Boise vs Fayetteville
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Boise
Fayetteville
The Verdict
Fayetteville is 17.8% less expensive than Boise overall. A household earning $75,000 in Boise would need approximately $63,679 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 Boise has the same purchasing power as $63,679 in Fayetteville.
Conversely, $75,000 in Fayetteville equals $88,333 in Boise.
Living in Boise vs Fayetteville
Housing Costs
Boise's housing index of 118 is higher Fayetteville's 94, translating to median home prices of $420,000 vs $332,000. The $88,000 difference in home prices means roughly $5,724 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,400/mo in Boise compared to $1,025/mo in Fayetteville, a monthly difference of $375.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 99 in Boise and 92 in Fayetteville. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Boise vs $437/month in Fayetteville. Fayetteville offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $396/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 89 in Boise and 98 in Fayetteville. Monthly utility bills average approximately $356 in Boise vs $392 in Fayetteville. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 98 in Boise and 78 in Fayetteville. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 20-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $60,818 in Boise and $59,100 in Fayetteville. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,375 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 $1,419/month to housing in Boise vs $1,379/month in Fayetteville. In Boise, median rent of $1,400/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 24 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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