City comparison
Charleston, SC vs Fayetteville, AR
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Charleston, SC are 10.5% higher than in Fayetteville, AR. Someone earning $100,000 in Fayetteville, AR would need about $110,500 in Charleston, SC to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,630 a month in Charleston, SC versus $1,115 in Fayetteville, AR. On $100,000, that's 26% of take-home pay in Charleston, SC and 18% in Fayetteville, AR.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,156 a year higher in Charleston, SC than in Fayetteville, AR.
- 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 Charleston, SC to Fayetteville, AR changes real buying power by +10.5%, purely from prices.
- Charleston, SC: price level 101.0 (about average)
- 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
| Charleston, SC | Fayetteville, AR | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 101.0 | 91.4 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $90,483 in Fayetteville | $110,519 in Charleston |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,630/mo | $1,115/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,337 | $75,493 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,843 (SC) | $3,687 (AR) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 26% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,150 | $46,610 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Charleston-North Charleston, SC MSA and Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR MSA. Metro areas: Charleston-North Charleston, SC and Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Charleston | Fayetteville |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 119.8 | 76.9 |
| Goods | 96.3 | 93.6 |
| Utilities | 88.2 | 75.1 |
| Other services | 98.3 | 95.3 |
| Overall | 101.0 | 91.4 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Charleston, SC → Fayetteville, AR
Same pay goes further
Buying power +10.5%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax −$1,156/yr.
100 Strong offer
Fayetteville, AR → Charleston, SC
Same pay buys less
Buying power −9.5%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax +$1,156/yr.
37 Weak 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 Charleston, SC to Fayetteville, AR at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Charleston, SC | Fayetteville, AR | Real change, Charleston → Fayetteville |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +10.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +10.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +10.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +10.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +10.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Charleston, SC | Fayetteville, AR | Fayetteville pay in Charleston dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,020 | $61,010 | $67,427 (+10.5%) |
| Software Developers | $132,150 | $105,130 | $116,188 (−12.1%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,350 | $77,190 | $85,309 (+7.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $92,800 | $77,910 | $86,105 (−7.2%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.