City comparison
Lakeland, FL vs Rochester, NY
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Lakeland, FL (97.1) and Rochester, NY (97.0, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Lakeland, FL goes as far as $99,900 in Rochester, NY.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,230 a month in Lakeland, FL and $1,256 in Rochester, NY.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $4,860 a year higher in Rochester, NY than in Lakeland, FL.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +0.7% moving from Lakeland, FL to Rochester, NY ($106,437 → $107,182), while prices change by −0.1%. Net effect of the transfer: +0.8% in real buying power.
- Lakeland, FL: price level 97.1 (cheaper)
- Rochester, NY: price level 97.0 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Lakeland, FL | Rochester, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 97.1 | 97.0 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,891 in Rochester | $100,109 in Lakeland |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,230/mo | $1,256/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $74,320 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (FL) | $4,860 (NY) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 19% | 20% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,140 | $51,210 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rochester-Batavia-Seneca Falls, NY |
Rent areas: Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL MSA and Rochester, NY MSA. Metro areas: Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL and Rochester, NY.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Lakeland | Rochester |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 95.9 | 87.5 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 99.7 |
| Utilities | 86.9 | 133.2 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 97.8 |
| Overall | 97.1 | 97.0 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Lakeland, FL → Rochester, NY
Roughly even
Buying power +0.1%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax +$4,860/yr.
69 Fair offer
Rochester, NY → Lakeland, FL
Roughly even
Buying power −0.1%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax −$4,860/yr.
68 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Lakeland, FL is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Rochester, NY is in Rochester-Batavia-Seneca Falls, NY. The last column shows what a transfer from Lakeland, FL to Rochester, NY at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Lakeland, FL | Rochester, NY | Real change, Lakeland → Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $62,155 | +0.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $75,202 | +0.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $90,135 | +0.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $107,182 | +0.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $126,657 | +0.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Lakeland, FL | Rochester, NY | Rochester pay in Lakeland dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $50,420 | $62,840 | $62,909 (+24.8%) |
| Software Developers | $122,200 | $122,770 | $122,904 (+0.6%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,820 | $80,890 | $80,978 (+5.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $84,030 | $86,570 | $86,665 (+3.1%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.