City comparison
Fayetteville, AR vs Little Rock, AR
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Fayetteville, AR are 2.2% higher than in Little Rock, AR. Someone earning $100,000 in Little Rock, AR would need about $102,200 in Fayetteville, AR to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,115 a month in Fayetteville, AR versus $989 in Little Rock, AR. On $100,000, that's 18% of take-home pay in Fayetteville, AR and 16% in Little Rock, AR.
- Both are in AR, so estimated state income tax is the same: $3,687 a year on $100,000.
- Both cities are in the same federal pay area (Rest of U.S.), so a GS-13 step 1 earns $106,437 in either. A transfer from Fayetteville, AR to Little Rock, AR changes real buying power by +2.2%, purely from prices.
- Fayetteville, AR: price level 91.4 (much 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
| Fayetteville, AR | Little Rock, AR | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 91.4 | 89.4 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $97,823 in Little Rock | $102,226 in Fayetteville |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,115/mo | $989/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,493 | $75,493 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,687 (AR) | $3,687 (AR) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 16% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,610 | $45,790 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR MSA and Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR and Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Fayetteville | Little Rock |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 76.9 | 68.3 |
| Goods | 93.6 | 93.6 |
| Utilities | 75.1 | 74.6 |
| Other services | 95.3 | 95.3 |
| Overall | 91.4 | 89.4 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Fayetteville, AR → Little Rock, AR
Same pay goes further
Buying power +2.2%; rent takes 16% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
76 Strong offer
Little Rock, AR → Fayetteville, AR
Same pay buys less
Buying power −2.2%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
62 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Both metros are in the Rest of U.S. locality pay area, so GS salaries are identical. The last column shows what a transfer from Fayetteville, AR to Little Rock, AR at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Fayetteville, AR | Little Rock, AR | Real change, Fayetteville → Little Rock |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +2.2% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +2.2% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +2.2% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +2.2% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +2.2% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Fayetteville, AR | Little Rock, AR | Little Rock pay in Fayetteville dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,010 | $58,580 | $59,884 (−1.8%) |
| Software Developers | $105,130 | $104,070 | $106,386 (+1.2%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $77,190 | $65,810 | $67,275 (−12.8%) |
| Registered Nurses | $77,910 | $81,070 | $82,874 (+6.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.