City comparison
Pensacola, FL vs Raleigh, NC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Pensacola, FL (97.7) and Raleigh, NC (98.2, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Pensacola, FL goes as far as $100,500 in Raleigh, NC.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,596 a month in Raleigh, NC versus $1,257 in Pensacola, FL. On $100,000, that's 25% of take-home pay in Raleigh, NC and 19% in Pensacola, FL.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,481 a year higher in Raleigh, NC than in Pensacola, FL.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +4.4% moving from Pensacola, FL to Raleigh, NC ($106,437 → $111,147), while prices change by +0.5%. Net effect of the transfer: +4.0% in real buying power.
- Pensacola, FL: price level 97.7 (cheaper)
- Raleigh, NC: 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
| Pensacola, FL | Raleigh, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 97.7 | 98.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $100,450 in Raleigh | $99,552 in Pensacola |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,257/mo | $1,596/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $75,699 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (FL) | $3,481 (NC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 19% | 25% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,240 | $51,990 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC |
Rent areas: Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL MSA and Raleigh-Cary, NC MSA. Metro areas: Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL and Raleigh-Cary, NC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Pensacola | Raleigh |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 98.8 | 103.5 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 96.6 |
| Utilities | 88.5 | 89.0 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 98.2 |
| Overall | 97.7 | 98.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Pensacola, FL → Raleigh, NC
Roughly even
Buying power −0.4%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax +$3,481/yr.
67 Fair offer
Raleigh, NC → Pensacola, FL
Roughly even
Buying power +0.5%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax −$3,481/yr.
70 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Pensacola, FL is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Raleigh, NC is in Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC. The last column shows what a transfer from Pensacola, FL to Raleigh, NC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Pensacola, FL | Raleigh, NC | Real change, Pensacola → Raleigh |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $64,453 | +4.0% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $77,983 | +4.0% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $93,468 | +4.0% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $111,147 | +4.0% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $131,342 | +4.0% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Pensacola, FL | Raleigh, NC | Raleigh pay in Pensacola dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $50,360 | $60,170 | $59,900 (+18.9%) |
| Software Developers | $108,430 | $132,770 | $132,175 (+21.9%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,410 | $81,950 | $81,583 (+6.8%) |
| Registered Nurses | $77,890 | $84,830 | $84,450 (+8.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.