City Comparison

Fayetteville vs Paris

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Fayetteville

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

Paris

France
112
Above Average
$695,000
Median Home
$1,800/mo
Median Rent
$48,000
Median Income

The Verdict

27.7%

The cost gap between these cities is 27.7%, with Fayetteville being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Fayetteville has equivalent purchasing power to $103,704 in Paris.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
52
Fayetteville
155
Paris
Groceries
94
Fayetteville
98
Paris
Utilities
98
Fayetteville
108
Paris
Transportation
77
Fayetteville
105
Paris
Healthcare
106
Fayetteville
85
Paris

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Fayetteville has the same purchasing power as $103,704 in Paris.

Conversely, $75,000 in Paris equals $54,241 in Fayetteville.

Living in Fayetteville vs Paris

Housing Costs

Fayetteville's housing index of 52 is lower Paris's 155, translating to median home prices of $213,000 vs $695,000. The $482,000 difference in home prices means roughly $31,332 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 Paris, a monthly difference of $725.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 94 in Fayetteville and 98 in Paris. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $447/month in Fayetteville vs $466/month in Paris. 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 108 in Paris. Monthly utility bills average approximately $392 in Fayetteville vs $432 in Paris. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 106 in Fayetteville and 85 in Paris. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 21-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 $48,000 in Paris. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $61,481 and $42,857 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 $1,120/month in Paris. In Fayetteville, median rent of $1,075/mo fits within this budget. In Paris, median rent of $1,800/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 103 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Fayetteville is 27.7% more affordable overall with an index of 81 vs 112.
A $75,000 salary in Fayetteville has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $103,704 in Paris, based on the cost of living difference.
Fayetteville's housing index is 52 with median homes at $213,000, while Paris's is 155 with median homes at $695,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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