City comparison
Lakeland, FL vs Nashville, TN
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Lakeland, FL (97.1) and Nashville, TN (96.3, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Lakeland, FL goes as far as $99,200 in Nashville, TN.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,578 a month in Nashville, TN versus $1,230 in Lakeland, FL. On $100,000, that's 24% of take-home pay in Nashville, TN and 19% in Lakeland, FL.
- 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 Nashville, TN changes real buying power by +0.8%, purely from prices.
- Lakeland, FL: price level 97.1 (cheaper)
- Nashville, TN: price level 96.3 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Lakeland, FL | Nashville, TN | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 97.1 | 96.3 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,173 in Nashville | $100,834 in Lakeland |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,230/mo | $1,578/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% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,140 | $50,390 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL MSA and Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL and Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Lakeland | Nashville |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 95.9 | 104.6 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 86.9 | 72.0 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 95.1 |
| Overall | 97.1 | 96.3 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Lakeland, FL → Nashville, TN
Roughly even
Buying power +0.8%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
71 Strong offer
Nashville, TN → Lakeland, FL
Roughly even
Buying power −0.8%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
66 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 Nashville, TN at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Lakeland, FL | Nashville, TN | Real change, Lakeland → Nashville |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +0.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +0.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +0.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +0.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +0.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Lakeland, FL | Nashville, TN | Nashville pay in Lakeland dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $50,420 | $61,460 | $61,972 (+22.9%) |
| Software Developers | $122,200 | $126,610 | $127,665 (+4.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,820 | $78,080 | $78,731 (+2.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $84,030 | $84,040 | $84,740 (+0.8%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.