City comparison
Austin, TX vs Lakeland, FL
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Austin, TX (98.1) and Lakeland, FL (97.1, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Austin, TX goes as far as $99,100 in Lakeland, FL.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,562 a month in Austin, TX versus $1,230 in Lakeland, FL. On $100,000, that's 24% of take-home pay in Austin, TX and 19% in Lakeland, FL.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $0 a year in TX and $0 in FL.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −2.7% moving from Austin, TX to Lakeland, FL ($109,428 → $106,437), while prices change by −0.9%. Net effect of the transfer: −1.8% in real buying power.
- Austin, TX: price level 98.1 (about average)
- 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
| Austin, TX | Lakeland, FL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 98.1 | 97.1 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,057 in Lakeland | $100,952 in Austin |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,562/mo | $1,230/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (TX) | $0 (FL) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 19% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $56,950 | $46,140 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX MSA and Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL MSA. Metro areas: Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX and Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Austin | Lakeland |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 120.4 | 95.9 |
| Goods | 93.8 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 82.0 | 86.9 |
| Other services | 96.2 | 98.9 |
| Overall | 98.1 | 97.1 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Austin, TX → Lakeland, FL
Roughly even
Buying power +1.0%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
72 Strong offer
Lakeland, FL → Austin, TX
Roughly even
Buying power −0.9%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
66 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Austin, TX is in the Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX pay area; Lakeland, FL is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Austin, TX to Lakeland, FL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Austin, TX | Lakeland, FL | Real change, Austin → Lakeland |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $63,457 | $61,722 | −1.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $76,777 | $74,678 | −1.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $92,023 | $89,508 | −1.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $109,428 | $106,437 | −1.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $129,311 | $125,776 | −1.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Austin, TX | Lakeland, FL | Lakeland pay in Austin dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,270 | $50,420 | $50,900 (−16.9%) |
| Software Developers | $134,120 | $122,200 | $123,364 (−8.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $83,120 | $76,820 | $77,551 (−6.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $97,890 | $84,030 | $84,830 (−13.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.