City comparison
Greensboro, NC vs Lakeland, FL
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Lakeland, FL are 4.6% higher than in Greensboro, NC. Someone earning $100,000 in Greensboro, NC would need about $104,600 in Lakeland, FL to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,213 a month in Greensboro, NC and $1,230 in Lakeland, FL.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,481 a year higher in Greensboro, NC than in Lakeland, FL.
- Both cities are in the same federal pay area (Rest of U.S.), so a GS-13 step 1 earns $106,437 in either. A transfer from Greensboro, NC to Lakeland, FL changes real buying power by −4.4%, purely from prices.
- Greensboro, NC: price level 92.9 (cheaper)
- 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
| Greensboro, NC | Lakeland, FL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 92.9 | 97.1 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $104,605 in Lakeland | $95,598 in Greensboro |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,213/mo | $1,230/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 | 19% | 19% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,570 | $46,140 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Greensboro-High Point, NC HUD Metro FMR Area and Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL MSA. Metro areas: Greensboro-High Point, NC and Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Greensboro | Lakeland |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 74.5 | 95.9 |
| Goods | 96.6 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 89.1 | 86.9 |
| Other services | 98.2 | 98.9 |
| Overall | 92.9 | 97.1 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Greensboro, NC → Lakeland, FL
Same pay buys less
Buying power −4.4%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax −$3,481/yr.
55 Fair offer
Lakeland, FL → Greensboro, NC
Same pay goes further
Buying power +4.6%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax +$3,481/yr.
83 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Both metros are in the Rest of U.S. locality pay area, so GS salaries are identical. The last column shows what a transfer from Greensboro, NC to Lakeland, FL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Greensboro, NC | Lakeland, FL | Real change, Greensboro → Lakeland |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | −4.4% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | −4.4% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | −4.4% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | −4.4% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | −4.4% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Greensboro, NC | Lakeland, FL | Lakeland pay in Greensboro dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $59,730 | $50,420 | $48,201 (−19.3%) |
| Software Developers | $125,190 | $122,200 | $116,821 (−6.7%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $80,170 | $76,820 | $73,438 (−8.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $82,860 | $84,030 | $80,331 (−3.1%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.