City comparison
Chattanooga, TN vs Lakeland, FL
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Lakeland, FL are 6.2% higher than in Chattanooga, TN. Someone earning $100,000 in Chattanooga, TN would need about $106,200 in Lakeland, FL to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,263 a month in Chattanooga, TN and $1,230 in Lakeland, FL.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $0 a year in TN and $0 in FL.
- Both cities are in the same federal pay area (Rest of U.S.), so a GS-13 step 1 earns $106,437 in either. A transfer from Chattanooga, TN to Lakeland, FL changes real buying power by −5.8%, purely from prices.
- Chattanooga, TN: price level 91.5 (much cheaper)
- Lakeland, FL: price level 97.1 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Chattanooga, TN | Lakeland, FL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 91.5 | 97.1 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $106,207 in Lakeland | $94,156 in Chattanooga |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,263/mo | $1,230/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (TN) | $0 (FL) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 19% | 19% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,700 | $46,140 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Chattanooga, TN-GA MSA and Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL MSA. Metro areas: Chattanooga, TN-GA and Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Chattanooga | Lakeland |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 76.5 | 95.9 |
| Goods | 96.0 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 74.2 | 86.9 |
| Other services | 95.3 | 98.9 |
| Overall | 91.5 | 97.1 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Chattanooga, TN → Lakeland, FL
Same pay buys less
Buying power −5.8%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
50 Fair offer
Lakeland, FL → Chattanooga, TN
Same pay goes further
Buying power +6.2%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
88 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Both metros are in the Rest of U.S. locality pay area, so GS salaries are identical. The last column shows what a transfer from Chattanooga, TN to Lakeland, FL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Chattanooga, TN | Lakeland, FL | Real change, Chattanooga → Lakeland |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | −5.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | −5.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | −5.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | −5.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | −5.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Chattanooga, TN | Lakeland, FL | Lakeland pay in Chattanooga dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $59,830 | $50,420 | $47,473 (−20.7%) |
| Software Developers | $106,750 | $122,200 | $115,059 (+7.8%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,680 | $76,820 | $72,331 (−5.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $79,770 | $84,030 | $79,119 (−0.8%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.