City Comparison

Fayetteville vs Hampton

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Fayetteville

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

Hampton

Virginia
88
Below Average
$243,000
Median Home
$1,175/mo
Median Rent
$59,400
Median Income

The Verdict

8.0%

Fayetteville is 8.0% less expensive than Hampton overall. A household earning $75,000 in Fayetteville would need approximately $81,481 in Hampton to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
52
Fayetteville
102
Hampton
Groceries
94
Fayetteville
94
Hampton
Utilities
98
Fayetteville
102
Hampton
Transportation
77
Fayetteville
93
Hampton
Healthcare
106
Fayetteville
106
Hampton

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Fayetteville has the same purchasing power as $81,481 in Hampton.

Conversely, $75,000 in Hampton equals $69,034 in Fayetteville.

Living in Fayetteville vs Hampton

Housing Costs

Fayetteville's housing index of 52 is lower Hampton's 102, translating to median home prices of $213,000 vs $243,000. The $30,000 difference in home prices means roughly $1,956 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,075/mo in Fayetteville compared to $1,175/mo in Hampton, a monthly difference of $100.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 94 in Fayetteville and 94 in Hampton. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $447/month in Fayetteville vs $447/month in Hampton. 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 102 in Hampton. Monthly utility bills average approximately $392 in Fayetteville vs $408 in Hampton. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 106 in Fayetteville and 106 in Hampton. 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 $49,800 in Fayetteville and $59,400 in Hampton. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $61,481 and $67,500 respectively. Hampton 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 $1,386/month in Hampton. In Fayetteville, median rent of $1,075/mo fits within this budget. In Hampton, median rent of $1,175/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 50 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Fayetteville is 8.0% more affordable overall with an index of 81 vs 88.
A $75,000 salary in Fayetteville has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $81,481 in Hampton, based on the cost of living difference.
Fayetteville's housing index is 52 with median homes at $213,000, while Hampton's is 102 with median homes at $243,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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