City comparison
Greensboro, NC vs Lexington, KY
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Greensboro, NC (92.9) and Lexington, KY (92.9, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Greensboro, NC goes as far as $100,000 in Lexington, KY.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,213 a month in Greensboro, NC versus $1,079 in Lexington, KY. On $100,000, that's 19% of take-home pay in Greensboro, NC and 17% in Lexington, KY.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $3,481 a year in NC and $3,382 in KY.
- 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 Lexington, KY changes real buying power by −0.0%, purely from prices.
- Greensboro, NC: price level 92.9 (cheaper)
- 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
| Greensboro, NC | Lexington, KY | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 92.9 | 92.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $100,026 in Lexington | $99,974 in Greensboro |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,213/mo | $1,079/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,699 | $75,798 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,481 (NC) | $3,382 (KY) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 19% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,570 | $48,620 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Greensboro-High Point, NC HUD Metro FMR Area and Lexington-Fayette, KY MSA. Metro areas: Greensboro-High Point, NC and Lexington-Fayette, KY.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Greensboro | Lexington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 74.5 | 77.1 |
| Goods | 96.6 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 89.1 | 74.6 |
| Other services | 98.2 | 96.9 |
| Overall | 92.9 | 92.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Greensboro, NC → Lexington, KY
Roughly even
Buying power −0.0%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$99/yr.
69 Fair offer
Lexington, KY → Greensboro, NC
Roughly even
Buying power +0.0%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax +$99/yr.
69 Fair 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 Lexington, KY at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Greensboro, NC | Lexington, KY | Real change, Greensboro → Lexington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | −0.0% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | −0.0% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | −0.0% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | −0.0% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | −0.0% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Greensboro, NC | Lexington, KY | Lexington pay in Greensboro dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $59,730 | $61,460 | $61,444 (+2.9%) |
| Software Developers | $125,190 | $123,510 | $123,478 (−1.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $80,170 | $77,780 | $77,760 (−3.0%) |
| Registered Nurses | $82,860 | $79,040 | $79,020 (−4.6%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.