City comparison
Lakeland, FL vs Manchester, NH
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Manchester, NH are 8.8% higher than in Lakeland, FL. Someone earning $100,000 in Lakeland, FL would need about $108,800 in Manchester, NH to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,552 a month in Manchester, NH versus $1,230 in Lakeland, FL. On $100,000, that's 24% of take-home pay in Manchester, NH and 19% in Lakeland, FL.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $0 a year in FL and $0 in NH.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +13.3% moving from Lakeland, FL to Manchester, NH ($106,437 → $120,548), while prices change by +8.8%. Net effect of the transfer: +4.1% in real buying power.
- Lakeland, FL: price level 97.1 (cheaper)
- Manchester, NH: price level 105.7 (pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Lakeland, FL | Manchester, NH | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 97.1 | 105.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $108,767 in Manchester | $91,940 in Lakeland |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,230/mo | $1,552/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (FL) | $0 (NH) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 19% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,140 | $56,530 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT |
Rent areas: Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL MSA and Manchester, NH HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL and Manchester-Nashua, NH.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Lakeland | Manchester |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 95.9 | 134.2 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 97.7 |
| Utilities | 86.9 | 133.5 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 103.7 |
| Overall | 97.1 | 105.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Lakeland, FL → Manchester, NH
Same pay buys less
Buying power −8.1%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
44 Weak offer
Manchester, NH → Lakeland, FL
Same pay goes further
Buying power +8.8%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
96 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Lakeland, FL is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Manchester, NH is in Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT. The last column shows what a transfer from Lakeland, FL to Manchester, NH at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Lakeland, FL | Manchester, NH | Real change, Lakeland → Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $69,905 | +4.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $84,579 | +4.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $101,375 | +4.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $120,548 | +4.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $142,452 | +4.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Lakeland, FL | Manchester, NH | Manchester pay in Lakeland dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $50,420 | $73,380 | $67,466 (+33.8%) |
| Software Developers | $122,200 | $162,090 | $149,025 (+22.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,820 | $83,660 | $76,917 (+0.1%) |
| Registered Nurses | $84,030 | $98,600 | $90,653 (+7.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.