City comparison
Lakeland, FL vs Palm Bay, FL
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Palm Bay, FL are 2.9% higher than in Lakeland, FL. Someone earning $100,000 in Lakeland, FL would need about $102,900 in Palm Bay, FL to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,478 a month in Palm Bay, FL versus $1,230 in Lakeland, FL. On $100,000, that's 22% of take-home pay in Palm Bay, FL and 19% in Lakeland, FL.
- Both are in FL, so estimated state income tax is the same: $0 a year on $100,000.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +0.7% moving from Lakeland, FL to Palm Bay, FL ($106,437 → $107,228), while prices change by +2.9%. Net effect of the transfer: −2.1% in real buying power.
- Lakeland, FL: price level 97.1 (cheaper)
- Palm Bay, FL: price level 100.0 (about average)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Lakeland, FL | Palm Bay, FL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 97.1 | 100.0 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $102,948 in Palm Bay | $97,136 in Lakeland |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,230/mo | $1,478/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% | 22% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,140 | $49,030 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL |
Rent areas: Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL MSA and Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL MSA. Metro areas: Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL and Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Lakeland | Palm Bay |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 95.9 | 111.7 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 86.9 | 88.1 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 98.9 |
| Overall | 97.1 | 100.0 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Lakeland, FL → Palm Bay, FL
Same pay buys less
Buying power −2.9%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
60 Fair offer
Palm Bay, FL → Lakeland, FL
Same pay goes further
Buying power +2.9%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
78 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Lakeland, FL is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Palm Bay, FL is in Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL. The last column shows what a transfer from Lakeland, FL to Palm Bay, FL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Lakeland, FL | Palm Bay, FL | Real change, Lakeland → Palm Bay |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $62,181 | −2.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $75,233 | −2.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $90,173 | −2.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $107,228 | −2.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $126,711 | −2.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Lakeland, FL | Palm Bay, FL | Palm Bay pay in Lakeland dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $50,420 | $62,510 | $60,720 (+20.4%) |
| Software Developers | $122,200 | $131,760 | $127,987 (+4.7%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,820 | $75,860 | $73,687 (−4.1%) |
| Registered Nurses | $84,030 | $80,900 | $78,583 (−6.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.