City comparison
Jacksonville, FL vs Lexington, KY
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Jacksonville, FL are 7.1% higher than in Lexington, KY. Someone earning $100,000 in Lexington, KY would need about $107,100 in Jacksonville, FL to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,382 a month in Jacksonville, FL versus $1,079 in Lexington, KY. On $100,000, that's 21% of take-home pay in Jacksonville, FL and 17% in Lexington, KY.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,382 a year higher in Lexington, KY than in Jacksonville, 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 Jacksonville, FL to Lexington, KY changes real buying power by +7.1%, purely from prices.
- Jacksonville, FL: price level 99.5 (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
| Jacksonville, FL | Lexington, KY | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 99.5 | 92.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $93,371 in Lexington | $107,100 in Jacksonville |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,382/mo | $1,079/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $75,798 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (FL) | $3,382 (KY) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 21% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,830 | $48,620 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Jacksonville, FL HUD Metro FMR Area and Lexington-Fayette, KY MSA. Metro areas: Jacksonville, FL and Lexington-Fayette, KY.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Jacksonville | Lexington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 109.8 | 77.1 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 87.5 | 74.6 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 96.9 |
| Overall | 99.5 | 92.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Jacksonville, FL → Lexington, KY
Same pay goes further
Buying power +7.1%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax +$3,382/yr.
91 Strong offer
Lexington, KY → Jacksonville, FL
Same pay buys less
Buying power −6.6%; rent takes 21% of take-home; state tax −$3,382/yr.
48 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 Jacksonville, FL to Lexington, KY at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Jacksonville, FL | Lexington, KY | Real change, Jacksonville → Lexington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +7.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +7.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +7.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +7.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +7.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Jacksonville, FL | Lexington, KY | Lexington pay in Jacksonville dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,080 | $61,460 | $65,824 (+7.8%) |
| Software Developers | $130,330 | $123,510 | $132,279 (+1.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,960 | $77,780 | $83,302 (+4.2%) |
| Registered Nurses | $83,520 | $79,040 | $84,652 (+1.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.