City comparison
Houston, TX vs Pensacola, FL
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Houston, TX (98.6) and Pensacola, FL (97.7, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Houston, TX goes as far as $99,100 in Pensacola, FL.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,323 a month in Houston, TX and $1,257 in Pensacola, FL.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $0 a year in TX and $0 in FL.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −13.3% moving from Houston, TX to Pensacola, FL ($122,749 → $106,437), while prices change by −0.9%. Net effect of the transfer: −12.5% in real buying power.
- Houston, TX: price level 98.6 (about average)
- Pensacola, FL: price level 97.7 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Houston, TX | Pensacola, FL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 98.6 | 97.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,075 in Pensacola | $100,933 in Houston |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,323/mo | $1,257/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (TX) | $0 (FL) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 20% | 19% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,410 | $46,240 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Houston-The Woodlands, TX | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX HUD Metro FMR Area and Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL MSA. Metro areas: Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX and Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Houston | Pensacola |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 104.5 | 98.8 |
| Goods | 100.6 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 95.3 | 88.5 |
| Other services | 95.6 | 98.9 |
| Overall | 98.6 | 97.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Houston, TX → Pensacola, FL
Roughly even
Buying power +0.9%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
72 Strong offer
Pensacola, FL → Houston, TX
Roughly even
Buying power −0.9%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
66 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Houston, TX is in the Houston-The Woodlands, TX pay area; Pensacola, FL is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Houston, TX to Pensacola, FL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Houston, TX | Pensacola, FL | Real change, Houston → Pensacola |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $71,181 | $61,722 | −12.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $86,123 | $74,678 | −12.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $103,225 | $89,508 | −12.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $122,749 | $106,437 | −12.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $145,052 | $125,776 | −12.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Houston, TX | Pensacola, FL | Pensacola pay in Houston dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $64,500 | $50,360 | $50,830 (−21.2%) |
| Software Developers | $129,440 | $108,430 | $109,442 (−15.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $85,090 | $76,410 | $77,123 (−9.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $99,830 | $77,890 | $78,617 (−21.2%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.