City comparison
Albuquerque, NM vs Fayetteville, AR
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Albuquerque, NM are 4.6% higher than in Fayetteville, AR. Someone earning $100,000 in Fayetteville, AR would need about $104,600 in Albuquerque, NM to live the same way.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,185 a month in Albuquerque, NM versus $1,115 in Fayetteville, AR. On $100,000, that's 19% of take-home pay in Albuquerque, NM and 18% in Fayetteville, AR.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $3,569 a year in NM and $3,687 in AR.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −1.1% moving from Albuquerque, NM to Fayetteville, AR ($107,592 → $106,437), while prices change by −4.4%. Net effect of the transfer: +3.5% in real buying power.
- Albuquerque, NM: price level 95.5 (cheaper)
- Fayetteville, AR: price level 91.4 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Albuquerque, NM | Fayetteville, AR | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 95.5 | 91.4 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $95,612 in Fayetteville | $104,590 in Albuquerque |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,185/mo | $1,115/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,611 | $75,493 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,569 (NM) | $3,687 (AR) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 19% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,060 | $46,610 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas, NM | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Albuquerque, NM MSA and Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR MSA. Metro areas: Albuquerque, NM and Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Albuquerque | Fayetteville |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 89.2 | 76.9 |
| Goods | 96.1 | 93.6 |
| Utilities | 77.9 | 75.1 |
| Other services | 98.5 | 95.3 |
| Overall | 95.5 | 91.4 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Albuquerque, NM → Fayetteville, AR
Same pay goes further
Buying power +4.6%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$118/yr.
83 Strong offer
Fayetteville, AR → Albuquerque, NM
Same pay buys less
Buying power −4.4%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax −$118/yr.
55 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Albuquerque, NM is in the Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas, NM pay area; Fayetteville, AR is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Albuquerque, NM to Fayetteville, AR at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Albuquerque, NM | Fayetteville, AR | Real change, Albuquerque → Fayetteville |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,392 | $61,722 | +3.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,489 | $74,678 | +3.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $90,479 | $89,508 | +3.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $107,592 | $106,437 | +3.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $127,141 | $125,776 | +3.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Albuquerque, NM | Fayetteville, AR | Fayetteville pay in Albuquerque dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $75,520 | $61,010 | $63,810 (−15.5%) |
| Software Developers | $123,700 | $105,130 | $109,955 (−11.1%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,880 | $77,190 | $80,733 (+1.1%) |
| Registered Nurses | $96,040 | $77,910 | $81,486 (−15.2%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.