City comparison
Lakeland, FL vs McAllen, TX
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Lakeland, FL are 13.1% higher than in McAllen, TX. Someone earning $100,000 in McAllen, TX would need about $113,100 in Lakeland, FL to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,230 a month in Lakeland, FL versus $847 in McAllen, TX. On $100,000, that's 19% of take-home pay in Lakeland, FL and 13% in McAllen, TX.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $0 a year in FL and $0 in TX.
- 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 Lakeland, FL to McAllen, TX changes real buying power by +13.1%, purely from prices.
- Lakeland, FL: price level 97.1 (cheaper)
- McAllen, TX: price level 85.9 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Lakeland, FL | McAllen, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 97.1 | 85.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $88,423 in McAllen | $113,093 in Lakeland |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,230/mo | $847/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (FL) | $0 (TX) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 19% | 13% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,140 | $35,830 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL MSA and McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX MSA. Metro areas: Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL and McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Lakeland | McAllen |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 95.9 | 55.9 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 93.8 |
| Utilities | 86.9 | 81.2 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 96.2 |
| Overall | 97.1 | 85.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Lakeland, FL → McAllen, TX
Same pay goes further
Buying power +13.1%; rent takes 13% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
100 Strong offer
McAllen, TX → Lakeland, FL
Same pay buys less
Buying power −11.6%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
38 Weak 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 Lakeland, FL to McAllen, TX at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Lakeland, FL | McAllen, TX | Real change, Lakeland → McAllen |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +13.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +13.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +13.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +13.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +13.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Lakeland, FL | McAllen, TX | McAllen pay in Lakeland dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $50,420 | $63,110 | $71,373 (+41.6%) |
| Software Developers | $122,200 | $116,120 | $131,323 (+7.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,820 | $64,470 | $72,911 (−5.1%) |
| Registered Nurses | $84,030 | $80,540 | $91,085 (+8.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.