City comparison
Lakeland, FL vs Springfield, MO
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent, state taxes and federal GS pay.
Key findings
- Prices in Lakeland, FL are 9.7% higher than in Springfield, MO. Someone earning $100,000 in Springfield, MO would need about $109,700 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 $883 in Springfield, MO. On $100,000, that's 19% of take-home pay in Lakeland, FL and 14% in Springfield, MO.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,763 a year higher in Springfield, MO 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 Springfield, MO changes real buying power by +9.7%, purely from prices.
- Lakeland, FL: price level 97.1 (cheaper)
- Springfield, MO: price level 88.6 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Lakeland, FL | Springfield, MO | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 97.1 | 88.6 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $91,192 in Springfield | $109,659 in Lakeland |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,230/mo | $883/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $75,417 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (FL) | $3,763 (MO) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 19% | 14% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,140 | $45,780 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL MSA and Springfield, MO HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL and Springfield, MO.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Lakeland | Springfield |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 95.9 | 65.6 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 94.2 |
| Utilities | 86.9 | 85.8 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 93.0 |
| Overall | 97.1 | 88.6 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Lakeland, FL → Springfield, MO
Same pay goes further
Buying power +9.7%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax +$3,763/yr.
99 Strong offer
Springfield, MO → Lakeland, FL
Same pay buys less
Buying power −8.8%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax −$3,763/yr.
41 Weak 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 Springfield, MO at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Lakeland, FL | Springfield, MO | Real change, Lakeland → Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +9.7% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +9.7% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +9.7% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +9.7% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +9.7% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Lakeland, FL | Springfield, MO | Springfield pay in Lakeland dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Information Security Analysts | $100,470 | $84,690 | $92,870 (−7.6%) |
| Software Developers | $122,200 | $102,350 | $112,235 (−8.2%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,820 | $73,020 | $80,073 (+4.2%) |
| Registered Nurses | $84,030 | $79,370 | $87,036 (+3.6%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.