City comparison
Fayetteville, AR vs Longview, TX
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Fayetteville, AR are 2.1% higher than in Longview, TX. Someone earning $100,000 in Longview, TX would need about $102,100 in Fayetteville, AR to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,115 a month in Fayetteville, AR versus $1,013 in Longview, TX. On $100,000, that's 18% of take-home pay in Fayetteville, AR and 15% in Longview, TX.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,687 a year higher in Fayetteville, AR than in Longview, TX.
- 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 Longview, TX changes real buying power by +2.1%, purely from prices.
- Fayetteville, AR: price level 91.4 (much cheaper)
- Longview, TX: price level 89.5 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Fayetteville, AR | Longview, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 91.4 | 89.5 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $97,955 in Longview | $102,088 in Fayetteville |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,115/mo | $1,013/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,493 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,687 (AR) | $0 (TX) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 15% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,610 | $45,150 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR MSA and Longview, TX HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR and Longview, TX.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Fayetteville | Longview |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 76.9 | 66.7 |
| Goods | 93.6 | 93.8 |
| Utilities | 75.1 | 83.5 |
| Other services | 95.3 | 96.2 |
| Overall | 91.4 | 89.5 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Fayetteville, AR → Longview, TX
Same pay goes further
Buying power +2.1%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax −$3,687/yr.
75 Strong offer
Longview, TX → Fayetteville, AR
Same pay buys less
Buying power −2.0%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$3,687/yr.
62 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 Longview, TX at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Fayetteville, AR | Longview, TX | Real change, Fayetteville → Longview |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +2.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +2.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +2.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +2.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +2.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Fayetteville, AR | Longview, TX | Longview pay in Fayetteville dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,010 | $60,210 | $61,467 (+0.7%) |
| Software Developers | $105,130 | $106,360 | $108,580 (+3.3%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $77,190 | $75,060 | $76,627 (−0.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $77,910 | $80,330 | $82,007 (+5.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.