City comparison
Fayetteville, AR vs Lexington, KY
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Lexington, KY are 1.7% higher than in Fayetteville, AR. Someone earning $100,000 in Fayetteville, AR would need about $101,700 in Lexington, KY to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,115 a month in Fayetteville, AR and $1,079 in Lexington, KY.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $305 a year higher in Fayetteville, AR than in Lexington, KY.
- 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 Lexington, KY changes real buying power by −1.7%, purely from prices.
- Fayetteville, AR: price level 91.4 (much cheaper)
- Lexington, KY: price level 92.9 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Fayetteville, AR | Lexington, KY | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 91.4 | 92.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $101,681 in Lexington | $98,346 in Fayetteville |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,115/mo | $1,079/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,493 | $75,798 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,687 (AR) | $3,382 (KY) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,610 | $48,620 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR MSA and Lexington-Fayette, KY MSA. Metro areas: Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR and Lexington-Fayette, KY.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Fayetteville | Lexington |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 76.9 | 77.1 |
| Goods | 93.6 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 75.1 | 74.6 |
| Other services | 95.3 | 96.9 |
| Overall | 91.4 | 92.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Fayetteville, AR → Lexington, KY
Roughly even
Buying power −1.7%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$305/yr.
64 Fair offer
Lexington, KY → Fayetteville, AR
Roughly even
Buying power +1.7%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$305/yr.
74 Strong 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 Lexington, KY at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Fayetteville, AR | Lexington, KY | Real change, Fayetteville → Lexington |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | −1.7% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | −1.7% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | −1.7% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | −1.7% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | −1.7% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Fayetteville, AR | Lexington, KY | Lexington pay in Fayetteville dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,010 | $61,460 | $60,444 (−0.9%) |
| Software Developers | $105,130 | $123,510 | $121,468 (+15.5%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $77,190 | $77,780 | $76,494 (−0.9%) |
| Registered Nurses | $77,910 | $79,040 | $77,733 (−0.2%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.