City comparison
Fayetteville, AR vs Jackson, MS
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Fayetteville, AR are 2.6% higher than in Jackson, MS. Someone earning $100,000 in Jackson, MS would need about $102,600 in Fayetteville, AR to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,115 a month in Fayetteville, AR and $1,097 in Jackson, MS.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $419 a year higher in Fayetteville, AR than in Jackson, MS.
- 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 Fayetteville, AR to Jackson, MS changes real buying power by +2.6%, purely from prices.
- Fayetteville, AR: price level 91.4 (much cheaper)
- Jackson, MS: price level 89.0 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Fayetteville, AR | Jackson, MS | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 91.4 | 89.0 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $97,477 in Jackson | $102,588 in Fayetteville |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,115/mo | $1,097/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,493 | $75,912 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,687 (AR) | $3,268 (MS) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,610 | $42,850 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR MSA and Jackson, MS HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR and Jackson, MS.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Fayetteville | Jackson |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 76.9 | 64.8 |
| Goods | 93.6 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 75.1 | 78.1 |
| Other services | 95.3 | 96.1 |
| Overall | 91.4 | 89.0 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Fayetteville, AR → Jackson, MS
Same pay goes further
Buying power +2.6%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$419/yr.
77 Strong offer
Jackson, MS → Fayetteville, AR
Same pay buys less
Buying power −2.5%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$419/yr.
61 Fair 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 Fayetteville, AR to Jackson, MS at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Fayetteville, AR | Jackson, MS | Real change, Fayetteville → Jackson |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +2.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +2.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +2.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +2.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +2.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Fayetteville, AR | Jackson, MS | Jackson pay in Fayetteville dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,010 | $50,240 | $51,540 (−15.5%) |
| Software Developers | $105,130 | $96,990 | $99,501 (−5.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $77,190 | $70,720 | $72,551 (−6.0%) |
| Registered Nurses | $77,910 | $82,630 | $84,769 (+8.8%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.