City comparison
Fayetteville, AR vs Fayetteville, NC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Fayetteville, AR (91.4) and Fayetteville, NC (92.0, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Fayetteville, AR goes as far as $100,700 in Fayetteville, NC.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,115 a month in Fayetteville, AR and $1,113 in Fayetteville, NC.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $3,687 a year in AR and $3,481 in NC.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +4.4% moving from Fayetteville, AR to Fayetteville, NC ($106,437 → $111,147), while prices change by +0.7%. Net effect of the transfer: +3.7% in real buying power.
- Fayetteville, AR: price level 91.4 (much cheaper)
- Fayetteville, NC: price level 92.0 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Fayetteville, AR | Fayetteville, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 91.4 | 92.0 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $100,684 in Fayetteville | $99,320 in Fayetteville |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,115/mo | $1,113/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,493 | $75,699 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,687 (AR) | $3,481 (NC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,610 | $45,620 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC |
Rent areas: Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR MSA and Fayetteville, NC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR and Fayetteville, NC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Fayetteville | Fayetteville |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 76.9 | 73.1 |
| Goods | 93.6 | 96.6 |
| Utilities | 75.1 | 87.8 |
| Other services | 95.3 | 98.2 |
| Overall | 91.4 | 92.0 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Fayetteville, AR → Fayetteville, NC
Roughly even
Buying power −0.7%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax −$206/yr.
67 Fair offer
Fayetteville, NC → Fayetteville, AR
Roughly even
Buying power +0.7%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$206/yr.
71 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Fayetteville, AR is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Fayetteville, NC is in Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC. The last column shows what a transfer from Fayetteville, AR to Fayetteville, NC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Fayetteville, AR | Fayetteville, NC | Real change, Fayetteville → Fayetteville |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $64,453 | +3.7% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $77,983 | +3.7% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $93,468 | +3.7% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $111,147 | +3.7% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $131,342 | +3.7% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Fayetteville, AR | Fayetteville, NC | Fayetteville pay in Fayetteville dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,010 | $54,350 | $53,981 (−11.5%) |
| Software Developers | $105,130 | $122,900 | $122,065 (+16.1%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $77,190 | $78,560 | $78,026 (+1.1%) |
| Registered Nurses | $77,910 | $83,060 | $82,496 (+5.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.