Bethlehem vs Fayetteville
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Bethlehem
Fayetteville
The Verdict
Fayetteville is 7.8% less expensive than Bethlehem overall. A household earning $75,000 in Bethlehem would need approximately $69,588 in Fayetteville to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Bethlehem has the same purchasing power as $69,588 in Fayetteville.
Conversely, $75,000 in Fayetteville equals $80,833 in Bethlehem.
Living in Bethlehem vs Fayetteville
Housing Costs
Bethlehem's housing index of 110 is higher Fayetteville's 94, translating to median home prices of $258,000 vs $332,000. The $74,000 difference in home prices means roughly $4,812 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,250/mo in Bethlehem compared to $1,025/mo in Fayetteville, a monthly difference of $225.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 101 in Bethlehem and 92 in Fayetteville. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $480/month in Bethlehem vs $437/month in Fayetteville. Fayetteville offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $516/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 102 in Bethlehem and 98 in Fayetteville. Monthly utility bills average approximately $408 in Bethlehem vs $392 in Fayetteville. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 83 in Bethlehem and 78 in Fayetteville. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $62,600 in Bethlehem and $59,100 in Fayetteville. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $64,536 and $65,667 respectively. Fayetteville residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,461/month to housing in Bethlehem vs $1,379/month in Fayetteville. In Bethlehem, median rent of $1,250/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 16 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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