Fayetteville vs Tulsa
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Fayetteville
Tulsa
The Verdict
Living in Tulsa costs 5.9% less than Fayetteville. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Fayetteville, you would need $70,833 in Tulsa.
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 $70,833 in Tulsa.
Conversely, $75,000 in Tulsa equals $79,412 in Fayetteville.
Living in Fayetteville vs Tulsa
Housing Costs
Fayetteville's housing index of 94 is higher Tulsa's 63, translating to median home prices of $332,000 vs $175,000. The $157,000 difference in home prices means roughly $10,200 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,025/mo in Fayetteville compared to $950/mo in Tulsa, a monthly difference of $75.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 92 in Fayetteville and 95 in Tulsa. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $437/month in Fayetteville vs $451/month in Tulsa. 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 92 in Tulsa. Monthly utility bills average approximately $392 in Fayetteville vs $368 in Tulsa. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 78 in Fayetteville and 91 in Tulsa. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 13-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 $48,278 in Tulsa. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $65,667 and $56,798 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 $1,126/month in Tulsa. In Fayetteville, median rent of $1,025/mo fits within this budget. In Tulsa, median rent of $950/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 31 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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