City Comparison

Fayetteville vs Newport News

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Fayetteville

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

Newport News

Virginia
92
Below Average
$261,000
Median Home
$1,175/mo
Median Rent
$69,600
Median Income

The Verdict

12.0%

The cost gap between these cities is 12.0%, with Fayetteville being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Fayetteville has equivalent purchasing power to $85,185 in Newport News.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
52
Fayetteville
75
Newport News
Groceries
94
Fayetteville
99
Newport News
Utilities
98
Fayetteville
104
Newport News
Transportation
77
Fayetteville
96
Newport News
Healthcare
106
Fayetteville
111
Newport News

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Fayetteville has the same purchasing power as $85,185 in Newport News.

Conversely, $75,000 in Newport News equals $66,033 in Fayetteville.

Living in Fayetteville vs Newport News

Housing Costs

Fayetteville's housing index of 52 is lower Newport News's 75, translating to median home prices of $213,000 vs $261,000. The $48,000 difference in home prices means roughly $3,120 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,075/mo in Fayetteville compared to $1,175/mo in Newport News, a monthly difference of $100.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 94 in Fayetteville and 99 in Newport News. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $447/month in Fayetteville vs $470/month in Newport News. 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 104 in Newport News. Monthly utility bills average approximately $392 in Fayetteville vs $416 in Newport News. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 106 in Fayetteville and 111 in Newport News. 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 $69,600 in Newport News. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $61,481 and $75,652 respectively. Newport News 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 $1,624/month in Newport News. In Fayetteville, median rent of $1,075/mo fits within this budget. In Newport News, median rent of $1,175/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 23 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Fayetteville is 12.0% more affordable overall with an index of 81 vs 92.
A $75,000 salary in Fayetteville has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $85,185 in Newport News, based on the cost of living difference.
Fayetteville's housing index is 52 with median homes at $213,000, while Newport News's is 75 with median homes at $261,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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