City comparison
Lexington, KY vs Utica, NY
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Lexington, KY (92.9) and Utica, NY (92.7, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Lexington, KY goes as far as $99,800 in Utica, NY.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,079 a month in Lexington, KY versus $926 in Utica, NY. On $100,000, that's 17% of take-home pay in Lexington, KY and 15% in Utica, NY.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,477 a year higher in Utica, NY 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 Utica, NY changes real buying power by +0.2%, purely from prices.
- Lexington, KY: price level 92.9 (cheaper)
- Utica, NY: price level 92.7 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Lexington, KY | Utica, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 92.9 | 92.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,773 in Utica | $100,228 in Lexington |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,079/mo | $926/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,798 | $74,320 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,382 (KY) | $4,860 (NY) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 17% | 15% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,620 | $48,970 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Lexington-Fayette, KY MSA and Utica-Rome, NY MSA. Metro areas: Lexington-Fayette, KY and Utica-Rome, NY.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Lexington | Utica |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 77.1 | 66.1 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 99.7 |
| Utilities | 74.6 | 131.9 |
| Other services | 96.9 | 97.8 |
| Overall | 92.9 | 92.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Lexington, KY → Utica, NY
Roughly even
Buying power +0.2%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax +$1,477/yr.
69 Fair offer
Utica, NY → Lexington, KY
Roughly even
Buying power −0.2%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$1,477/yr.
68 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 Utica, NY at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Lexington, KY | Utica, NY | Real change, Lexington → Utica |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +0.2% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +0.2% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +0.2% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +0.2% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +0.2% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Lexington, KY | Utica, NY | Utica pay in Lexington dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,460 | $77,010 | $77,185 (+25.6%) |
| Software Developers | $123,510 | $113,390 | $113,648 (−8.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $77,780 | $79,830 | $80,012 (+2.9%) |
| Registered Nurses | $79,040 | $94,300 | $94,515 (+19.6%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.