City Comparison

Beaumont vs Fayetteville

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Beaumont

Texas
78
Very Affordable
$166,000
Median Home
$1,000/mo
Median Rent
$57,000
Median Income

Fayetteville

Arkansas
90
Below Average
$332,000
Median Home
$1,025/mo
Median Rent
$59,100
Median Income

The Verdict

13.3%

The cost gap between these cities is 13.3%, with Beaumont being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Beaumont has equivalent purchasing power to $86,538 in Fayetteville.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
81
Beaumont
94
Fayetteville
Groceries
96
Beaumont
92
Fayetteville
Utilities
102
Beaumont
98
Fayetteville
Transportation
93
Beaumont
95
Fayetteville
Healthcare
104
Beaumont
78
Fayetteville

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Beaumont has the same purchasing power as $86,538 in Fayetteville.

Conversely, $75,000 in Fayetteville equals $65,000 in Beaumont.

Living in Beaumont vs Fayetteville

Housing Costs

Beaumont's housing index of 81 is lower Fayetteville's 94, translating to median home prices of $166,000 vs $332,000. The $166,000 difference in home prices means roughly $10,788 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in Beaumont compared to $1,025/mo in Fayetteville, a monthly difference of $25.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 96 in Beaumont and 92 in Fayetteville. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $456/month in Beaumont vs $437/month in Fayetteville. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 102 in Beaumont and 98 in Fayetteville. Monthly utility bills average approximately $408 in Beaumont vs $392 in Fayetteville. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 104 in Beaumont and 78 in Fayetteville. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 26-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $57,000 in Beaumont and $59,100 in Fayetteville. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $73,077 and $65,667 respectively. Beaumont residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite lower nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,330/month to housing in Beaumont vs $1,379/month in Fayetteville. In Beaumont, median rent of $1,000/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 Healthcare, where the gap is 26 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Beaumont is 13.3% more affordable overall with an index of 78 vs 90.
A $75,000 salary in Beaumont has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $86,538 in Fayetteville, based on the cost of living difference.
Beaumont's housing index is 81 with median homes at $166,000, while Fayetteville's is 94 with median homes at $332,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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