City comparison
Fayetteville, AR vs Huntsville, AL
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Huntsville, AL are 1.9% higher than in Fayetteville, AR. Someone earning $100,000 in Fayetteville, AR would need about $101,900 in Huntsville, AL to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,115 a month in Fayetteville, AR and $1,136 in Huntsville, AL.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,048 a year higher in Huntsville, AL than in Fayetteville, AR.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +4.1% moving from Fayetteville, AR to Huntsville, AL ($106,437 → $110,847), while prices change by +1.9%. Net effect of the transfer: +2.2% in real buying power.
- Fayetteville, AR: price level 91.4 (much cheaper)
- Huntsville, AL: price level 93.1 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Fayetteville, AR | Huntsville, AL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 91.4 | 93.1 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $101,882 in Huntsville | $98,153 in Fayetteville |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,115/mo | $1,136/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,493 | $74,445 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,687 (AR) | $4,735 (AL) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,610 | $51,740 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Huntsville-Decatur, AL-TN |
Rent areas: Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR MSA and Huntsville, AL MSA. Metro areas: Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR and Huntsville, AL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Fayetteville | Huntsville |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 76.9 | 77.9 |
| Goods | 93.6 | 96.4 |
| Utilities | 75.1 | 83.9 |
| Other services | 95.3 | 96.7 |
| Overall | 91.4 | 93.1 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Fayetteville, AR → Huntsville, AL
Roughly even
Buying power −1.8%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$1,048/yr.
63 Fair offer
Huntsville, AL → Fayetteville, AR
Roughly even
Buying power +1.9%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax −$1,048/yr.
75 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Fayetteville, AR is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Huntsville, AL is in Huntsville-Decatur, AL-TN. The last column shows what a transfer from Fayetteville, AR to Huntsville, AL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Fayetteville, AR | Huntsville, AL | Real change, Fayetteville → Huntsville |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $64,279 | +2.2% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $77,772 | +2.2% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $93,216 | +2.2% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $110,847 | +2.2% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $130,987 | +2.2% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Fayetteville, AR | Huntsville, AL | Huntsville pay in Fayetteville dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,010 | $62,250 | $61,100 (+0.1%) |
| Software Developers | $105,130 | $128,080 | $125,714 (+19.6%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $77,190 | $79,220 | $77,757 (+0.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $77,910 | $77,090 | $75,666 (−2.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.