City comparison
Lakeland, FL vs Naples, FL
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Naples, FL are 6.2% higher than in Lakeland, FL. Someone earning $100,000 in Lakeland, FL would need about $106,200 in Naples, FL to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,797 a month in Naples, FL versus $1,230 in Lakeland, FL. On $100,000, that's 27% of take-home pay in Naples, FL and 19% in Lakeland, FL.
- Both are in FL, 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 Lakeland, FL to Naples, FL changes real buying power by −5.9%, purely from prices.
- Lakeland, FL: price level 97.1 (cheaper)
- Naples, FL: price level 103.2 (pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Lakeland, FL | Naples, FL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 97.1 | 103.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $106,237 in Naples | $94,129 in Lakeland |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,230/mo | $1,797/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (FL) | $0 (FL) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 19% | 27% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,140 | $47,800 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL MSA and Naples-Marco Island, FL MSA. Metro areas: Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL and Naples-Marco Island, FL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Lakeland | Naples |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 95.9 | 129.4 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 86.9 | 87.8 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 98.9 |
| Overall | 97.1 | 103.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Lakeland, FL → Naples, FL
Same pay buys less
Buying power −5.9%; rent takes 27% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
47 Fair offer
Naples, FL → Lakeland, FL
Same pay goes further
Buying power +6.2%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
88 Strong 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 Naples, FL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Lakeland, FL | Naples, FL | Real change, Lakeland → Naples |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | −5.9% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | −5.9% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | −5.9% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | −5.9% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | −5.9% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Lakeland, FL | Naples, FL | Naples pay in Lakeland dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $50,420 | $60,470 | $56,920 (+12.9%) |
| Software Developers | $122,200 | $130,730 | $123,055 (+0.7%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,820 | $84,570 | $79,605 (+3.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $84,030 | $93,330 | $87,850 (+4.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.