City comparison
Lakeland, FL vs Little Rock, AR
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Lakeland, FL are 8.7% higher than in Little Rock, AR. Someone earning $100,000 in Little Rock, AR would need about $108,700 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 $989 in Little Rock, AR. On $100,000, that's 19% of take-home pay in Lakeland, FL and 16% in Little Rock, AR.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,687 a year higher in Little Rock, AR 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 Little Rock, AR changes real buying power by +8.7%, purely from prices.
- Lakeland, FL: price level 97.1 (cheaper)
- Little Rock, AR: price level 89.4 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Lakeland, FL | Little Rock, AR | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 97.1 | 89.4 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $91,994 in Little Rock | $108,703 in Lakeland |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,230/mo | $989/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $75,493 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (FL) | $3,687 (AR) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 19% | 16% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,140 | $45,790 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL MSA and Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL and Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Lakeland | Little Rock |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 95.9 | 68.3 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 93.6 |
| Utilities | 86.9 | 74.6 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 95.3 |
| Overall | 97.1 | 89.4 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Lakeland, FL → Little Rock, AR
Same pay goes further
Buying power +8.7%; rent takes 16% of take-home; state tax +$3,687/yr.
96 Strong offer
Little Rock, AR → Lakeland, FL
Same pay buys less
Buying power −8.0%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax −$3,687/yr.
44 Weak 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 Little Rock, AR at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Lakeland, FL | Little Rock, AR | Real change, Lakeland → Little Rock |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +8.7% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +8.7% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +8.7% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +8.7% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +8.7% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Lakeland, FL | Little Rock, AR | Little Rock pay in Lakeland dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $50,420 | $58,580 | $63,678 (+26.3%) |
| Software Developers | $122,200 | $104,070 | $113,127 (−7.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,820 | $65,810 | $71,537 (−6.9%) |
| Registered Nurses | $84,030 | $81,070 | $88,125 (+4.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.