Fayetteville vs Port St Lucie
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Fayetteville
Port St Lucie
The Verdict
The cost gap between these cities is 9.1%, with Fayetteville being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Fayetteville has equivalent purchasing power to $82,500 in Port St Lucie.
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 $82,500 in Port St Lucie.
Conversely, $75,000 in Port St Lucie equals $68,182 in Fayetteville.
Living in Fayetteville vs Port St Lucie
Housing Costs
Fayetteville's housing index of 94 is lower Port St Lucie's 103, translating to median home prices of $332,000 vs $384,000. The $52,000 difference in home prices means roughly $3,384 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 Port St Lucie, a monthly difference of $775.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 92 in Fayetteville and 102 in Port St Lucie. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $437/month in Fayetteville vs $485/month in Port St Lucie. Fayetteville offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $576/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 98 in Fayetteville and 93 in Port St Lucie. Monthly utility bills average approximately $392 in Fayetteville vs $372 in Port St Lucie. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 78 in Fayetteville and 96 in Port St Lucie. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 18-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 $81,100 in Port St Lucie. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $65,667 and $81,919 respectively. Port St Lucie 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 $1,892/month in Port St Lucie. In Fayetteville, median rent of $1,025/mo fits within this budget. In Port St Lucie, median rent of $1,800/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Healthcare, where the gap is 18 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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