Fayetteville vs Kent
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Fayetteville
Kent
The Verdict
Fayetteville is 34.3% less expensive than Kent overall. A household earning $75,000 in Fayetteville would need approximately $114,167 in Kent 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 Fayetteville has the same purchasing power as $114,167 in Kent.
Conversely, $75,000 in Kent equals $49,270 in Fayetteville.
Living in Fayetteville vs Kent
Housing Costs
Fayetteville's housing index of 94 is lower Kent's 195, translating to median home prices of $332,000 vs $595,000. The $263,000 difference in home prices means roughly $17,100 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,025/mo in Fayetteville compared to $1,750/mo in Kent, a monthly difference of $725.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 92 in Fayetteville and 109 in Kent. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $437/month in Fayetteville vs $518/month in Kent. Fayetteville offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $972/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 98 in Fayetteville and 92 in Kent. Monthly utility bills average approximately $392 in Fayetteville vs $368 in Kent. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 78 in Fayetteville and 122 in Kent. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 44-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $59,100 in Fayetteville and $98,300 in Kent. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $65,667 and $71,752 respectively. Kent residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,379/month to housing in Fayetteville vs $2,294/month in Kent. In Fayetteville, median rent of $1,025/mo fits within this budget. In Kent, median rent of $1,750/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 101 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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