City comparison
Naples, FL vs Worcester, MA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Naples, FL (103.2) and Worcester, MA (102.5, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Naples, FL goes as far as $99,300 in Worcester, MA.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,797 a month in Naples, FL versus $1,599 in Worcester, MA. On $100,000, that's 27% of take-home pay in Naples, FL and 26% in Worcester, MA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $4,780 a year higher in Worcester, MA than in Naples, FL.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +13.3% moving from Naples, FL to Worcester, MA ($106,437 → $120,548), while prices change by −0.7%. Net effect of the transfer: +14.0% in real buying power.
- Naples, FL: price level 103.2 (pricier)
- Worcester, MA: price level 102.5 (pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Naples, FL | Worcester, MA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 103.2 | 102.5 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,344 in Worcester | $100,660 in Naples |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,797/mo | $1,599/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $74,400 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (FL) | $4,780 (MA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 27% | 26% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $47,800 | $57,830 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT |
Rent areas: Naples-Marco Island, FL MSA and Worcester, MA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Naples-Marco Island, FL and Worcester, MA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Naples | Worcester |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 129.4 | 113.0 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 97.0 |
| Utilities | 87.8 | 155.2 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 101.2 |
| Overall | 103.2 | 102.5 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Naples, FL → Worcester, MA
Roughly even
Buying power +0.7%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax +$4,780/yr.
70 Fair offer
Worcester, MA → Naples, FL
Roughly even
Buying power −0.7%; rent takes 27% of take-home; state tax −$4,780/yr.
63 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Naples, FL is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Worcester, MA is in Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT. The last column shows what a transfer from Naples, FL to Worcester, MA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Naples, FL | Worcester, MA | Real change, Naples → Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $69,905 | +14.0% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $84,579 | +14.0% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $101,375 | +14.0% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $120,548 | +14.0% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $142,452 | +14.0% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Naples, FL | Worcester, MA | Worcester pay in Naples dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $60,470 | $82,810 | $83,357 (+37.8%) |
| Software Developers | $130,730 | $146,950 | $147,920 (+13.1%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $84,570 | $94,070 | $94,691 (+12.0%) |
| Registered Nurses | $93,330 | $100,240 | $100,902 (+8.1%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.