City comparison
Charlotte, NC vs Pensacola, FL
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Charlotte, NC (97.3) and Pensacola, FL (97.7, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Charlotte, NC goes as far as $100,400 in Pensacola, FL.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,538 a month in Charlotte, NC versus $1,257 in Pensacola, FL. On $100,000, that's 24% of take-home pay in Charlotte, NC and 19% in Pensacola, FL.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,481 a year higher in Charlotte, NC than in Pensacola, FL.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −2.2% moving from Charlotte, NC to Pensacola, FL ($108,810 → $106,437), while prices change by +0.4%. Net effect of the transfer: −2.6% in real buying power.
- Charlotte, NC: price level 97.3 (cheaper)
- Pensacola, FL: price level 97.7 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Charlotte, NC | Pensacola, FL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 97.3 | 97.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $100,379 in Pensacola | $99,622 in Charlotte |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,538/mo | $1,257/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,699 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,481 (NC) | $0 (FL) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 19% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,990 | $46,240 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HUD Metro FMR Area and Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL MSA. Metro areas: Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC and Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Charlotte | Pensacola |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 97.6 | 98.8 |
| Goods | 96.6 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 89.2 | 88.5 |
| Other services | 98.2 | 98.9 |
| Overall | 97.3 | 97.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Charlotte, NC → Pensacola, FL
Roughly even
Buying power −0.4%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax −$3,481/yr.
68 Fair offer
Pensacola, FL → Charlotte, NC
Roughly even
Buying power +0.4%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$3,481/yr.
70 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Charlotte, NC is in the Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC pay area; Pensacola, FL is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Charlotte, NC to Pensacola, FL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Charlotte, NC | Pensacola, FL | Real change, Charlotte → Pensacola |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $63,098 | $61,722 | −2.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $76,343 | $74,678 | −2.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $91,503 | $89,508 | −2.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $108,810 | $106,437 | −2.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $128,581 | $125,776 | −2.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Charlotte, NC | Pensacola, FL | Pensacola pay in Charlotte dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $58,680 | $50,360 | $50,170 (−14.5%) |
| Software Developers | $135,920 | $108,430 | $108,021 (−20.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $92,910 | $76,410 | $76,121 (−18.1%) |
| Registered Nurses | $90,620 | $77,890 | $77,596 (−14.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.