City comparison
Fayetteville, AR vs Rochester, NY
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Rochester, NY are 6.2% higher than in Fayetteville, AR. Someone earning $100,000 in Fayetteville, AR would need about $106,200 in Rochester, NY to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,256 a month in Rochester, NY versus $1,115 in Fayetteville, AR. On $100,000, that's 20% of take-home pay in Rochester, NY and 18% in Fayetteville, AR.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,172 a year higher in Rochester, NY than in Fayetteville, AR.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +0.7% moving from Fayetteville, AR to Rochester, NY ($106,437 → $107,182), while prices change by +6.2%. Net effect of the transfer: −5.2% in real buying power.
- Fayetteville, AR: price level 91.4 (much cheaper)
- Rochester, NY: price level 97.0 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Fayetteville, AR | Rochester, NY | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 91.4 | 97.0 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $106,220 in Rochester | $94,144 in Fayetteville |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,115/mo | $1,256/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,493 | $74,320 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,687 (AR) | $4,860 (NY) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 20% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,610 | $51,210 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rochester-Batavia-Seneca Falls, NY |
Rent areas: Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR MSA and Rochester, NY MSA. Metro areas: Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR and Rochester, NY.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Fayetteville | Rochester |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 76.9 | 87.5 |
| Goods | 93.6 | 99.7 |
| Utilities | 75.1 | 133.2 |
| Other services | 95.3 | 97.8 |
| Overall | 91.4 | 97.0 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Fayetteville, AR → Rochester, NY
Same pay buys less
Buying power −5.9%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax +$1,172/yr.
50 Fair offer
Rochester, NY → Fayetteville, AR
Same pay goes further
Buying power +6.2%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax −$1,172/yr.
88 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Fayetteville, AR is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Rochester, NY is in Rochester-Batavia-Seneca Falls, NY. The last column shows what a transfer from Fayetteville, AR to Rochester, NY at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Fayetteville, AR | Rochester, NY | Real change, Fayetteville → Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $62,155 | −5.2% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $75,202 | −5.2% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $90,135 | −5.2% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $107,182 | −5.2% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $126,657 | −5.2% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Fayetteville, AR | Rochester, NY | Rochester pay in Fayetteville dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,010 | $62,840 | $59,160 (−3.0%) |
| Software Developers | $105,130 | $122,770 | $115,581 (+9.9%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $77,190 | $80,890 | $76,153 (−1.3%) |
| Registered Nurses | $77,910 | $86,570 | $81,501 (+4.6%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.