City comparison
Fayetteville, NC vs Greensboro, NC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Fayetteville, NC (92.0) and Greensboro, NC (92.9, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Fayetteville, NC goes as far as $101,000 in Greensboro, NC.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,213 a month in Greensboro, NC versus $1,113 in Fayetteville, NC. On $100,000, that's 19% of take-home pay in Greensboro, NC and 18% in Fayetteville, NC.
- Both are in NC, so estimated state income tax is the same: $3,481 a year on $100,000.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −4.2% moving from Fayetteville, NC to Greensboro, NC ($111,147 → $106,437), while prices change by +1.0%. Net effect of the transfer: −5.2% in real buying power.
- Fayetteville, NC: price level 92.0 (much cheaper)
- Greensboro, NC: 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, NC | Greensboro, NC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 92.0 | 92.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $100,964 in Greensboro | $99,045 in Fayetteville |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,113/mo | $1,213/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,699 | $75,699 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,481 (NC) | $3,481 (NC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 19% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $45,620 | $46,570 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Fayetteville, NC HUD Metro FMR Area and Greensboro-High Point, NC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Fayetteville, NC and Greensboro-High Point, NC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Fayetteville | Greensboro |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 73.1 | 74.5 |
| Goods | 96.6 | 96.6 |
| Utilities | 87.8 | 89.1 |
| Other services | 98.2 | 98.2 |
| Overall | 92.0 | 92.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Fayetteville, NC → Greensboro, NC
Roughly even
Buying power −1.0%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
66 Fair offer
Greensboro, NC → Fayetteville, NC
Roughly even
Buying power +1.0%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
72 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Fayetteville, NC is in the Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC pay area; Greensboro, NC is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Fayetteville, NC to Greensboro, NC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Fayetteville, NC | Greensboro, NC | Real change, Fayetteville → Greensboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,453 | $61,722 | −5.2% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $77,983 | $74,678 | −5.2% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,468 | $89,508 | −5.2% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $111,147 | $106,437 | −5.2% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $131,342 | $125,776 | −5.2% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Fayetteville, NC | Greensboro, NC | Greensboro pay in Fayetteville dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $54,350 | $59,730 | $59,159 (+8.8%) |
| Software Developers | $122,900 | $125,190 | $123,994 (+0.9%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $78,560 | $80,170 | $79,404 (+1.1%) |
| Registered Nurses | $83,060 | $82,860 | $82,069 (−1.2%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.