City Comparison

Fayetteville vs Glendale

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Fayetteville

North Carolina
81
Very Affordable
$213,000
Median Home
$1,075/mo
Median Rent
$49,800
Median Income

Glendale

Arizona
113
Above Average
$405,000
Median Home
$1,400/mo
Median Rent
$70,100
Median Income

The Verdict

28.3%

Fayetteville is 28.3% less expensive than Glendale overall. A household earning $75,000 in Fayetteville would need approximately $104,630 in Glendale to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
52
Fayetteville
119
Glendale
Groceries
94
Fayetteville
103
Glendale
Utilities
98
Fayetteville
98
Glendale
Transportation
77
Fayetteville
103
Glendale
Healthcare
106
Fayetteville
94
Glendale

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Fayetteville has the same purchasing power as $104,630 in Glendale.

Conversely, $75,000 in Glendale equals $53,761 in Fayetteville.

Living in Fayetteville vs Glendale

Housing Costs

Fayetteville's housing index of 52 is lower Glendale's 119, translating to median home prices of $213,000 vs $405,000. The $192,000 difference in home prices means roughly $12,480 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,075/mo in Fayetteville compared to $1,400/mo in Glendale, a monthly difference of $325.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 94 in Fayetteville and 103 in Glendale. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $447/month in Fayetteville vs $489/month in Glendale. Fayetteville offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $504/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 98 in Fayetteville and 98 in Glendale. Monthly utility bills average approximately $392 in Fayetteville vs $392 in Glendale. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 106 in Fayetteville and 94 in Glendale. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 12-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $49,800 in Fayetteville and $70,100 in Glendale. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $61,481 and $62,035 respectively. Glendale residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,162/month to housing in Fayetteville vs $1,636/month in Glendale. In Fayetteville, median rent of $1,075/mo fits within this budget. In Glendale, median rent of $1,400/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 67 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Fayetteville is 28.3% more affordable overall with an index of 81 vs 113.
A $75,000 salary in Fayetteville has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $104,630 in Glendale, based on the cost of living difference.
Fayetteville's housing index is 52 with median homes at $213,000, while Glendale's is 119 with median homes at $405,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

Moving PlannersFinance BooksBudget Planners

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases