City comparison
Fayetteville, AR vs Memphis, TN
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Fayetteville, AR (91.4) and Memphis, TN (92.2, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Fayetteville, AR goes as far as $100,900 in Memphis, TN.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,115 a month in Fayetteville, AR and $1,154 in Memphis, TN.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,687 a year higher in Fayetteville, AR than in Memphis, TN.
- 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 Memphis, TN changes real buying power by −0.9%, purely from prices.
- Fayetteville, AR: price level 91.4 (much cheaper)
- Memphis, TN: price level 92.2 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Fayetteville, AR | Memphis, TN | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 91.4 | 92.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $100,904 in Memphis | $99,104 in Fayetteville |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,115/mo | $1,154/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,493 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,687 (AR) | $0 (TN) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,610 | $46,890 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR MSA and Memphis, TN-MS-AR HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR and Memphis, TN-MS-AR.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Fayetteville | Memphis |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 76.9 | 79.8 |
| Goods | 93.6 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 75.1 | 74.1 |
| Other services | 95.3 | 95.4 |
| Overall | 91.4 | 92.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Fayetteville, AR → Memphis, TN
Roughly even
Buying power −0.9%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$3,687/yr.
66 Fair offer
Memphis, TN → Fayetteville, AR
Roughly even
Buying power +0.9%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$3,687/yr.
72 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 Memphis, TN at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Fayetteville, AR | Memphis, TN | Real change, Fayetteville → Memphis |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | −0.9% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | −0.9% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | −0.9% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | −0.9% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | −0.9% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Fayetteville, AR | Memphis, TN | Memphis pay in Fayetteville dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,010 | $61,510 | $60,959 (−0.1%) |
| Software Developers | $105,130 | $125,580 | $124,455 (+18.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $77,190 | $76,960 | $76,270 (−1.2%) |
| Registered Nurses | $77,910 | $81,500 | $80,770 (+3.7%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.