City comparison
Springfield, MA vs Wichita, KS
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Springfield, MA are 8.0% higher than in Wichita, KS. Someone earning $100,000 in Wichita, KS would need about $108,000 in Springfield, MA to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,382 a month in Springfield, MA versus $849 in Wichita, KS. On $100,000, that's 22% of take-home pay in Springfield, MA and 14% in Wichita, KS.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $4,780 a year in MA and $4,780 in KS.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −11.4% moving from Springfield, MA to Wichita, KS ($120,094 → $106,437), while prices change by −7.4%. Net effect of the transfer: −4.3% in real buying power.
- Springfield, MA: price level 96.1 (cheaper)
- 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
| Springfield, MA | Wichita, KS | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 96.1 | 88.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $92,593 in Wichita | $107,999 in Springfield |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,382/mo | $849/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,400 | $74,400 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,780 (MA) | $4,780 (KS) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 22% | 14% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $51,930 | $47,630 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Springfield, MA MSA and Wichita, KS HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Springfield, MA and Wichita, KS.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Springfield | Wichita |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 75.8 | 66.2 |
| Goods | 97.0 | 94.0 |
| Utilities | 155.0 | 88.5 |
| Other services | 101.2 | 93.8 |
| Overall | 96.1 | 88.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Springfield, MA → Wichita, KS
Same pay goes further
Buying power +8.0%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
94 Strong offer
Wichita, KS → Springfield, MA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −7.4%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax −$0/yr.
46 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Springfield, MA is in the Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA pay area; Wichita, KS is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Springfield, MA to Wichita, KS at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Springfield, MA | Wichita, KS | Real change, Springfield → Wichita |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $69,642 | $61,722 | −4.3% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $84,260 | $74,678 | −4.3% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $100,992 | $89,508 | −4.3% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $120,094 | $106,437 | −4.3% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $141,915 | $125,776 | −4.3% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Springfield, MA | Wichita, KS | Wichita pay in Springfield dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,640 | $58,640 | $63,331 (−20.5%) |
| Software Developers | $127,740 | $105,980 | $114,458 (−10.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $92,010 | $79,270 | $85,611 (−7.0%) |
| Registered Nurses | $98,410 | $76,540 | $82,663 (−16.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.