City comparison
Lexington, KY vs Spartanburg, SC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Lexington, KY are 2.0% higher than in Spartanburg, SC. Someone earning $100,000 in Spartanburg, SC would need about $102,000 in Lexington, KY to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,079 a month in Lexington, KY and $1,083 in Spartanburg, SC.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,460 a year higher in Spartanburg, SC than in Lexington, KY.
- 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 Spartanburg, SC changes real buying power by +2.0%, purely from prices.
- Lexington, KY: price level 92.9 (cheaper)
- Spartanburg, SC: price level 91.1 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Lexington, KY | Spartanburg, SC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 92.9 | 91.1 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $98,021 in Spartanburg | $102,019 in Lexington |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,079/mo | $1,083/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,798 | $74,337 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,382 (KY) | $4,843 (SC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 17% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,620 | $47,650 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Lexington-Fayette, KY MSA and Spartanburg, SC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Lexington-Fayette, KY and Spartanburg, SC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Lexington | Spartanburg |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 77.1 | 68.0 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 96.3 |
| Utilities | 74.6 | 88.3 |
| Other services | 96.9 | 98.3 |
| Overall | 92.9 | 91.1 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Lexington, KY → Spartanburg, SC
Same pay goes further
Buying power +2.0%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax +$1,460/yr.
75 Strong offer
Spartanburg, SC → Lexington, KY
Roughly even
Buying power −2.0%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$1,460/yr.
63 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 Spartanburg, SC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Lexington, KY | Spartanburg, SC | Real change, Lexington → Spartanburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +2.0% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +2.0% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +2.0% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +2.0% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +2.0% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Lexington, KY | Spartanburg, SC | Spartanburg pay in Lexington dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,460 | $60,990 | $62,221 (+1.2%) |
| Software Developers | $123,510 | $114,460 | $116,771 (−5.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $77,780 | $77,080 | $78,636 (+1.1%) |
| Registered Nurses | $79,040 | $82,360 | $84,023 (+6.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.