City comparison
Fayetteville, NC vs Memphis, TN
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Fayetteville, NC (92.0) and Memphis, TN (92.2, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Fayetteville, NC goes as far as $100,200 in Memphis, TN.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,113 a month in Fayetteville, NC and $1,154 in Memphis, TN.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,481 a year higher in Fayetteville, NC than in Memphis, TN.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −4.2% moving from Fayetteville, NC to Memphis, TN ($111,147 → $106,437), while prices change by +0.2%. Net effect of the transfer: −4.4% in real buying power.
- Fayetteville, NC: price level 92.0 (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, NC | Memphis, TN | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 92.0 | 92.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $100,219 in Memphis | $99,782 in Fayetteville |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,113/mo | $1,154/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,699 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,481 (NC) | $0 (TN) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $45,620 | $46,890 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Fayetteville, NC HUD Metro FMR Area and Memphis, TN-MS-AR HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Fayetteville, NC and Memphis, TN-MS-AR.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Fayetteville | Memphis |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 73.1 | 79.8 |
| Goods | 96.6 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 87.8 | 74.1 |
| Other services | 98.2 | 95.4 |
| Overall | 92.0 | 92.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Fayetteville, NC → Memphis, TN
Roughly even
Buying power −0.2%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$3,481/yr.
68 Fair offer
Memphis, TN → Fayetteville, NC
Roughly even
Buying power +0.2%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$3,481/yr.
69 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Fayetteville, NC is in the Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC pay area; Memphis, TN is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Fayetteville, NC to Memphis, TN at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Fayetteville, NC | Memphis, TN | Real change, Fayetteville → Memphis |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,453 | $61,722 | −4.4% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $77,983 | $74,678 | −4.4% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,468 | $89,508 | −4.4% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $111,147 | $106,437 | −4.4% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $131,342 | $125,776 | −4.4% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Fayetteville, NC | Memphis, TN | Memphis pay in Fayetteville dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $54,350 | $61,510 | $61,376 (+12.9%) |
| Software Developers | $122,900 | $125,580 | $125,306 (+2.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $78,560 | $76,960 | $76,792 (−2.3%) |
| Registered Nurses | $83,060 | $81,500 | $81,322 (−2.1%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.