City comparison
Little Rock, AR vs Tuscaloosa, AL
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Little Rock, AR are 1.9% higher than in Tuscaloosa, AL. Someone earning $100,000 in Tuscaloosa, AL would need about $101,900 in Little Rock, AR to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $989 a month in Little Rock, AR and $972 in Tuscaloosa, AL.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,048 a year higher in Tuscaloosa, AL than in Little Rock, AR.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +1.0% moving from Little Rock, AR to Tuscaloosa, AL ($106,437 → $107,510), while prices change by −1.8%. Net effect of the transfer: +2.9% in real buying power.
- Little Rock, AR: price level 89.4 (much cheaper)
- Tuscaloosa, AL: price level 87.7 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Little Rock, AR | Tuscaloosa, AL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 89.4 | 87.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $98,163 in Tuscaloosa | $101,872 in Little Rock |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $989/mo | $972/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,493 | $74,445 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,687 (AR) | $4,735 (AL) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 16% | 16% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $45,790 | $45,220 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega, AL |
Rent areas: Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR HUD Metro FMR Area and Tuscaloosa, AL HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR and Tuscaloosa, AL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Little Rock | Tuscaloosa |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 68.3 | 58.2 |
| Goods | 93.6 | 96.4 |
| Utilities | 74.6 | 84.4 |
| Other services | 95.3 | 96.7 |
| Overall | 89.4 | 87.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Little Rock, AR → Tuscaloosa, AL
Roughly even
Buying power +1.9%; rent takes 16% of take-home; state tax +$1,048/yr.
75 Strong offer
Tuscaloosa, AL → Little Rock, AR
Roughly even
Buying power −1.8%; rent takes 16% of take-home; state tax −$1,048/yr.
63 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Little Rock, AR is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Tuscaloosa, AL is in Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega, AL. The last column shows what a transfer from Little Rock, AR to Tuscaloosa, AL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Little Rock, AR | Tuscaloosa, AL | Real change, Little Rock → Tuscaloosa |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $62,344 | +2.9% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $75,431 | +2.9% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $90,410 | +2.9% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $107,510 | +2.9% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $127,044 | +2.9% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Little Rock, AR | Tuscaloosa, AL | Tuscaloosa pay in Little Rock dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $58,580 | $60,220 | $61,347 (+4.7%) |
| Software Developers | $104,070 | $104,870 | $106,833 (+2.7%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $65,810 | $71,690 | $73,032 (+11.0%) |
| Registered Nurses | $81,070 | $75,250 | $76,659 (−5.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.