City comparison
Lexington, KY vs Longview, TX
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Lexington, KY are 3.8% higher than in Longview, TX. Someone earning $100,000 in Longview, TX would need about $103,800 in Lexington, KY to live the same way.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,079 a month in Lexington, KY versus $1,013 in Longview, TX. On $100,000, that's 17% of take-home pay in Lexington, KY and 15% in Longview, TX.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,382 a year higher in Lexington, KY than in Longview, TX.
- 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 Lexington, KY to Longview, TX changes real buying power by +3.8%, purely from prices.
- Lexington, KY: price level 92.9 (cheaper)
- Longview, TX: price level 89.5 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Lexington, KY | Longview, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 92.9 | 89.5 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $96,335 in Longview | $103,804 in Lexington |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,079/mo | $1,013/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,798 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,382 (KY) | $0 (TX) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 17% | 15% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,620 | $45,150 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Lexington-Fayette, KY MSA and Longview, TX HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Lexington-Fayette, KY and Longview, TX.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Lexington | Longview |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 77.1 | 66.7 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 93.8 |
| Utilities | 74.6 | 83.5 |
| Other services | 96.9 | 96.2 |
| Overall | 92.9 | 89.5 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Lexington, KY → Longview, TX
Same pay goes further
Buying power +3.8%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax −$3,382/yr.
81 Strong offer
Longview, TX → Lexington, KY
Same pay buys less
Buying power −3.7%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax +$3,382/yr.
57 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 Lexington, KY to Longview, TX at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Lexington, KY | Longview, TX | Real change, Lexington → Longview |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +3.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +3.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +3.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +3.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +3.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Lexington, KY | Longview, TX | Longview pay in Lexington dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,460 | $60,210 | $62,500 (+1.7%) |
| Software Developers | $123,510 | $106,360 | $110,406 (−10.6%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $77,780 | $75,060 | $77,915 (+0.2%) |
| Registered Nurses | $79,040 | $80,330 | $83,386 (+5.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.