Fayetteville vs Knoxville
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Fayetteville
Knoxville
The Verdict
Fayetteville is 8.0% less expensive than Knoxville overall. A household earning $75,000 in Fayetteville would need approximately $81,481 in Knoxville 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 Knoxville.
Conversely, $75,000 in Knoxville equals $69,034 in Fayetteville.
Living in Fayetteville vs Knoxville
Housing Costs
Fayetteville's housing index of 52 is lower Knoxville's 73, translating to median home prices of $213,000 vs $240,000. The $27,000 difference in home prices means roughly $1,752 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,075/mo in Fayetteville compared to $1,100/mo in Knoxville, a monthly difference of $25.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 94 in Fayetteville and 94 in Knoxville. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $447/month in Fayetteville vs $447/month in Knoxville. 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 Knoxville. Monthly utility bills average approximately $392 in Fayetteville vs $360 in Knoxville. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 106 in Fayetteville and 93 in Knoxville. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 13-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 $42,898 in Knoxville. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $61,481 and $48,748 respectively. Fayetteville residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,162/month to housing in Fayetteville vs $1,001/month in Knoxville. In Fayetteville, median rent of $1,075/mo fits within this budget. In Knoxville, median rent of $1,100/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 21 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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