City comparison
Fayetteville, AR vs Springfield, MO
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Fayetteville, AR are 3.1% higher than in Springfield, MO. Someone earning $100,000 in Springfield, MO would need about $103,100 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 $883 in Springfield, MO. On $100,000, that's 18% of take-home pay in Fayetteville, AR and 14% in Springfield, MO.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $3,687 a year in AR and $3,763 in MO.
- 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 Springfield, MO changes real buying power by +3.1%, purely from prices.
- Fayetteville, AR: price level 91.4 (much cheaper)
- Springfield, MO: price level 88.6 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Fayetteville, AR | Springfield, MO | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 91.4 | 88.6 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $96,970 in Springfield | $103,125 in Fayetteville |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,115/mo | $883/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,493 | $75,417 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,687 (AR) | $3,763 (MO) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 14% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,610 | $45,780 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR MSA and Springfield, MO HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR and Springfield, MO.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Fayetteville | Springfield |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 76.9 | 65.6 |
| Goods | 93.6 | 94.2 |
| Utilities | 75.1 | 85.8 |
| Other services | 95.3 | 93.0 |
| Overall | 91.4 | 88.6 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Fayetteville, AR → Springfield, MO
Same pay goes further
Buying power +3.1%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax +$75/yr.
79 Strong offer
Springfield, MO → Fayetteville, AR
Same pay buys less
Buying power −3.0%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax −$75/yr.
59 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 Springfield, MO at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Fayetteville, AR | Springfield, MO | Real change, Fayetteville → Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +3.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +3.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +3.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +3.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +3.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Fayetteville, AR | Springfield, MO | Springfield pay in Fayetteville dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,010 | $49,380 | $50,923 (−16.5%) |
| Software Developers | $105,130 | $102,350 | $105,548 (+0.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $77,190 | $73,020 | $75,302 (−2.4%) |
| Registered Nurses | $77,910 | $79,370 | $81,850 (+5.1%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.