City comparison
Fayetteville, AR vs York, PA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in York, PA are 5.1% higher than in Fayetteville, AR. Someone earning $100,000 in Fayetteville, AR would need about $105,100 in York, PA to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,115 a month in Fayetteville, AR and $1,060 in York, PA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $617 a year higher in Fayetteville, AR than in York, PA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +14.4% moving from Fayetteville, AR to York, PA ($106,437 → $121,785), while prices change by +5.1%. Net effect of the transfer: +8.9% in real buying power.
- Fayetteville, AR: price level 91.4 (much cheaper)
- York, PA: price level 96.0 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Fayetteville, AR | York, PA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 91.4 | 96.0 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $105,087 in York | $95,159 in Fayetteville |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,115/mo | $1,060/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,493 | $76,110 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,687 (AR) | $3,070 (PA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,610 | $48,170 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA |
Rent areas: Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR MSA and York-Hanover, PA MSA. Metro areas: Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR and York-Hanover, PA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Fayetteville | York |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 76.9 | 79.8 |
| Goods | 93.6 | 100.7 |
| Utilities | 75.1 | 107.0 |
| Other services | 95.3 | 97.7 |
| Overall | 91.4 | 96.0 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Fayetteville, AR → York, PA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −4.8%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$617/yr.
54 Fair offer
York, PA → Fayetteville, AR
Same pay goes further
Buying power +5.1%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$617/yr.
85 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Fayetteville, AR is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; York, PA is in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Fayetteville, AR to York, PA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Fayetteville, AR | York, PA | Real change, Fayetteville → York |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $70,623 | +8.9% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $85,447 | +8.9% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $102,415 | +8.9% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $121,785 | +8.9% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $143,913 | +8.9% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Fayetteville, AR | York, PA | York pay in Fayetteville dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,010 | $79,730 | $75,871 (+24.4%) |
| Software Developers | $105,130 | $114,600 | $109,053 (+3.7%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $77,190 | $75,160 | $71,522 (−7.3%) |
| Registered Nurses | $77,910 | $96,210 | $91,553 (+17.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.