City comparison
Charlotte, NC vs North Port, FL
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent, state taxes and federal GS pay.
Key findings
- Prices in North Port, FL are 5.2% higher than in Charlotte, NC. Someone earning $100,000 in Charlotte, NC would need about $105,200 in North Port, FL to live the same way.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,686 a month in North Port, FL versus $1,538 in Charlotte, NC. On $100,000, that's 26% of take-home pay in North Port, FL and 24% in Charlotte, NC.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,481 a year higher in Charlotte, NC than in North Port, FL.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −2.2% moving from Charlotte, NC to North Port, FL ($108,810 → $106,437), while prices change by +5.2%. Net effect of the transfer: −7.0% in real buying power.
- Charlotte, NC: price level 97.3 (cheaper)
- North Port, FL: price level 102.4 (pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Charlotte, NC | North Port, FL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 97.3 | 102.4 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $105,207 in North Port | $95,051 in Charlotte |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,538/mo | $1,686/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 | 24% | 26% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,990 | $47,440 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HUD Metro FMR Area and North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL MSA. Metro areas: Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC and North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Charlotte | North Port |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 97.6 | 128.0 |
| Goods | 96.6 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 89.2 | 88.2 |
| Other services | 98.2 | 98.9 |
| Overall | 97.3 | 102.4 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Charlotte, NC → North Port, FL
Same pay buys less
Buying power −4.9%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax −$3,481/yr.
52 Fair offer
North Port, FL → Charlotte, NC
Same pay goes further
Buying power +5.2%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$3,481/yr.
85 Strong offer
Federal employees: GS pay
Charlotte, NC is in the Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC pay area; North Port, FL is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Charlotte, NC to North Port, FL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Charlotte, NC | North Port, FL | Real change, Charlotte → North Port |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $63,098 | $61,722 | −7.0% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $76,343 | $74,678 | −7.0% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $91,503 | $89,508 | −7.0% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $108,810 | $106,437 | −7.0% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $128,581 | $125,776 | −7.0% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Charlotte, NC | North Port, FL | North Port pay in Charlotte dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Information Security Analysts | $131,440 | not published | — |
| Software Developers | $135,920 | $131,890 | $125,362 (−7.8%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $92,910 | $81,090 | $77,077 (−17.0%) |
| Registered Nurses | $90,620 | $86,130 | $81,867 (−9.7%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.