City comparison
Syracuse, NY vs Wichita, KS
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Syracuse, NY are 7.6% higher than in Wichita, KS. Someone earning $100,000 in Wichita, KS would need about $107,600 in Syracuse, NY to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,123 a month in Syracuse, NY versus $849 in Wichita, KS. On $100,000, that's 18% of take-home pay in Syracuse, NY and 14% in Wichita, KS.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $4,860 a year in NY and $4,780 in KS.
- Both cities are in the same federal pay area (Rest of U.S.), so a GS-13 step 1 earns $106,437 in either. A transfer from Syracuse, NY to Wichita, KS changes real buying power by +7.6%, purely from prices.
- Syracuse, NY: price level 95.7 (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
| Syracuse, NY | Wichita, KS | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 95.7 | 88.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $92,902 in Wichita | $107,641 in Syracuse |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,123/mo | $849/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,320 | $74,400 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,860 (NY) | $4,780 (KS) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 14% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $52,990 | $47,630 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Syracuse, NY MSA and Wichita, KS HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Syracuse, NY and Wichita, KS.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Syracuse | Wichita |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 80.7 | 66.2 |
| Goods | 99.7 | 94.0 |
| Utilities | 133.4 | 88.5 |
| Other services | 97.8 | 93.8 |
| Overall | 95.7 | 88.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Syracuse, NY → Wichita, KS
Same pay goes further
Buying power +7.6%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax −$79/yr.
93 Strong offer
Wichita, KS → Syracuse, NY
Same pay buys less
Buying power −7.1%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$79/yr.
47 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Both metros are in the Rest of U.S. locality pay area, so GS salaries are identical. The last column shows what a transfer from Syracuse, NY to Wichita, KS at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Syracuse, NY | Wichita, KS | Real change, Syracuse → Wichita |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +7.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +7.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +7.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +7.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +7.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Syracuse, NY | Wichita, KS | Wichita pay in Syracuse dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $78,560 | $58,640 | $63,120 (−19.7%) |
| Software Developers | $129,100 | $105,980 | $114,077 (−11.6%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $82,230 | $79,270 | $85,327 (+3.8%) |
| Registered Nurses | $86,960 | $76,540 | $82,388 (−5.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.