City Comparison

Brooklyn vs Fayetteville

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Brooklyn

New York
195
Very Expensive
$780,000
Median Home
$2,900/mo
Median Rent
$65,294
Median Income

Fayetteville

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

The Verdict

116.7%

Living in Fayetteville costs 116.7% less than Brooklyn. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Brooklyn, you would need $34,615 in Fayetteville.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
325
Brooklyn
94
Fayetteville
Groceries
108
Brooklyn
92
Fayetteville
Utilities
135
Brooklyn
98
Fayetteville
Transportation
108
Brooklyn
95
Fayetteville
Healthcare
108
Brooklyn
78
Fayetteville

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Brooklyn has the same purchasing power as $34,615 in Fayetteville.

Conversely, $75,000 in Fayetteville equals $162,500 in Brooklyn.

Living in Brooklyn vs Fayetteville

Housing Costs

Brooklyn's housing index of 325 is higher Fayetteville's 94, translating to median home prices of $780,000 vs $332,000. The $448,000 difference in home prices means roughly $29,124 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,900/mo in Brooklyn compared to $1,025/mo in Fayetteville, a monthly difference of $1,875.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 108 in Brooklyn and 92 in Fayetteville. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $513/month in Brooklyn vs $437/month in Fayetteville. Fayetteville offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $912/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 135 in Brooklyn and 98 in Fayetteville. Monthly utility bills average approximately $540 in Brooklyn vs $392 in Fayetteville. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 108 in Brooklyn and 78 in Fayetteville. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 30-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $65,294 in Brooklyn and $59,100 in Fayetteville. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $33,484 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 $1,524/month to housing in Brooklyn vs $1,379/month in Fayetteville. In Brooklyn, median rent of $2,900/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. 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 231 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Fayetteville is 116.7% more affordable overall with an index of 90 vs 195.
A $75,000 salary in Brooklyn has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $34,615 in Fayetteville, based on the cost of living difference.
Brooklyn's housing index is 325 with median homes at $780,000, while Fayetteville's is 94 with median homes at $332,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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