City comparison
Ocala, FL vs Tucson, AZ
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Tucson, AZ are 1.7% higher than in Ocala, FL. Someone earning $100,000 in Ocala, FL would need about $101,700 in Tucson, AZ to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,172 a month in Ocala, FL versus $1,081 in Tucson, AZ. On $100,000, that's 18% of take-home pay in Ocala, FL and 17% in Tucson, AZ.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $2,291 a year higher in Tucson, AZ than in Ocala, FL.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +1.9% moving from Ocala, FL to Tucson, AZ ($106,437 → $108,455), while prices change by +1.7%. Net effect of the transfer: +0.1% in real buying power.
- Ocala, FL: price level 95.2 (cheaper)
- Tucson, AZ: price level 96.9 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Ocala, FL | Tucson, AZ | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 95.2 | 96.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $101,745 in Tucson | $98,285 in Ocala |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,172/mo | $1,081/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $76,889 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (FL) | $2,291 (AZ) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $43,990 | $47,760 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Tucson-Nogales, AZ |
Rent areas: Ocala, FL MSA and Tucson, AZ MSA. Metro areas: Ocala, FL and Tucson, AZ.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Ocala | Tucson |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 86.2 | 91.8 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 87.1 | 89.5 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 99.8 |
| Overall | 95.2 | 96.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Ocala, FL → Tucson, AZ
Roughly even
Buying power −1.7%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax +$2,291/yr.
63 Fair offer
Tucson, AZ → Ocala, FL
Roughly even
Buying power +1.7%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax −$2,291/yr.
74 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Ocala, FL is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Tucson, AZ is in Tucson-Nogales, AZ. The last column shows what a transfer from Ocala, FL to Tucson, AZ at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Ocala, FL | Tucson, AZ | Real change, Ocala → Tucson |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $62,893 | +0.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $76,095 | +0.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $91,205 | +0.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $108,455 | +0.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $128,162 | +0.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Ocala, FL | Tucson, AZ | Tucson pay in Ocala dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $57,540 | $47,220 | $46,410 (−19.3%) |
| Software Developers | $112,780 | $123,710 | $121,588 (+7.8%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $74,370 | $76,320 | $75,011 (+0.9%) |
| Registered Nurses | $79,230 | $94,110 | $92,496 (+16.7%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.