City comparison
Fayetteville, NC vs Killeen, TX
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Fayetteville, NC (92.0) and Killeen, TX (91.1, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Fayetteville, NC goes as far as $99,100 in Killeen, TX.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,113 a month in Fayetteville, NC versus $990 in Killeen, TX. On $100,000, that's 18% of take-home pay in Fayetteville, NC and 15% in Killeen, TX.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,481 a year higher in Fayetteville, NC than in Killeen, TX.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −4.2% moving from Fayetteville, NC to Killeen, TX ($111,147 → $106,437), while prices change by −0.9%. Net effect of the transfer: −3.3% in real buying power.
- Fayetteville, NC: price level 92.0 (much cheaper)
- Killeen, TX: price level 91.1 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Fayetteville, NC | Killeen, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 92.0 | 91.1 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,080 in Killeen | $100,928 in Fayetteville |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,113/mo | $990/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,699 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,481 (NC) | $0 (TX) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 15% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $45,620 | $46,660 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Fayetteville, NC HUD Metro FMR Area and Killeen-Temple, TX HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Fayetteville, NC and Killeen-Temple, TX.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Fayetteville | Killeen |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 73.1 | 77.9 |
| Goods | 96.6 | 93.8 |
| Utilities | 87.8 | 81.2 |
| Other services | 98.2 | 96.2 |
| Overall | 92.0 | 91.1 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Fayetteville, NC → Killeen, TX
Roughly even
Buying power +0.9%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax −$3,481/yr.
72 Strong offer
Killeen, TX → Fayetteville, NC
Roughly even
Buying power −0.9%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$3,481/yr.
66 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Fayetteville, NC is in the Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC pay area; Killeen, TX is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Fayetteville, NC to Killeen, TX at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Fayetteville, NC | Killeen, TX | Real change, Fayetteville → Killeen |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,453 | $61,722 | −3.3% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $77,983 | $74,678 | −3.3% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,468 | $89,508 | −3.3% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $111,147 | $106,437 | −3.3% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $131,342 | $125,776 | −3.3% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Fayetteville, NC | Killeen, TX | Killeen pay in Fayetteville dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $54,350 | $63,120 | $63,706 (+17.2%) |
| Software Developers | $122,900 | $123,320 | $124,465 (+1.3%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $78,560 | $73,270 | $73,950 (−5.9%) |
| Registered Nurses | $83,060 | $93,440 | $94,307 (+13.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.