City comparison
Greensboro, NC vs Provo, UT
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Provo, UT are 5.8% higher than in Greensboro, NC. Someone earning $100,000 in Greensboro, NC would need about $105,800 in Provo, UT to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,213 a month in Greensboro, NC and $1,265 in Provo, UT.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $3,481 a year in NC and $3,534 in UT.
- 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 Provo, UT changes real buying power by −5.5%, purely from prices.
- Greensboro, NC: price level 92.9 (cheaper)
- Provo, UT: price level 98.2 (about average)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Greensboro, NC | Provo, UT | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 92.9 | 98.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $105,779 in Provo | $94,536 in Greensboro |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,213/mo | $1,265/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,699 | $75,646 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,481 (NC) | $3,534 (UT) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 19% | 20% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,570 | $48,010 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Greensboro-High Point, NC HUD Metro FMR Area and Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT MSA. Metro areas: Greensboro-High Point, NC and Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Greensboro | Provo |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 74.5 | 104.1 |
| Goods | 96.6 | 96.4 |
| Utilities | 89.1 | 78.6 |
| Other services | 98.2 | 99.0 |
| Overall | 92.9 | 98.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Greensboro, NC → Provo, UT
Same pay buys less
Buying power −5.5%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax +$53/yr.
52 Fair offer
Provo, UT → Greensboro, NC
Same pay goes further
Buying power +5.8%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax −$53/yr.
87 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 Provo, UT at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Greensboro, NC | Provo, UT | Real change, Greensboro → Provo |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | −5.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | −5.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | −5.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | −5.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | −5.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Greensboro, NC | Provo, UT | Provo pay in Greensboro dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $59,730 | $62,930 | $59,492 (−0.4%) |
| Software Developers | $125,190 | $131,210 | $124,041 (−0.9%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $80,170 | $75,700 | $71,564 (−10.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $82,860 | $81,780 | $77,312 (−6.7%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.