $100,000, that's 20% of take-home pay in Salem, OR and 14% in Wichita, KS.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,140 a year higher in Salem, OR than in Wichita, KS.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −7.2% moving from Salem, OR to Wichita, KS ($114,684 → $106,437), while prices change by −14.2%. Net effect of the transfer: +8.2% in real buying power.
- Salem, OR: price level 103.6 (pricier)
- 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
| Salem, OR | Wichita, KS | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 103.6 | 88.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $85,815 in Wichita | $116,530 in Salem |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,201/mo | $849/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $71,260 | $74,400 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $7,920 (OR) | $4,780 (KS) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 20% | 14% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $55,310 | $47,630 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Salem, OR MSA and Wichita, KS HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Salem, OR and Wichita, KS.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Salem | Wichita |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 110.3 | 66.2 |
| Goods | 105.3 | 94.0 |
| Utilities | 104.7 | 88.5 |
| Other services | 100.3 | 93.8 |
| Overall | 103.6 | 88.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Salem, OR → Wichita, KS
Same pay goes further
Buying power +16.5%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax −$3,140/yr.
100 Strong offer
Wichita, KS → Salem, OR
Same pay buys less
Buying power −14.2%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax +$3,140/yr.
38 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Salem, OR is in the Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA pay area; Wichita, KS is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Salem, OR to Wichita, KS at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Salem, OR | Wichita, KS | Real change, Salem → Wichita |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $66,505 | $61,722 | +8.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $80,465 | $74,678 | +8.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $96,443 | $89,508 | +8.2% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $114,684 | $106,437 | +8.2% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $135,522 | $125,776 | +8.2% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Salem, OR | Wichita, KS | Wichita pay in Salem dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $74,810 | $58,640 | $68,333 (−8.7%) |
| Software Developers | $131,620 | $105,980 | $123,499 (−6.2%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $87,480 | $79,270 | $92,374 (+5.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $131,750 | $76,540 | $89,192 (−32.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.