City Comparison

Fayetteville vs Minneapolis

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Fayetteville

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

Minneapolis

Minnesota
106
Above Average
$310,000
Median Home
$1,500/mo
Median Rent
$64,285
Median Income

The Verdict

23.6%

Living in Fayetteville costs 23.6% less than Minneapolis. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Fayetteville, you would need $98,148 in Minneapolis.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
52
Fayetteville
112
Minneapolis
Groceries
94
Fayetteville
104
Minneapolis
Utilities
98
Fayetteville
97
Minneapolis
Transportation
77
Fayetteville
108
Minneapolis
Healthcare
106
Fayetteville
105
Minneapolis

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Fayetteville has the same purchasing power as $98,148 in Minneapolis.

Conversely, $75,000 in Minneapolis equals $57,311 in Fayetteville.

Living in Fayetteville vs Minneapolis

Housing Costs

Fayetteville's housing index of 52 is lower Minneapolis's 112, translating to median home prices of $213,000 vs $310,000. The $97,000 difference in home prices means roughly $6,300 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,075/mo in Fayetteville compared to $1,500/mo in Minneapolis, a monthly difference of $425.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 94 in Fayetteville and 104 in Minneapolis. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $447/month in Fayetteville vs $494/month in Minneapolis. Fayetteville offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $564/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 98 in Fayetteville and 97 in Minneapolis. Monthly utility bills average approximately $392 in Fayetteville vs $388 in Minneapolis. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 106 in Fayetteville and 105 in Minneapolis. 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 $64,285 in Minneapolis. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $61,481 and $60,646 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 $1,500/month in Minneapolis. In Fayetteville, median rent of $1,075/mo fits within this budget. In Minneapolis, median rent of $1,500/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 60 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Fayetteville is 23.6% more affordable overall with an index of 81 vs 106.
A $75,000 salary in Fayetteville has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $98,148 in Minneapolis, based on the cost of living difference.
Fayetteville's housing index is 52 with median homes at $213,000, while Minneapolis's is 112 with median homes at $310,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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