City Comparison

Fayetteville vs Port St Lucie

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Fayetteville

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

Port St Lucie

Florida
99
Average
$384,000
Median Home
$1,800/mo
Median Rent
$81,100
Median Income

The Verdict

18.2%

The cost gap between these cities is 18.2%, with Fayetteville being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Fayetteville has equivalent purchasing power to $91,667 in Port St Lucie.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
52
Fayetteville
103
Port St Lucie
Groceries
94
Fayetteville
102
Port St Lucie
Utilities
98
Fayetteville
93
Port St Lucie
Transportation
77
Fayetteville
102
Port St Lucie
Healthcare
106
Fayetteville
96
Port St Lucie

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Fayetteville has the same purchasing power as $91,667 in Port St Lucie.

Conversely, $75,000 in Port St Lucie equals $61,364 in Fayetteville.

Living in Fayetteville vs Port St Lucie

Housing Costs

Fayetteville's housing index of 52 is lower Port St Lucie's 103, translating to median home prices of $213,000 vs $384,000. The $171,000 difference in home prices means roughly $11,112 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 Port St Lucie, a monthly difference of $725.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 94 in Fayetteville and 102 in Port St Lucie. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $447/month in Fayetteville vs $485/month in Port St Lucie. Fayetteville offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $456/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 98 in Fayetteville and 93 in Port St Lucie. Monthly utility bills average approximately $392 in Fayetteville vs $372 in Port St Lucie. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 106 in Fayetteville and 96 in Port St Lucie. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 10-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 $81,100 in Port St Lucie. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $61,481 and $81,919 respectively. Port St Lucie 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 $1,892/month in Port St Lucie. In Fayetteville, median rent of $1,075/mo fits within this budget. In Port St Lucie, median rent of $1,800/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 51 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Fayetteville is 18.2% more affordable overall with an index of 81 vs 99.
A $75,000 salary in Fayetteville has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $91,667 in Port St Lucie, based on the cost of living difference.
Fayetteville's housing index is 52 with median homes at $213,000, while Port St Lucie's is 103 with median homes at $384,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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