Fayetteville vs Great Falls
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Fayetteville
Great Falls
The Verdict
Fayetteville is 8.0% less expensive than Great Falls overall. A household earning $75,000 in Fayetteville would need approximately $81,481 in Great Falls 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 $81,481 in Great Falls.
Conversely, $75,000 in Great Falls equals $69,034 in Fayetteville.
Living in Fayetteville vs Great Falls
Housing Costs
Fayetteville's housing index of 52 is lower Great Falls's 82, translating to median home prices of $213,000 vs $325,000. The $112,000 difference in home prices means roughly $7,284 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,075/mo in Fayetteville compared to $1,050/mo in Great Falls, a monthly difference of $25.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 94 in Fayetteville and 99 in Great Falls. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $447/month in Fayetteville vs $470/month in Great Falls. 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 90 in Great Falls. Monthly utility bills average approximately $392 in Fayetteville vs $360 in Great Falls. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 106 in Fayetteville and 92 in Great Falls. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 14-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 $55,800 in Great Falls. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $61,481 and $63,409 respectively. Great Falls 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 $1,302/month in Great Falls. In Fayetteville, median rent of $1,075/mo fits within this budget. In Great Falls, median rent of $1,050/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 30 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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