City comparison
Lakeland, FL vs Olympia, WA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Olympia, WA are 6.7% higher than in Lakeland, FL. Someone earning $100,000 in Lakeland, FL would need about $106,700 in Olympia, WA to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,682 a month in Olympia, WA versus $1,230 in Lakeland, FL. On $100,000, that's 25% of take-home pay in Olympia, WA and 19% in Lakeland, FL.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $0 a year in FL and $0 in WA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +12.4% moving from Lakeland, FL to Olympia, WA ($106,437 → $119,630), while prices change by +6.7%. Net effect of the transfer: +5.3% in real buying power.
- Lakeland, FL: price level 97.1 (cheaper)
- Olympia, WA: price level 103.7 (pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Lakeland, FL | Olympia, WA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 97.1 | 103.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $106,721 in Olympia | $93,702 in Lakeland |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,230/mo | $1,682/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (FL) | $0 (WA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 19% | 25% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,140 | $61,960 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Seattle-Tacoma, WA |
Rent areas: Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL MSA and Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA MSA. Metro areas: Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL and Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Lakeland | Olympia |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 95.9 | 116.7 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 105.0 |
| Utilities | 86.9 | 91.7 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 99.5 |
| Overall | 97.1 | 103.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Lakeland, FL → Olympia, WA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −6.3%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
48 Fair offer
Olympia, WA → Lakeland, FL
Same pay goes further
Buying power +6.7%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
90 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Lakeland, FL is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Olympia, WA is in Seattle-Tacoma, WA. The last column shows what a transfer from Lakeland, FL to Olympia, WA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Lakeland, FL | Olympia, WA | Real change, Lakeland → Olympia |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $69,373 | +5.3% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $83,935 | +5.3% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $100,602 | +5.3% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $119,630 | +5.3% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $141,367 | +5.3% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Lakeland, FL | Olympia, WA | Olympia pay in Lakeland dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $50,420 | $104,650 | $98,059 (+94.5%) |
| Software Developers | $122,200 | $124,060 | $116,247 (−4.9%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,820 | $94,470 | $88,520 (+15.2%) |
| Registered Nurses | $84,030 | $125,020 | $117,146 (+39.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.