City comparison
Albany, NY vs Ocala, FL
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Albany, NY are 4.5% higher than in Ocala, FL. Someone earning $100,000 in Ocala, FL would need about $104,500 in Albany, NY to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,417 a month in Albany, NY versus $1,172 in Ocala, FL. On $100,000, that's 23% of take-home pay in Albany, NY and 18% in Ocala, FL.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $4,860 a year higher in Albany, NY than in Ocala, FL.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −3.1% moving from Albany, NY to Ocala, FL ($109,810 → $106,437), while prices change by −4.4%. Net effect of the transfer: +1.3% in real buying power.
- Albany, NY: price level 99.6 (about average)
- Ocala, FL: price level 95.2 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Albany, NY | Ocala, FL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 99.6 | 95.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $95,649 in Ocala | $104,549 in Albany |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,417/mo | $1,172/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,320 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,860 (NY) | $0 (FL) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 23% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $58,460 | $43,990 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Albany-Schenectady, NY-MA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY MSA and Ocala, FL MSA. Metro areas: Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY and Ocala, FL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Albany | Ocala |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 102.6 | 86.2 |
| Goods | 99.7 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 134.0 | 87.1 |
| Other services | 97.8 | 98.9 |
| Overall | 99.6 | 95.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Albany, NY → Ocala, FL
Same pay goes further
Buying power +4.5%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax −$4,860/yr.
83 Strong offer
Ocala, FL → Albany, NY
Same pay buys less
Buying power −4.4%; rent takes 23% of take-home; state tax +$4,860/yr.
55 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Albany, NY is in the Albany-Schenectady, NY-MA pay area; Ocala, FL is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Albany, NY to Ocala, FL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Albany, NY | Ocala, FL | Real change, Albany → Ocala |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $63,678 | $61,722 | +1.3% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $77,045 | $74,678 | +1.3% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $92,344 | $89,508 | +1.3% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $109,810 | $106,437 | +1.3% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $129,763 | $125,776 | +1.3% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Albany, NY | Ocala, FL | Ocala pay in Albany dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,240 | $57,540 | $60,157 (−24.1%) |
| Software Developers | $127,910 | $112,780 | $117,910 (−7.8%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $84,660 | $74,370 | $77,753 (−8.2%) |
| Registered Nurses | $99,970 | $79,230 | $82,834 (−17.1%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.