City comparison
Lexington, KY vs Naples, FL
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Naples, FL are 11.1% higher than in Lexington, KY. Someone earning $100,000 in Lexington, KY would need about $111,100 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 $1,079 in Lexington, KY. On $100,000, that's 27% of take-home pay in Naples, FL and 17% in Lexington, KY.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,382 a year higher in Lexington, KY than in Naples, FL.
- 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 Naples, FL changes real buying power by −10.0%, purely from prices.
- Lexington, KY: price level 92.9 (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
| Lexington, KY | Naples, FL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 92.9 | 103.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $111,100 in Naples | $90,009 in Lexington |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,079/mo | $1,797/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,798 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,382 (KY) | $0 (FL) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 17% | 27% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,620 | $47,800 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Lexington-Fayette, KY MSA and Naples-Marco Island, FL MSA. Metro areas: Lexington-Fayette, KY and Naples-Marco Island, FL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Lexington | Naples |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 77.1 | 129.4 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 74.6 | 87.8 |
| Other services | 96.9 | 98.9 |
| Overall | 92.9 | 103.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Lexington, KY → Naples, FL
Same pay buys less
Buying power −10.0%; rent takes 27% of take-home; state tax −$3,382/yr.
34 Weak offer
Naples, FL → Lexington, KY
Same pay goes further
Buying power +11.1%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax +$3,382/yr.
100 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 Lexington, KY to Naples, FL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Lexington, KY | Naples, FL | Real change, Lexington → Naples |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | −10.0% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | −10.0% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | −10.0% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | −10.0% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | −10.0% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Lexington, KY | Naples, FL | Naples pay in Lexington dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,460 | $60,470 | $54,428 (−11.4%) |
| Software Developers | $123,510 | $130,730 | $117,668 (−4.7%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $77,780 | $84,570 | $76,120 (−2.1%) |
| Registered Nurses | $79,040 | $93,330 | $84,005 (+6.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.