Fayetteville vs Springdale
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Fayetteville
Springdale
The Verdict
Springdale is 3.4% less expensive than Fayetteville overall. A household earning $75,000 in Fayetteville would need approximately $72,500 in Springdale 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 $72,500 in Springdale.
Conversely, $75,000 in Springdale equals $77,586 in Fayetteville.
Living in Fayetteville vs Springdale
Housing Costs
Fayetteville's housing index of 94 is higher Springdale's 86, translating to median home prices of $332,000 vs $299,000. The $33,000 difference in home prices means roughly $2,148 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,025/mo in Fayetteville compared to $1,000/mo in Springdale, a monthly difference of $25.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 92 in Fayetteville and 97 in Springdale. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $437/month in Fayetteville vs $461/month in Springdale. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 98 in Fayetteville and 93 in Springdale. Monthly utility bills average approximately $392 in Fayetteville vs $372 in Springdale. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 78 in Fayetteville and 82 in Springdale. 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 $62,100 in Springdale. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $65,667 and $71,379 respectively. Springdale 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 $1,449/month in Springdale. In Fayetteville, median rent of $1,025/mo fits within this budget. In Springdale, median rent of $1,000/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 8 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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