City comparison
Lexington, KY vs McAllen, TX
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Lexington, KY are 8.1% higher than in McAllen, TX. Someone earning $100,000 in McAllen, TX would need about $108,100 in Lexington, KY to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,079 a month in Lexington, KY versus $847 in McAllen, TX. On $100,000, that's 17% of take-home pay in Lexington, KY and 13% in McAllen, TX.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,382 a year higher in Lexington, KY than in McAllen, 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 Lexington, KY to McAllen, TX changes real buying power by +8.1%, purely from prices.
- Lexington, KY: price level 92.9 (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
| Lexington, KY | McAllen, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 92.9 | 85.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $92,471 in McAllen | $108,142 in Lexington |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,079/mo | $847/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,798 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,382 (KY) | $0 (TX) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 17% | 13% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,620 | $35,830 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Lexington-Fayette, KY MSA and McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX MSA. Metro areas: Lexington-Fayette, KY and McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Lexington | McAllen |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 77.1 | 55.9 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 93.8 |
| Utilities | 74.6 | 81.2 |
| Other services | 96.9 | 96.2 |
| Overall | 92.9 | 85.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Lexington, KY → McAllen, TX
Same pay goes further
Buying power +8.1%; rent takes 13% of take-home; state tax −$3,382/yr.
94 Strong offer
McAllen, TX → Lexington, KY
Same pay buys less
Buying power −7.5%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax +$3,382/yr.
45 Fair 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 Lexington, KY to McAllen, TX at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Lexington, KY | McAllen, TX | Real change, Lexington → McAllen |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +8.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +8.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +8.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +8.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +8.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Lexington, KY | McAllen, TX | McAllen pay in Lexington dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,460 | $63,110 | $68,249 (+11.0%) |
| Software Developers | $123,510 | $116,120 | $125,575 (+1.7%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $77,780 | $64,470 | $69,719 (−10.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $79,040 | $80,540 | $87,098 (+10.2%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.