City comparison
Lakeland, FL vs Lancaster, PA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Lancaster, PA are 1.1% higher than in Lakeland, FL. Someone earning $100,000 in Lakeland, FL would need about $101,100 in Lancaster, PA to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,230 a month in Lakeland, FL and $1,220 in Lancaster, PA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,070 a year higher in Lancaster, PA than in Lakeland, FL.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +2.0% moving from Lakeland, FL to Lancaster, PA ($106,437 → $108,592), while prices change by +1.1%. Net effect of the transfer: +0.9% in real buying power.
- Lakeland, FL: price level 97.1 (cheaper)
- Lancaster, PA: price level 98.3 (about average)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Lakeland, FL | Lancaster, PA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 97.1 | 98.3 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $101,149 in Lancaster | $98,864 in Lakeland |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,230/mo | $1,220/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $76,110 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (FL) | $3,070 (PA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 19% | 19% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,140 | $48,210 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Harrisburg-Lebanon, PA |
Rent areas: Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL MSA and Lancaster, PA MSA. Metro areas: Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL and Lancaster, PA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Lakeland | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 95.9 | 93.8 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 100.7 |
| Utilities | 86.9 | 107.3 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 97.7 |
| Overall | 97.1 | 98.3 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Lakeland, FL → Lancaster, PA
Roughly even
Buying power −1.1%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax +$3,070/yr.
65 Fair offer
Lancaster, PA → Lakeland, FL
Roughly even
Buying power +1.1%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax −$3,070/yr.
72 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Lakeland, FL is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Lancaster, PA is in Harrisburg-Lebanon, PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Lakeland, FL to Lancaster, PA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Lakeland, FL | Lancaster, PA | Real change, Lakeland → Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $62,972 | +0.9% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $76,190 | +0.9% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $91,320 | +0.9% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $108,592 | +0.9% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $128,323 | +0.9% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Lakeland, FL | Lancaster, PA | Lancaster pay in Lakeland dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $50,420 | $78,360 | $77,470 (+53.6%) |
| Software Developers | $122,200 | $104,740 | $103,550 (−15.3%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,820 | $76,110 | $75,246 (−2.0%) |
| Registered Nurses | $84,030 | $89,620 | $88,602 (+5.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.