City Comparison

Fayetteville vs New Haven

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Fayetteville

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

New Haven

Connecticut
118
Above Average
$250,000
Median Home
$1,400/mo
Median Rent
$42,158
Median Income

The Verdict

31.4%

Living in Fayetteville costs 31.4% less than New Haven. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Fayetteville, you would need $109,259 in New Haven.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
52
Fayetteville
137
New Haven
Groceries
94
Fayetteville
106
New Haven
Utilities
98
Fayetteville
124
New Haven
Transportation
77
Fayetteville
102
New Haven
Healthcare
106
Fayetteville
114
New Haven

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Fayetteville has the same purchasing power as $109,259 in New Haven.

Conversely, $75,000 in New Haven equals $51,483 in Fayetteville.

Living in Fayetteville vs New Haven

Housing Costs

Fayetteville's housing index of 52 is lower New Haven's 137, translating to median home prices of $213,000 vs $250,000. The $37,000 difference in home prices means roughly $2,400 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,075/mo in Fayetteville compared to $1,400/mo in New Haven, a monthly difference of $325.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 94 in Fayetteville and 106 in New Haven. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $447/month in Fayetteville vs $504/month in New Haven. Fayetteville offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $684/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 98 in Fayetteville and 124 in New Haven. Monthly utility bills average approximately $392 in Fayetteville vs $496 in New Haven. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 106 in Fayetteville and 114 in New Haven. 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 $42,158 in New Haven. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $61,481 and $35,727 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 $984/month in New Haven. In Fayetteville, median rent of $1,075/mo fits within this budget. In New Haven, median rent of $1,400/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 85 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Fayetteville is 31.4% more affordable overall with an index of 81 vs 118.
A $75,000 salary in Fayetteville has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $109,259 in New Haven, based on the cost of living difference.
Fayetteville's housing index is 52 with median homes at $213,000, while New Haven's is 137 with median homes at $250,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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