Fayetteville vs Little Rock
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Fayetteville
Little Rock
The Verdict
Fayetteville is 3.6% less expensive than Little Rock overall. A household earning $75,000 in Fayetteville would need approximately $77,778 in Little Rock 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 $77,778 in Little Rock.
Conversely, $75,000 in Little Rock equals $72,321 in Fayetteville.
Living in Fayetteville vs Little Rock
Housing Costs
Fayetteville's housing index of 52 is lower Little Rock's 62, translating to median home prices of $213,000 vs $170,000. The $43,000 difference in home prices means roughly $2,796 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,075/mo in Fayetteville compared to $950/mo in Little Rock, a monthly difference of $125.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 94 in Fayetteville and 94 in Little Rock. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $447/month in Fayetteville vs $447/month in Little Rock. 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 88 in Little Rock. Monthly utility bills average approximately $392 in Fayetteville vs $352 in Little Rock. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 106 in Fayetteville and 90 in Little Rock. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 16-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 $47,638 in Little Rock. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $61,481 and $56,712 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 $1,112/month in Little Rock. In Fayetteville, median rent of $1,075/mo fits within this budget. In Little Rock, median rent of $950/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Transportation, where the gap is 21 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases