City comparison
Lakeland, FL vs Memphis, TN
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent, state taxes and federal GS pay.
Key findings
- Prices in Lakeland, FL are 5.4% higher than in Memphis, TN. Someone earning $100,000 in Memphis, TN would need about $105,400 in Lakeland, FL to live the same way.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,230 a month in Lakeland, FL versus $1,154 in Memphis, TN. On $100,000, that's 19% of take-home pay in Lakeland, FL and 17% in Memphis, TN.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $0 a year in FL and $0 in TN.
- 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 Memphis, TN changes real buying power by +5.4%, purely from prices.
- Lakeland, FL: price level 97.1 (cheaper)
- Memphis, TN: price level 92.2 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Lakeland, FL | Memphis, TN | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 97.1 | 92.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $94,892 in Memphis | $105,383 in Lakeland |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,230/mo | $1,154/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (FL) | $0 (TN) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 19% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,140 | $46,890 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL MSA and Memphis, TN-MS-AR HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL and Memphis, TN-MS-AR.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Lakeland | Memphis |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 95.9 | 79.8 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 86.9 | 74.1 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 95.4 |
| Overall | 97.1 | 92.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Lakeland, FL → Memphis, TN
Same pay goes further
Buying power +5.4%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
86 Strong offer
Memphis, TN → Lakeland, FL
Same pay buys less
Buying power −5.1%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
53 Fair offer
Federal employees: GS pay
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 Memphis, TN at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Lakeland, FL | Memphis, TN | Real change, Lakeland → Memphis |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +5.4% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +5.4% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +5.4% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +5.4% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +5.4% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Lakeland, FL | Memphis, TN | Memphis pay in Lakeland dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Information Security Analysts | $100,470 | $97,370 | $102,611 (+2.1%) |
| Software Developers | $122,200 | $125,580 | $132,340 (+8.3%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,820 | $76,960 | $81,103 (+5.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $84,030 | $81,500 | $85,887 (+2.2%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.