City comparison
Killeen, TX vs Lubbock, TX
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Killeen, TX (91.1) and Lubbock, TX (91.3, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Killeen, TX goes as far as $100,200 in Lubbock, TX.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $990 a month in Killeen, TX and $990 in Lubbock, TX.
- Both are in TX, 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 Killeen, TX to Lubbock, TX changes real buying power by −0.2%, purely from prices.
- Killeen, TX: price level 91.1 (much cheaper)
- Lubbock, TX: price level 91.3 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Killeen, TX | Lubbock, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 91.1 | 91.3 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $100,203 in Lubbock | $99,797 in Killeen |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $990/mo | $990/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (TX) | $0 (TX) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 15% | 15% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,660 | $42,130 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Killeen-Temple, TX HUD Metro FMR Area and Lubbock, TX HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Killeen-Temple, TX and Lubbock, TX.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Killeen | Lubbock |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 77.9 | 76.4 |
| Goods | 93.8 | 93.8 |
| Utilities | 81.2 | 82.8 |
| Other services | 96.2 | 96.2 |
| Overall | 91.1 | 91.3 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Killeen, TX → Lubbock, TX
Roughly even
Buying power −0.2%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
68 Fair offer
Lubbock, TX → Killeen, TX
Roughly even
Buying power +0.2%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
69 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 Killeen, TX to Lubbock, TX at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Killeen, TX | Lubbock, TX | Real change, Killeen → Lubbock |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | −0.2% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | −0.2% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | −0.2% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | −0.2% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | −0.2% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Killeen, TX | Lubbock, TX | Lubbock pay in Killeen dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $63,120 | $59,220 | $59,100 (−6.4%) |
| Software Developers | $123,320 | $115,190 | $114,957 (−6.8%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $73,270 | $74,390 | $74,239 (+1.3%) |
| Registered Nurses | $93,440 | $81,480 | $81,315 (−13.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.