City comparison
Lakeland, FL vs Lexington, KY
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 Lexington, KY. Someone earning $100,000 in Lexington, KY would need about $104,600 in Lakeland, FL to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,230 a month in Lakeland, FL versus $1,079 in Lexington, KY. On $100,000, that's 19% of take-home pay in Lakeland, FL and 17% in Lexington, KY.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,382 a year higher in Lexington, KY 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 Lakeland, FL to Lexington, KY changes real buying power by +4.6%, purely from prices.
- Lakeland, FL: price level 97.1 (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
| Lakeland, FL | Lexington, KY | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 97.1 | 92.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $95,623 in Lexington | $104,578 in Lakeland |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,230/mo | $1,079/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $75,798 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (FL) | $3,382 (KY) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 19% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,140 | $48,620 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL MSA and Lexington-Fayette, KY MSA. Metro areas: Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL and Lexington-Fayette, KY.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Lakeland | Lexington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 95.9 | 77.1 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 86.9 | 74.6 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 96.9 |
| Overall | 97.1 | 92.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Lakeland, FL → Lexington, KY
Same pay goes further
Buying power +4.6%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax +$3,382/yr.
83 Strong offer
Lexington, KY → Lakeland, FL
Same pay buys less
Buying power −4.4%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax −$3,382/yr.
55 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 Lakeland, FL to Lexington, KY at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Lakeland, FL | Lexington, KY | Real change, Lakeland → Lexington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +4.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +4.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +4.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +4.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +4.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Lakeland, FL | Lexington, KY | Lexington pay in Lakeland dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $50,420 | $61,460 | $64,273 (+27.5%) |
| Software Developers | $122,200 | $123,510 | $129,164 (+5.7%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,820 | $77,780 | $81,340 (+5.9%) |
| Registered Nurses | $84,030 | $79,040 | $82,658 (−1.6%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.