City comparison
Denver, CO vs Lexington, KY
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Denver, CO are 13.9% higher than in Lexington, KY. Someone earning $100,000 in Lexington, KY would need about $113,900 in Denver, CO to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,754 a month in Denver, CO versus $1,079 in Lexington, KY. On $100,000, that's 28% of take-home pay in Denver, CO and 17% in Lexington, KY.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $309 a year higher in Denver, CO than in Lexington, KY.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −10.3% moving from Denver, CO to Lexington, KY ($118,675 → $106,437), while prices change by −12.2%. Net effect of the transfer: +2.1% in real buying power.
- Denver, CO: price level 105.8 (pricier)
- 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
| Denver, CO | Lexington, KY | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 105.8 | 92.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $87,812 in Lexington | $113,880 in Denver |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,754/mo | $1,079/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,488 | $75,798 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,692 (CO) | $3,382 (KY) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 28% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $62,320 | $48,620 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Denver-Aurora, CO | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO MSA and Lexington-Fayette, KY MSA. Metro areas: Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO and Lexington-Fayette, KY.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Denver | Lexington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 146.9 | 77.1 |
| Goods | 101.0 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 87.9 | 74.6 |
| Other services | 99.4 | 96.9 |
| Overall | 105.8 | 92.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Denver, CO → Lexington, KY
Same pay goes further
Buying power +13.9%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$309/yr.
100 Strong offer
Lexington, KY → Denver, CO
Same pay buys less
Buying power −12.2%; rent takes 28% of take-home; state tax +$309/yr.
33 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Denver, CO is in the Denver-Aurora, CO pay area; Lexington, KY is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Denver, CO to Lexington, KY at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Denver, CO | Lexington, KY | Real change, Denver → Lexington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $68,819 | $61,722 | +2.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $83,265 | $74,678 | +2.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $99,800 | $89,508 | +2.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $118,675 | $106,437 | +2.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $140,239 | $125,776 | +2.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Denver, CO | Lexington, KY | Lexington pay in Denver dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $76,910 | $61,460 | $69,991 (−9.0%) |
| Software Developers | $137,610 | $123,510 | $140,653 (+2.2%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $100,020 | $77,780 | $88,576 (−11.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $101,130 | $79,040 | $90,011 (−11.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.