Fayetteville vs Naperville
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Fayetteville
Naperville
The Verdict
Living in Fayetteville costs 27.7% less than Naperville. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Fayetteville, you would need $103,704 in Naperville.
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 $103,704 in Naperville.
Conversely, $75,000 in Naperville equals $54,241 in Fayetteville.
Living in Fayetteville vs Naperville
Housing Costs
Fayetteville's housing index of 52 is lower Naperville's 130, translating to median home prices of $213,000 vs $430,000. The $217,000 difference in home prices means roughly $14,100 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,075/mo in Fayetteville compared to $1,800/mo in Naperville, a monthly difference of $725.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 94 in Fayetteville and 104 in Naperville. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $447/month in Fayetteville vs $494/month in Naperville. 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 99 in Naperville. Monthly utility bills average approximately $392 in Fayetteville vs $396 in Naperville. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 106 in Fayetteville and 101 in Naperville. 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 $118,254 in Naperville. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $61,481 and $105,584 respectively. Naperville 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 $2,759/month in Naperville. In Fayetteville, median rent of $1,075/mo fits within this budget. In Naperville, median rent of $1,800/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 78 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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