City Comparison

Fayetteville vs Kenosha

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Fayetteville

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

Kenosha

Wisconsin
91
Below Average
$275,000
Median Home
$1,250/mo
Median Rent
$68,900
Median Income

The Verdict

11.0%

The cost gap between these cities is 11.0%, with Fayetteville being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Fayetteville has equivalent purchasing power to $84,259 in Kenosha.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
52
Fayetteville
82
Kenosha
Groceries
94
Fayetteville
99
Kenosha
Utilities
98
Fayetteville
95
Kenosha
Transportation
77
Fayetteville
103
Kenosha
Healthcare
106
Fayetteville
96
Kenosha

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Fayetteville has the same purchasing power as $84,259 in Kenosha.

Conversely, $75,000 in Kenosha equals $66,758 in Fayetteville.

Living in Fayetteville vs Kenosha

Housing Costs

Fayetteville's housing index of 52 is lower Kenosha's 82, translating to median home prices of $213,000 vs $275,000. The $62,000 difference in home prices means roughly $4,032 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,075/mo in Fayetteville compared to $1,250/mo in Kenosha, a monthly difference of $175.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 94 in Fayetteville and 99 in Kenosha. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $447/month in Fayetteville vs $470/month in Kenosha. 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 95 in Kenosha. Monthly utility bills average approximately $392 in Fayetteville vs $380 in Kenosha. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 106 in Fayetteville and 96 in Kenosha. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 10-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 $68,900 in Kenosha. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $61,481 and $75,714 respectively. Kenosha 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 $1,608/month in Kenosha. In Fayetteville, median rent of $1,075/mo fits within this budget. In Kenosha, median rent of $1,250/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

Fayetteville is 11.0% more affordable overall with an index of 81 vs 91.
A $75,000 salary in Fayetteville has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $84,259 in Kenosha, based on the cost of living difference.
Fayetteville's housing index is 52 with median homes at $213,000, while Kenosha's is 82 with median homes at $275,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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