City comparison
Harrisburg, PA vs Lexington, KY
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Harrisburg, PA are 6.2% higher than in Lexington, KY. Someone earning $100,000 in Lexington, KY would need about $106,200 in Harrisburg, PA to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,212 a month in Harrisburg, PA versus $1,079 in Lexington, KY. On $100,000, that's 19% of take-home pay in Harrisburg, PA and 17% in Lexington, KY.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $312 a year higher in Lexington, KY than in Harrisburg, PA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −2.0% moving from Harrisburg, PA to Lexington, KY ($108,592 → $106,437), while prices change by −5.8%. Net effect of the transfer: +4.1% in real buying power.
- Harrisburg, PA: price level 98.7 (about average)
- 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
| Harrisburg, PA | Lexington, KY | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 98.7 | 92.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $94,160 in Lexington | $106,202 in Harrisburg |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,212/mo | $1,079/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,110 | $75,798 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,070 (PA) | $3,382 (KY) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 19% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,610 | $48,620 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Harrisburg-Lebanon, PA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA MSA and Lexington-Fayette, KY MSA. Metro areas: Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA and Lexington-Fayette, KY.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Harrisburg | Lexington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 96.3 | 77.1 |
| Goods | 100.7 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 108.1 | 74.6 |
| Other services | 97.7 | 96.9 |
| Overall | 98.7 | 92.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Harrisburg, PA → Lexington, KY
Same pay goes further
Buying power +6.2%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax +$312/yr.
88 Strong offer
Lexington, KY → Harrisburg, PA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −5.8%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax −$312/yr.
51 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Harrisburg, PA is in the Harrisburg-Lebanon, PA pay area; Lexington, KY is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Harrisburg, PA to Lexington, KY at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Harrisburg, PA | Lexington, KY | Real change, Harrisburg → Lexington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,972 | $61,722 | +4.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $76,190 | $74,678 | +4.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $91,320 | $89,508 | +4.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $108,592 | $106,437 | +4.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $128,323 | $125,776 | +4.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Harrisburg, PA | Lexington, KY | Lexington pay in Harrisburg dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $77,160 | $61,460 | $65,272 (−15.4%) |
| Software Developers | $109,470 | $123,510 | $131,170 (+19.8%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,510 | $77,780 | $82,604 (+8.0%) |
| Registered Nurses | $96,770 | $79,040 | $83,942 (−13.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.