Fayetteville vs St. Paul
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Fayetteville
St. Paul
The Verdict
Fayetteville is 10.0% less expensive than St. Paul overall. A household earning $75,000 in Fayetteville would need approximately $83,333 in St. Paul 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 $83,333 in St. Paul.
Conversely, $75,000 in St. Paul equals $67,500 in Fayetteville.
Living in Fayetteville vs St. Paul
Housing Costs
Fayetteville's housing index of 94 is lower St. Paul's 98, translating to median home prices of $332,000 vs $260,000. The $72,000 difference in home prices means roughly $4,680 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,025/mo in Fayetteville compared to $1,300/mo in St. Paul, a monthly difference of $275.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 92 in Fayetteville and 103 in St. Paul. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $437/month in Fayetteville vs $489/month in St. Paul. Fayetteville offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $624/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 98 in Fayetteville and 97 in St. Paul. Monthly utility bills average approximately $392 in Fayetteville vs $388 in St. Paul. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 78 in Fayetteville and 105 in St. Paul. 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 $57,718 in St. Paul. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $65,667 and $57,718 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 $1,347/month in St. Paul. In Fayetteville, median rent of $1,025/mo fits within this budget. In St. Paul, median rent of $1,300/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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