City comparison
Lexington, KY vs Provo, UT
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Provo, UT are 5.8% higher than in Lexington, KY. Someone earning $100,000 in Lexington, KY would need about $105,800 in Provo, UT to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,265 a month in Provo, UT versus $1,079 in Lexington, KY. On $100,000, that's 20% of take-home pay in Provo, UT and 17% in Lexington, KY.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $3,382 a year in KY and $3,534 in UT.
- 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 Provo, UT changes real buying power by −5.4%, purely from prices.
- Lexington, KY: price level 92.9 (cheaper)
- Provo, UT: price level 98.2 (about average)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Lexington, KY | Provo, UT | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 92.9 | 98.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $105,752 in Provo | $94,561 in Lexington |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,079/mo | $1,265/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,798 | $75,646 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,382 (KY) | $3,534 (UT) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 17% | 20% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,620 | $48,010 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Lexington-Fayette, KY MSA and Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT MSA. Metro areas: Lexington-Fayette, KY and Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Lexington | Provo |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 77.1 | 104.1 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 96.4 |
| Utilities | 74.6 | 78.6 |
| Other services | 96.9 | 99.0 |
| Overall | 92.9 | 98.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Lexington, KY → Provo, UT
Same pay buys less
Buying power −5.4%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax +$152/yr.
52 Fair offer
Provo, UT → Lexington, KY
Same pay goes further
Buying power +5.8%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$152/yr.
87 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 Provo, UT at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Lexington, KY | Provo, UT | Real change, Lexington → Provo |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | −5.4% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | −5.4% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | −5.4% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | −5.4% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | −5.4% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Lexington, KY | Provo, UT | Provo pay in Lexington dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,460 | $62,930 | $59,507 (−3.2%) |
| Software Developers | $123,510 | $131,210 | $124,073 (+0.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $77,780 | $75,700 | $71,583 (−8.0%) |
| Registered Nurses | $79,040 | $81,780 | $77,332 (−2.2%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.