City comparison
Pensacola, FL vs Tucson, AZ
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Pensacola, FL (97.7) and Tucson, AZ (96.9, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Pensacola, FL goes as far as $99,200 in Tucson, AZ.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,257 a month in Pensacola, FL versus $1,081 in Tucson, AZ. On $100,000, that's 19% of take-home pay in Pensacola, 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 Pensacola, FL.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +1.9% moving from Pensacola, FL to Tucson, AZ ($106,437 → $108,455), while prices change by −0.8%. Net effect of the transfer: +2.8% in real buying power.
- Pensacola, FL: price level 97.7 (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
| Pensacola, FL | Tucson, AZ | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 97.7 | 96.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,160 in Tucson | $100,847 in Pensacola |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,257/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 | 19% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,240 | $47,760 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Tucson-Nogales, AZ |
Rent areas: Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL MSA and Tucson, AZ MSA. Metro areas: Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL and Tucson, AZ.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Pensacola | Tucson |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 98.8 | 91.8 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 88.5 | 89.5 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 99.8 |
| Overall | 97.7 | 96.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Pensacola, FL → Tucson, AZ
Roughly even
Buying power +0.8%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax +$2,291/yr.
71 Strong offer
Tucson, AZ → Pensacola, FL
Roughly even
Buying power −0.8%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax −$2,291/yr.
66 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Pensacola, 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 Pensacola, FL to Tucson, AZ at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Pensacola, FL | Tucson, AZ | Real change, Pensacola → Tucson |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $62,893 | +2.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $76,095 | +2.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $91,205 | +2.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $108,455 | +2.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $128,162 | +2.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Pensacola, FL | Tucson, AZ | Tucson pay in Pensacola dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $50,360 | $47,220 | $47,620 (−5.4%) |
| Software Developers | $108,430 | $123,710 | $124,758 (+15.1%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,410 | $76,320 | $76,967 (+0.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $77,890 | $94,110 | $94,907 (+21.8%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.