City comparison
Fayetteville, NC vs Peoria, IL
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Fayetteville, NC (92.0) and Peoria, IL (91.2, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Fayetteville, NC goes as far as $99,200 in Peoria, IL.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,113 a month in Fayetteville, NC versus $818 in Peoria, IL. On $100,000, that's 18% of take-home pay in Fayetteville, NC and 13% in Peoria, IL.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,324 a year higher in Peoria, IL than in Fayetteville, NC.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −4.2% moving from Fayetteville, NC to Peoria, IL ($111,147 → $106,437), while prices change by −0.8%. Net effect of the transfer: −3.5% in real buying power.
- Fayetteville, NC: price level 92.0 (much cheaper)
- Peoria, IL: price level 91.2 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Fayetteville, NC | Peoria, IL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 92.0 | 91.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,188 in Peoria | $100,819 in Fayetteville |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,113/mo | $818/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,699 | $74,375 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,481 (NC) | $4,805 (IL) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 18% | 13% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $45,620 | $49,590 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Fayetteville, NC HUD Metro FMR Area and Peoria, IL MSA. Metro areas: Fayetteville, NC and Peoria, IL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Fayetteville | Peoria |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 73.1 | 63.8 |
| Goods | 96.6 | 93.6 |
| Utilities | 87.8 | 90.5 |
| Other services | 98.2 | 99.6 |
| Overall | 92.0 | 91.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Fayetteville, NC → Peoria, IL
Roughly even
Buying power +0.8%; rent takes 13% of take-home; state tax +$1,324/yr.
71 Strong offer
Peoria, IL → Fayetteville, NC
Roughly even
Buying power −0.8%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax −$1,324/yr.
66 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Fayetteville, NC is in the Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC pay area; Peoria, IL is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Fayetteville, NC to Peoria, IL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Fayetteville, NC | Peoria, IL | Real change, Fayetteville → Peoria |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $64,453 | $61,722 | −3.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $77,983 | $74,678 | −3.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $93,468 | $89,508 | −3.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $111,147 | $106,437 | −3.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $131,342 | $125,776 | −3.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Fayetteville, NC | Peoria, IL | Peoria pay in Fayetteville dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $54,350 | $57,440 | $57,910 (+6.6%) |
| Software Developers | $122,900 | $130,590 | $131,659 (+7.1%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $78,560 | $79,540 | $80,191 (+2.1%) |
| Registered Nurses | $83,060 | $81,010 | $81,673 (−1.7%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.