City comparison
Des Moines, IA vs Fayetteville, AR
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Des Moines, IA (91.7) and Fayetteville, AR (91.4, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Des Moines, IA goes as far as $99,600 in Fayetteville, AR.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,109 a month in Des Moines, IA and $1,115 in Fayetteville, AR.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $539 a year higher in Fayetteville, AR than in Des Moines, IA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −0.8% moving from Des Moines, IA to Fayetteville, AR ($107,301 → $106,437), while prices change by −0.4%. Net effect of the transfer: −0.4% in real buying power.
- Des Moines, IA: price level 91.7 (much 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
| Des Moines, IA | Fayetteville, AR | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 91.7 | 91.4 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,621 in Fayetteville | $100,381 in Des Moines |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,109/mo | $1,115/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,032 | $75,493 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,148 (IA) | $3,687 (AR) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $51,820 | $46,610 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA HUD Metro FMR Area and Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR MSA. Metro areas: Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA and Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Des Moines | Fayetteville |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 84.7 | 76.9 |
| Goods | 93.7 | 93.6 |
| Utilities | 84.6 | 75.1 |
| Other services | 92.9 | 95.3 |
| Overall | 91.7 | 91.4 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Des Moines, IA → Fayetteville, AR
Roughly even
Buying power +0.4%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$539/yr.
70 Fair offer
Fayetteville, AR → Des Moines, IA
Roughly even
Buying power −0.4%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax −$539/yr.
68 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Des Moines, IA is in the Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA pay area; Fayetteville, AR is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Des Moines, IA to Fayetteville, AR at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Des Moines, IA | Fayetteville, AR | Real change, Des Moines → Fayetteville |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,223 | $61,722 | −0.4% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,284 | $74,678 | −0.4% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $90,234 | $89,508 | −0.4% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $107,301 | $106,437 | −0.4% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $126,797 | $125,776 | −0.4% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Des Moines, IA | Fayetteville, AR | Fayetteville pay in Des Moines dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,650 | $61,010 | $61,242 (−0.7%) |
| Software Developers | $126,460 | $105,130 | $105,530 (−16.6%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,290 | $77,190 | $77,484 (−2.3%) |
| Registered Nurses | $78,630 | $77,910 | $78,207 (−0.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.