Fayetteville vs Lakewood
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Fayetteville
Lakewood
The Verdict
Fayetteville is 32.3% less expensive than Lakewood overall. A household earning $75,000 in Fayetteville would need approximately $110,833 in Lakewood 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 $110,833 in Lakewood.
Conversely, $75,000 in Lakewood equals $50,752 in Fayetteville.
Living in Fayetteville vs Lakewood
Housing Costs
Fayetteville's housing index of 94 is lower Lakewood's 188, translating to median home prices of $332,000 vs $574,000. The $242,000 difference in home prices means roughly $15,732 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,025/mo in Fayetteville compared to $1,850/mo in Lakewood, a monthly difference of $825.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 92 in Fayetteville and 101 in Lakewood. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $437/month in Fayetteville vs $480/month in Lakewood. Fayetteville offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $516/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 98 in Fayetteville and 85 in Lakewood. Monthly utility bills average approximately $392 in Fayetteville vs $340 in Lakewood. 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 78 in Fayetteville and 84 in Lakewood. 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 $59,100 in Fayetteville and $83,800 in Lakewood. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $65,667 and $63,008 respectively. Fayetteville residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite lower nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,379/month to housing in Fayetteville vs $1,955/month in Lakewood. In Fayetteville, median rent of $1,025/mo fits within this budget. In Lakewood, median rent of $1,850/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 94 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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