Fayetteville vs Paris
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Fayetteville
Paris
The Verdict
Fayetteville is 19.6% less expensive than Paris overall. A household earning $75,000 in Fayetteville would need approximately $93,333 in Paris 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 $93,333 in Paris.
Conversely, $75,000 in Paris equals $60,268 in Fayetteville.
Living in Fayetteville vs Paris
Housing Costs
Fayetteville's housing index of 94 is lower Paris's 155, translating to median home prices of $332,000 vs $695,000. The $363,000 difference in home prices means roughly $23,592 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,025/mo in Fayetteville compared to $1,800/mo in Paris, a monthly difference of $775.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 92 in Fayetteville and 98 in Paris. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $437/month in Fayetteville vs $466/month in Paris. Fayetteville offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $348/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 98 in Fayetteville and 108 in Paris. Monthly utility bills average approximately $392 in Fayetteville vs $432 in Paris. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 78 in Fayetteville and 85 in Paris. 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 $48,000 in Paris. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $65,667 and $42,857 respectively. Fayetteville residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,379/month to housing in Fayetteville vs $1,120/month in Paris. In Fayetteville, median rent of $1,025/mo fits within this budget. In Paris, median rent of $1,800/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 61 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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