City comparison
Akron, OH vs Little Rock, AR
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Akron, OH are 4.5% higher than in Little Rock, AR. Someone earning $100,000 in Little Rock, AR would need about $104,500 in Akron, OH to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $985 a month in Akron, OH and $989 in Little Rock, AR.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,720 a year higher in Little Rock, AR than in Akron, OH.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −4.2% moving from Akron, OH to Little Rock, AR ($111,138 → $106,437), while prices change by −4.3%. Net effect of the transfer: +0.1% in real buying power.
- Akron, OH: price level 93.4 (cheaper)
- Little Rock, AR: price level 89.4 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Akron, OH | Little Rock, AR | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 93.4 | 89.4 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $95,710 in Little Rock | $104,483 in Akron |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $985/mo | $989/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $77,212 | $75,493 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $1,968 (OH) | $3,687 (AR) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 15% | 16% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,840 | $45,790 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Akron, OH MSA and Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Akron, OH and Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Akron | Little Rock |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 76.8 | 68.3 |
| Goods | 93.6 | 93.6 |
| Utilities | 96.4 | 74.6 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 95.3 |
| Overall | 93.4 | 89.4 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Akron, OH → Little Rock, AR
Same pay goes further
Buying power +4.5%; rent takes 16% of take-home; state tax +$1,720/yr.
83 Strong offer
Little Rock, AR → Akron, OH
Same pay buys less
Buying power −4.3%; rent takes 15% of take-home; state tax −$1,720/yr.
55 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Akron, OH is in the Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA pay area; Little Rock, AR is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Akron, OH to Little Rock, AR at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Akron, OH | Little Rock, AR | Real change, Akron → Little Rock |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,448 | $61,722 | +0.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $77,977 | $74,678 | +0.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,461 | $89,508 | +0.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $111,138 | $106,437 | +0.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $131,331 | $125,776 | +0.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Akron, OH | Little Rock, AR | Little Rock pay in Akron dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $78,560 | $58,580 | $61,206 (−22.1%) |
| Software Developers | $105,430 | $104,070 | $108,735 (+3.1%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $78,540 | $65,810 | $68,760 (−12.5%) |
| Registered Nurses | $80,770 | $81,070 | $84,704 (+4.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.