City comparison
Canton, OH vs Lexington, KY
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Lexington, KY are 3.9% higher than in Canton, OH. Someone earning $100,000 in Canton, OH would need about $103,900 in Lexington, KY to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,079 a month in Lexington, KY versus $846 in Canton, OH. On $100,000, that's 17% of take-home pay in Lexington, KY and 13% in Canton, OH.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,415 a year higher in Lexington, KY than in Canton, OH.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −4.2% moving from Canton, OH to Lexington, KY ($111,138 → $106,437), while prices change by +3.9%. Net effect of the transfer: −7.8% in real buying power.
- Canton, OH: price level 89.4 (much cheaper)
- 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
| Canton, OH | Lexington, KY | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 89.4 | 92.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $103,896 in Lexington | $96,250 in Canton |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $846/mo | $1,079/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $77,212 | $75,798 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $1,968 (OH) | $3,382 (KY) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 13% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $45,810 | $48,620 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Canton-Massillon, OH MSA and Lexington-Fayette, KY MSA. Metro areas: Canton-Massillon, OH and Lexington-Fayette, KY.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Canton | Lexington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 58.1 | 77.1 |
| Goods | 93.6 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 96.9 | 74.6 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 96.9 |
| Overall | 89.4 | 92.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Canton, OH → Lexington, KY
Same pay buys less
Buying power −3.7%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax +$1,415/yr.
57 Fair offer
Lexington, KY → Canton, OH
Same pay goes further
Buying power +3.9%; rent takes 13% of take-home; state tax −$1,415/yr.
81 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Canton, OH is in the Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA pay area; Lexington, KY is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Canton, OH to Lexington, KY at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Canton, OH | Lexington, KY | Real change, Canton → Lexington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,448 | $61,722 | −7.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $77,977 | $74,678 | −7.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,461 | $89,508 | −7.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $111,138 | $106,437 | −7.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $131,331 | $125,776 | −7.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Canton, OH | Lexington, KY | Lexington pay in Canton dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $77,940 | $61,460 | $59,155 (−24.1%) |
| Software Developers | $105,500 | $123,510 | $118,879 (+12.7%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $72,170 | $77,780 | $74,864 (+3.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $79,610 | $79,040 | $76,076 (−4.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.