City comparison
Fresno, CA vs Lakeland, FL
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent, state taxes and federal GS pay.
Key findings
- Prices in Fresno, CA are 5.2% higher than in Lakeland, FL. Someone earning $100,000 in Lakeland, FL would need about $105,200 in Fresno, CA to live the same way.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,355 a month in Fresno, CA versus $1,230 in Lakeland, FL. On $100,000, that's 22% of take-home pay in Fresno, CA and 19% in Lakeland, FL.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $5,070 a year higher in Fresno, CA than in Lakeland, FL.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −0.5% moving from Fresno, CA to Lakeland, FL ($106,973 → $106,437), while prices change by −4.9%. Net effect of the transfer: +4.6% in real buying power.
- Fresno, CA: price level 102.2 (pricier)
- 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
| Fresno, CA | Lakeland, FL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 102.2 | 97.1 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $95,089 in Lakeland | $105,165 in Fresno |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,355/mo | $1,230/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,110 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $5,070 (CA) | $0 (FL) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 22% | 19% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,910 | $46,140 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Fresno, CA HUD Metro FMR Area and Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL MSA. Metro areas: Fresno, CA and Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Fresno | Lakeland |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 95.7 | 95.9 |
| Goods | 105.2 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 161.0 | 86.9 |
| Other services | 100.3 | 98.9 |
| Overall | 102.2 | 97.1 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Fresno, CA → Lakeland, FL
Same pay goes further
Buying power +5.2%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax −$5,070/yr.
85 Strong offer
Lakeland, FL → Fresno, CA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −4.9%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax +$5,070/yr.
53 Fair offer
Federal employees: GS pay
Fresno, CA is in the Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA pay area; Lakeland, FL is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Fresno, CA to Lakeland, FL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Fresno, CA | Lakeland, FL | Real change, Fresno → Lakeland |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,033 | $61,722 | +4.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,055 | $74,678 | +4.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,959 | $89,508 | +4.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,973 | $106,437 | +4.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $126,410 | $125,776 | +4.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Fresno, CA | Lakeland, FL | Lakeland pay in Fresno dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Information Security Analysts | $118,420 | $100,470 | $105,659 (−10.8%) |
| Software Developers | $129,060 | $122,200 | $128,511 (−0.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $78,690 | $76,820 | $80,787 (+2.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $125,420 | $84,030 | $88,370 (−29.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.