Alexandria vs Fayetteville
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Alexandria
Fayetteville
The Verdict
The cost gap between these cities is 61.1%, with Fayetteville being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Alexandria has equivalent purchasing power to $46,552 in Fayetteville.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Alexandria has the same purchasing power as $46,552 in Fayetteville.
Conversely, $75,000 in Fayetteville equals $120,833 in Alexandria.
Living in Alexandria vs Fayetteville
Housing Costs
Alexandria's housing index of 201 is higher Fayetteville's 94, translating to median home prices of $590,000 vs $332,000. The $258,000 difference in home prices means roughly $16,776 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,125/mo in Alexandria compared to $1,025/mo in Fayetteville, a monthly difference of $1,100.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 113 in Alexandria and 92 in Fayetteville. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $537/month in Alexandria vs $437/month in Fayetteville. Fayetteville offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $1200/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 97 in Alexandria and 98 in Fayetteville. Monthly utility bills average approximately $388 in Alexandria vs $392 in Fayetteville. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 102 in Alexandria and 78 in Fayetteville. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 24-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $119,700 in Alexandria and $59,100 in Fayetteville. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $82,552 and $65,667 respectively. Alexandria residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,793/month to housing in Alexandria vs $1,379/month in Fayetteville. In Alexandria, median rent of $2,125/mo fits within this budget. In Fayetteville, median rent of $1,025/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 107 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases