City Comparison

Fayetteville vs Jacksonville

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Fayetteville

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

Jacksonville

Florida
95
Below Average
$280,000
Median Home
$1,400/mo
Median Rent
$53,025
Median Income

The Verdict

14.7%

Living in Fayetteville costs 14.7% less than Jacksonville. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Fayetteville, you would need $87,963 in Jacksonville.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
52
Fayetteville
89
Jacksonville
Groceries
94
Fayetteville
101
Jacksonville
Utilities
98
Fayetteville
94
Jacksonville
Transportation
77
Fayetteville
103
Jacksonville
Healthcare
106
Fayetteville
95
Jacksonville

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Fayetteville has the same purchasing power as $87,963 in Jacksonville.

Conversely, $75,000 in Jacksonville equals $63,947 in Fayetteville.

Living in Fayetteville vs Jacksonville

Housing Costs

Fayetteville's housing index of 52 is lower Jacksonville's 89, translating to median home prices of $213,000 vs $280,000. The $67,000 difference in home prices means roughly $4,356 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 Jacksonville, a monthly difference of $325.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 94 in Fayetteville and 101 in Jacksonville. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $447/month in Fayetteville vs $480/month in Jacksonville. Fayetteville offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $396/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 98 in Fayetteville and 94 in Jacksonville. Monthly utility bills average approximately $392 in Fayetteville vs $376 in Jacksonville. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 106 in Fayetteville and 95 in Jacksonville. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 11-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 $53,025 in Jacksonville. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $61,481 and $55,816 respectively. Fayetteville residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite lower nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,162/month to housing in Fayetteville vs $1,237/month in Jacksonville. In Fayetteville, median rent of $1,075/mo fits within this budget. In Jacksonville, median rent of $1,400/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 37 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Fayetteville is 14.7% more affordable overall with an index of 81 vs 95.
A $75,000 salary in Fayetteville has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $87,963 in Jacksonville, based on the cost of living difference.
Fayetteville's housing index is 52 with median homes at $213,000, while Jacksonville's is 89 with median homes at $280,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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