City comparison
Anchorage, AK vs Lexington, KY
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Anchorage, AK are 13.5% higher than in Lexington, KY. Someone earning $100,000 in Lexington, KY would need about $113,500 in Anchorage, AK to live the same way.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,243 a month in Anchorage, AK versus $1,079 in Lexington, KY. On $100,000, that's 19% of take-home pay in Anchorage, AK and 17% in Lexington, KY.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,382 a year higher in Lexington, KY than in Anchorage, AK.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −11.6% moving from Anchorage, AK to Lexington, KY ($120,348 → $106,437), while prices change by −11.9%. Net effect of the transfer: +0.4% in real buying power.
- Anchorage, AK: price level 105.4 (pricier)
- Lexington, KY: price level 92.9 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Anchorage, AK | Lexington, KY | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 105.4 | 92.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $88,113 in Lexington | $113,490 in Anchorage |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,243/mo | $1,079/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $75,798 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (AK) | $3,382 (KY) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 19% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $60,200 | $48,620 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | State of Alaska | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Anchorage, AK HUD Metro FMR Area and Lexington-Fayette, KY MSA. Metro areas: Anchorage, AK and Lexington-Fayette, KY.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Anchorage | Lexington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 109.9 | 77.1 |
| Goods | 107.3 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 111.8 | 74.6 |
| Other services | 103.3 | 96.9 |
| Overall | 105.4 | 92.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Anchorage, AK → Lexington, KY
Same pay goes further
Buying power +13.5%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax +$3,382/yr.
100 Strong offer
Lexington, KY → Anchorage, AK
Same pay buys less
Buying power −11.9%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax −$3,382/yr.
38 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Anchorage, AK is in the State of Alaska pay area; Lexington, KY is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Anchorage, AK to Lexington, KY at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Anchorage, AK | Lexington, KY | Real change, Anchorage → Lexington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $69,789 | $61,722 | +0.4% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $84,439 | $74,678 | +0.4% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $101,206 | $89,508 | +0.4% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $120,348 | $106,437 | +0.4% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $142,216 | $125,776 | +0.4% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Anchorage, AK | Lexington, KY | Lexington pay in Anchorage dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,270 | $61,460 | $69,751 (−12.0%) |
| Software Developers | $104,030 | $123,510 | $140,172 (+34.7%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $82,150 | $77,780 | $88,273 (+7.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $115,290 | $79,040 | $89,703 (−22.2%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.