Fayetteville vs Madison
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Fayetteville
Madison
The Verdict
The cost gap between these cities is 15.1%, with Fayetteville being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Fayetteville has equivalent purchasing power to $88,333 in Madison.
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 $88,333 in Madison.
Conversely, $75,000 in Madison equals $63,679 in Fayetteville.
Living in Fayetteville vs Madison
Housing Costs
Fayetteville's housing index of 94 is lower Madison's 115, translating to median home prices of $332,000 vs $340,000. The $8,000 difference in home prices means roughly $516 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,025/mo in Fayetteville compared to $1,400/mo in Madison, a monthly difference of $375.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 92 in Fayetteville and 101 in Madison. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $437/month in Fayetteville vs $480/month in Madison. 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 97 in Madison. Monthly utility bills average approximately $392 in Fayetteville vs $388 in Madison. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 78 in Fayetteville and 105 in Madison. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 27-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 $67,565 in Madison. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $65,667 and $63,741 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 $1,577/month in Madison. In Fayetteville, median rent of $1,025/mo fits within this budget. In Madison, median rent of $1,400/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Healthcare, where the gap is 27 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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