City comparison
Huntsville, AL vs Spartanburg, SC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Huntsville, AL are 2.2% higher than in Spartanburg, SC. Someone earning $100,000 in Spartanburg, SC would need about $102,200 in Huntsville, AL to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,136 a month in Huntsville, AL and $1,083 in Spartanburg, SC.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $4,735 a year in AL and $4,843 in SC.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −4.0% moving from Huntsville, AL to Spartanburg, SC ($110,847 → $106,437), while prices change by −2.2%. Net effect of the transfer: −1.8% in real buying power.
- Huntsville, AL: price level 93.1 (cheaper)
- Spartanburg, SC: price level 91.1 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Huntsville, AL | Spartanburg, SC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 93.1 | 91.1 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $97,829 in Spartanburg | $102,220 in Huntsville |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,136/mo | $1,083/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,445 | $74,337 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,735 (AL) | $4,843 (SC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $51,740 | $47,650 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Huntsville-Decatur, AL-TN | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Huntsville, AL MSA and Spartanburg, SC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Huntsville, AL and Spartanburg, SC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Huntsville | Spartanburg |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 77.9 | 68.0 |
| Goods | 96.4 | 96.3 |
| Utilities | 83.9 | 88.3 |
| Other services | 96.7 | 98.3 |
| Overall | 93.1 | 91.1 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Huntsville, AL → Spartanburg, SC
Same pay goes further
Buying power +2.2%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax +$108/yr.
76 Strong offer
Spartanburg, SC → Huntsville, AL
Same pay buys less
Buying power −2.2%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax −$108/yr.
62 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Huntsville, AL is in the Huntsville-Decatur, AL-TN pay area; Spartanburg, SC is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Huntsville, AL to Spartanburg, SC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Huntsville, AL | Spartanburg, SC | Real change, Huntsville → Spartanburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,279 | $61,722 | −1.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $77,772 | $74,678 | −1.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,216 | $89,508 | −1.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $110,847 | $106,437 | −1.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $130,987 | $125,776 | −1.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Huntsville, AL | Spartanburg, SC | Spartanburg pay in Huntsville dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $62,250 | $60,990 | $62,344 (+0.2%) |
| Software Developers | $128,080 | $114,460 | $117,001 (−8.7%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,220 | $77,080 | $78,791 (−0.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $77,090 | $82,360 | $84,188 (+9.2%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.