City comparison
Little Rock, AR vs Springfield, MO
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Little Rock, AR (89.4) and Springfield, MO (88.6, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Little Rock, AR goes as far as $99,100 in Springfield, MO.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $989 a month in Little Rock, AR versus $883 in Springfield, MO. On $100,000, that's 16% of take-home pay in Little Rock, AR and 14% in Springfield, MO.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $3,687 a year in AR and $3,763 in MO.
- 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 Little Rock, AR to Springfield, MO changes real buying power by +0.9%, purely from prices.
- Little Rock, AR: price level 89.4 (much cheaper)
- Springfield, MO: price level 88.6 (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 | Springfield, MO | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 89.4 | 88.6 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,128 in Springfield | $100,879 in Little Rock |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $989/mo | $883/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,493 | $75,417 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,687 (AR) | $3,763 (MO) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 16% | 14% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $45,790 | $45,780 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR HUD Metro FMR Area and Springfield, MO HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR and Springfield, MO.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Little Rock | Springfield |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 68.3 | 65.6 |
| Goods | 93.6 | 94.2 |
| Utilities | 74.6 | 85.8 |
| Other services | 95.3 | 93.0 |
| Overall | 89.4 | 88.6 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Little Rock, AR → Springfield, MO
Roughly even
Buying power +0.9%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax +$75/yr.
71 Strong offer
Springfield, MO → Little Rock, AR
Roughly even
Buying power −0.9%; rent takes 16% of take-home; state tax −$75/yr.
66 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 Little Rock, AR to Springfield, MO at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Little Rock, AR | Springfield, MO | Real change, Little Rock → Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +0.9% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +0.9% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +0.9% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +0.9% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +0.9% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Little Rock, AR | Springfield, MO | Springfield pay in Little Rock dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $58,580 | $49,380 | $49,814 (−15.0%) |
| Software Developers | $104,070 | $102,350 | $103,250 (−0.8%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $65,810 | $73,020 | $73,662 (+11.9%) |
| Registered Nurses | $81,070 | $79,370 | $80,068 (−1.2%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.