City comparison
Lexington, KY vs Raleigh, NC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Raleigh, NC are 5.7% higher than in Lexington, KY. Someone earning $100,000 in Lexington, KY would need about $105,700 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 $1,079 in Lexington, KY. On $100,000, that's 25% of take-home pay in Raleigh, NC and 17% in Lexington, KY.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $3,382 a year in KY and $3,481 in NC.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +4.4% moving from Lexington, KY to Raleigh, NC ($106,437 → $111,147), while prices change by +5.7%. Net effect of the transfer: −1.2% in real buying power.
- Lexington, KY: price level 92.9 (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
| Lexington, KY | Raleigh, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 92.9 | 98.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $105,671 in Raleigh | $94,633 in Lexington |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,079/mo | $1,596/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,798 | $75,699 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,382 (KY) | $3,481 (NC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 17% | 25% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,620 | $51,990 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC |
Rent areas: Lexington-Fayette, KY MSA and Raleigh-Cary, NC MSA. Metro areas: Lexington-Fayette, KY and Raleigh-Cary, NC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Lexington | Raleigh |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 77.1 | 103.5 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 96.6 |
| Utilities | 74.6 | 89.0 |
| Other services | 96.9 | 98.2 |
| Overall | 92.9 | 98.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Lexington, KY → Raleigh, NC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −5.4%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax +$99/yr.
52 Fair offer
Raleigh, NC → Lexington, KY
Same pay goes further
Buying power +5.7%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$99/yr.
86 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Lexington, KY 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 Lexington, KY to Raleigh, NC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Lexington, KY | Raleigh, NC | Real change, Lexington → Raleigh |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $64,453 | −1.2% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $77,983 | −1.2% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $93,468 | −1.2% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $111,147 | −1.2% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $131,342 | −1.2% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Lexington, KY | Raleigh, NC | Raleigh pay in Lexington dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,460 | $60,170 | $56,941 (−7.4%) |
| Software Developers | $123,510 | $132,770 | $125,644 (+1.7%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $77,780 | $81,950 | $77,552 (−0.3%) |
| Registered Nurses | $79,040 | $84,830 | $80,277 (+1.6%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.