City comparison
Lakeland, FL vs Raleigh, NC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Raleigh, NC are 1.0% higher than in Lakeland, FL. Someone earning $100,000 in Lakeland, FL would need about $101,000 in Raleigh, NC to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,596 a month in Raleigh, NC versus $1,230 in Lakeland, FL. On $100,000, that's 25% of take-home pay in Raleigh, NC and 19% in Lakeland, FL.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,481 a year higher in Raleigh, NC than in Lakeland, FL.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +4.4% moving from Lakeland, FL to Raleigh, NC ($106,437 → $111,147), while prices change by +1.0%. Net effect of the transfer: +3.3% in real buying power.
- Lakeland, FL: price level 97.1 (cheaper)
- Raleigh, NC: price level 98.2 (about average)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Lakeland, FL | Raleigh, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 97.1 | 98.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $101,046 in Raleigh | $98,965 in Lakeland |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,230/mo | $1,596/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $75,699 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (FL) | $3,481 (NC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 19% | 25% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,140 | $51,990 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC |
Rent areas: Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL MSA and Raleigh-Cary, NC MSA. Metro areas: Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL and Raleigh-Cary, NC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Lakeland | Raleigh |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 95.9 | 103.5 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 96.6 |
| Utilities | 86.9 | 89.0 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 98.2 |
| Overall | 97.1 | 98.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Lakeland, FL → Raleigh, NC
Roughly even
Buying power −1.0%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax +$3,481/yr.
65 Fair offer
Raleigh, NC → Lakeland, FL
Roughly even
Buying power +1.0%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax −$3,481/yr.
72 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Lakeland, FL is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Raleigh, NC is in Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC. The last column shows what a transfer from Lakeland, FL to Raleigh, NC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Lakeland, FL | Raleigh, NC | Real change, Lakeland → Raleigh |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $64,453 | +3.3% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $77,983 | +3.3% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $93,468 | +3.3% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $111,147 | +3.3% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $131,342 | +3.3% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Lakeland, FL | Raleigh, NC | Raleigh pay in Lakeland dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $50,420 | $60,170 | $59,547 (+18.1%) |
| Software Developers | $122,200 | $132,770 | $131,396 (+7.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,820 | $81,950 | $81,102 (+5.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $84,030 | $84,830 | $83,952 (−0.1%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.