City comparison
Albany, NY vs Lexington, KY
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Albany, NY are 7.2% higher than in Lexington, KY. Someone earning $100,000 in Lexington, KY would need about $107,200 in Albany, NY to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,417 a month in Albany, NY versus $1,079 in Lexington, KY. On $100,000, that's 23% of take-home pay in Albany, NY and 17% in Lexington, KY.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,477 a year higher in Albany, NY than in Lexington, KY.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −3.1% moving from Albany, NY to Lexington, KY ($109,810 → $106,437), while prices change by −6.7%. Net effect of the transfer: +3.9% in real buying power.
- Albany, NY: price level 99.6 (about average)
- Lexington, KY: price level 92.9 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Albany, NY | Lexington, KY | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 99.6 | 92.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $93,294 in Lexington | $107,188 in Albany |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,417/mo | $1,079/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,320 | $75,798 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,860 (NY) | $3,382 (KY) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 23% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $58,460 | $48,620 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Albany-Schenectady, NY-MA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY MSA and Lexington-Fayette, KY MSA. Metro areas: Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY and Lexington-Fayette, KY.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Albany | Lexington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 102.6 | 77.1 |
| Goods | 99.7 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 134.0 | 74.6 |
| Other services | 97.8 | 96.9 |
| Overall | 99.6 | 92.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Albany, NY → Lexington, KY
Same pay goes further
Buying power +7.2%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$1,477/yr.
91 Strong offer
Lexington, KY → Albany, NY
Same pay buys less
Buying power −6.7%; rent takes 23% of take-home; state tax +$1,477/yr.
48 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Albany, NY is in the Albany-Schenectady, NY-MA pay area; Lexington, KY is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Albany, NY to Lexington, KY at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Albany, NY | Lexington, KY | Real change, Albany → Lexington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $63,678 | $61,722 | +3.9% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $77,045 | $74,678 | +3.9% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $92,344 | $89,508 | +3.9% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $109,810 | $106,437 | +3.9% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $129,763 | $125,776 | +3.9% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Albany, NY | Lexington, KY | Lexington pay in Albany dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,240 | $61,460 | $65,878 (−16.9%) |
| Software Developers | $127,910 | $123,510 | $132,388 (+3.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $84,660 | $77,780 | $83,371 (−1.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $99,970 | $79,040 | $84,722 (−15.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.