City comparison
Deltona, FL vs Lakeland, FL
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Deltona, FL are 2.3% higher than in Lakeland, FL. Someone earning $100,000 in Lakeland, FL would need about $102,300 in Deltona, FL to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,385 a month in Deltona, FL versus $1,230 in Lakeland, FL. On $100,000, that's 21% of take-home pay in Deltona, FL and 19% in Lakeland, FL.
- Both are in FL, so estimated state income tax is the same: $0 a year on $100,000.
- 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 Deltona, FL to Lakeland, FL changes real buying power by +2.3%, purely from prices.
- Deltona, FL: price level 99.4 (about average)
- 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
| Deltona, FL | Lakeland, FL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 99.4 | 97.1 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $97,760 in Lakeland | $102,292 in Deltona |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,385/mo | $1,230/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (FL) | $0 (FL) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 21% | 19% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $44,940 | $46,140 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL HUD Metro FMR Area and Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL MSA. Metro areas: Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL and Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Deltona | Lakeland |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 108.4 | 95.9 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 87.6 | 86.9 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 98.9 |
| Overall | 99.4 | 97.1 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Deltona, FL → Lakeland, FL
Same pay goes further
Buying power +2.3%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
76 Strong offer
Lakeland, FL → Deltona, FL
Same pay buys less
Buying power −2.2%; rent takes 21% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
62 Fair 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 Deltona, FL to Lakeland, FL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Deltona, FL | Lakeland, FL | Real change, Deltona → Lakeland |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +2.3% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +2.3% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +2.3% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +2.3% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +2.3% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Deltona, FL | Lakeland, FL | Lakeland pay in Deltona dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $57,770 | $50,420 | $51,575 (−10.7%) |
| Software Developers | $122,000 | $122,200 | $125,000 (+2.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $73,730 | $76,820 | $78,580 (+6.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $84,180 | $84,030 | $85,956 (+2.1%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.