City comparison
Asheville, NC vs Lakeland, FL
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Asheville, NC (96.5) and Lakeland, FL (97.1, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Asheville, NC goes as far as $100,700 in Lakeland, FL.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,429 a month in Asheville, NC versus $1,230 in Lakeland, FL. On $100,000, that's 23% of take-home pay in Asheville, NC and 19% in Lakeland, FL.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,481 a year higher in Asheville, NC than in Lakeland, FL.
- 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 Asheville, NC to Lakeland, FL changes real buying power by −0.7%, purely from prices.
- Asheville, NC: price level 96.5 (cheaper)
- Lakeland, FL: price level 97.1 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Asheville, NC | Lakeland, FL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 96.5 | 97.1 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $100,658 in Lakeland | $99,346 in Asheville |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,429/mo | $1,230/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,699 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,481 (NC) | $0 (FL) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 23% | 19% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,870 | $46,140 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Asheville, NC MSA and Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL MSA. Metro areas: Asheville, NC and Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Asheville | Lakeland |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 93.4 | 95.9 |
| Goods | 96.6 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 88.6 | 86.9 |
| Other services | 98.2 | 98.9 |
| Overall | 96.5 | 97.1 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Asheville, NC → Lakeland, FL
Roughly even
Buying power −0.7%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax −$3,481/yr.
67 Fair offer
Lakeland, FL → Asheville, NC
Roughly even
Buying power +0.7%; rent takes 23% of take-home; state tax +$3,481/yr.
71 Strong 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 Asheville, NC to Lakeland, FL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Asheville, NC | Lakeland, FL | Real change, Asheville → Lakeland |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | −0.7% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | −0.7% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | −0.7% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | −0.7% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | −0.7% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Asheville, NC | Lakeland, FL | Lakeland pay in Asheville dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $50,080 | $50,420 | $50,090 (+0.0%) |
| Software Developers | $134,350 | $122,200 | $121,401 (−9.6%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $80,400 | $76,820 | $76,318 (−5.1%) |
| Registered Nurses | $81,590 | $84,030 | $83,481 (+2.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.