City comparison
Lexington, KY vs Montgomery, AL
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Lexington, KY are 3.6% higher than in Montgomery, AL. Someone earning $100,000 in Montgomery, AL would need about $103,600 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 $870 in Montgomery, AL. On $100,000, that's 17% of take-home pay in Lexington, KY and 14% in Montgomery, AL.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,353 a year higher in Montgomery, AL than in Lexington, KY.
- 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 Montgomery, AL changes real buying power by +3.6%, purely from prices.
- Lexington, KY: price level 92.9 (cheaper)
- Montgomery, AL: price level 89.7 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Lexington, KY | Montgomery, AL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 92.9 | 89.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $96,547 in Montgomery | $103,576 in Lexington |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,079/mo | $870/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,798 | $74,445 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,382 (KY) | $4,735 (AL) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 17% | 14% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,620 | $44,950 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Lexington-Fayette, KY MSA and Montgomery, AL MSA. Metro areas: Lexington-Fayette, KY and Montgomery, AL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Lexington | Montgomery |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 77.1 | 64.3 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 96.4 |
| Utilities | 74.6 | 84.9 |
| Other services | 96.9 | 96.7 |
| Overall | 92.9 | 89.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Lexington, KY → Montgomery, AL
Same pay goes further
Buying power +3.6%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax +$1,353/yr.
80 Strong offer
Montgomery, AL → Lexington, KY
Same pay buys less
Buying power −3.5%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$1,353/yr.
58 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 Montgomery, AL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Lexington, KY | Montgomery, AL | Real change, Lexington → Montgomery |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +3.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +3.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +3.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +3.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +3.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Lexington, KY | Montgomery, AL | Montgomery pay in Lexington dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,460 | $59,610 | $61,742 (+0.5%) |
| Software Developers | $123,510 | $110,620 | $114,576 (−7.2%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $77,780 | $75,040 | $77,723 (−0.1%) |
| Registered Nurses | $79,040 | $79,570 | $82,415 (+4.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.