City comparison
Charlotte, NC vs Tucson, AZ
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Charlotte, NC (97.3) and Tucson, AZ (96.9, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Charlotte, NC goes as far as $99,500 in Tucson, AZ.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,538 a month in Charlotte, NC versus $1,081 in Tucson, AZ. On $100,000, that's 24% of take-home pay in Charlotte, NC and 17% in Tucson, AZ.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,190 a year higher in Charlotte, NC than in Tucson, AZ.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −0.3% moving from Charlotte, NC to Tucson, AZ ($108,810 → $108,455), while prices change by −0.5%. Net effect of the transfer: +0.1% in real buying power.
- Charlotte, NC: price level 97.3 (cheaper)
- Tucson, AZ: price level 96.9 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Charlotte, NC | Tucson, AZ | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 97.3 | 96.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,536 in Tucson | $100,466 in Charlotte |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,538/mo | $1,081/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,699 | $76,889 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,481 (NC) | $2,291 (AZ) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,990 | $47,760 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC | Tucson-Nogales, AZ |
Rent areas: Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HUD Metro FMR Area and Tucson, AZ MSA. Metro areas: Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC and Tucson, AZ.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Charlotte | Tucson |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 97.6 | 91.8 |
| Goods | 96.6 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 89.2 | 89.5 |
| Other services | 98.2 | 99.8 |
| Overall | 97.3 | 96.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Charlotte, NC → Tucson, AZ
Roughly even
Buying power +0.5%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$1,190/yr.
70 Strong offer
Tucson, AZ → Charlotte, NC
Roughly even
Buying power −0.5%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$1,190/yr.
67 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Charlotte, NC is in the Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC pay area; Tucson, AZ is in Tucson-Nogales, AZ. The last column shows what a transfer from Charlotte, NC to Tucson, AZ at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Charlotte, NC | Tucson, AZ | Real change, Charlotte → Tucson |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $63,098 | $62,893 | +0.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $76,343 | $76,095 | +0.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $91,503 | $91,205 | +0.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $108,810 | $108,455 | +0.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $128,581 | $128,162 | +0.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Charlotte, NC | Tucson, AZ | Tucson pay in Charlotte dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $58,680 | $47,220 | $47,440 (−19.2%) |
| Software Developers | $135,920 | $123,710 | $124,287 (−8.6%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $92,910 | $76,320 | $76,676 (−17.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $90,620 | $94,110 | $94,549 (+4.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.