City comparison
Pensacola, FL vs Springfield, MA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Pensacola, FL are 1.7% higher than in Springfield, MA. Someone earning $100,000 in Springfield, MA would need about $101,700 in Pensacola, FL to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,382 a month in Springfield, MA versus $1,257 in Pensacola, FL. On $100,000, that's 22% of take-home pay in Springfield, MA and 19% in Pensacola, FL.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $4,780 a year higher in Springfield, MA than in Pensacola, FL.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +12.8% moving from Pensacola, FL to Springfield, MA ($106,437 → $120,094), while prices change by −1.7%. Net effect of the transfer: +14.8% in real buying power.
- Pensacola, FL: price level 97.7 (cheaper)
- Springfield, MA: price level 96.1 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Pensacola, FL | Springfield, MA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 97.7 | 96.1 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $98,305 in Springfield | $101,724 in Pensacola |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,257/mo | $1,382/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 | 19% | 22% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,240 | $51,930 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA |
Rent areas: Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL MSA and Springfield, MA MSA. Metro areas: Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL and Springfield, MA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Pensacola | Springfield |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 98.8 | 75.8 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 97.0 |
| Utilities | 88.5 | 155.0 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 101.2 |
| Overall | 97.7 | 96.1 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Pensacola, FL → Springfield, MA
Roughly even
Buying power +1.7%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax +$4,780/yr.
74 Strong offer
Springfield, MA → Pensacola, FL
Roughly even
Buying power −1.7%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax −$4,780/yr.
63 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Pensacola, FL is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Springfield, MA is in Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA. The last column shows what a transfer from Pensacola, FL to Springfield, MA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Pensacola, FL | Springfield, MA | Real change, Pensacola → Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $69,642 | +14.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $84,260 | +14.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $100,992 | +14.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $120,094 | +14.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $141,915 | +14.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Pensacola, FL | Springfield, MA | Springfield pay in Pensacola dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $50,360 | $79,640 | $81,013 (+60.9%) |
| Software Developers | $108,430 | $127,740 | $129,942 (+19.8%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,410 | $92,010 | $93,596 (+22.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $77,890 | $98,410 | $100,106 (+28.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.