Fayetteville vs Raleigh
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Fayetteville
Raleigh
The Verdict
Fayetteville is 20.6% less expensive than Raleigh overall. A household earning $75,000 in Fayetteville would need approximately $94,444 in Raleigh to maintain the same standard of living.
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 $94,444 in Raleigh.
Conversely, $75,000 in Raleigh equals $59,559 in Fayetteville.
Living in Fayetteville vs Raleigh
Housing Costs
Fayetteville's housing index of 52 is lower Raleigh's 107, translating to median home prices of $213,000 vs $370,000. The $157,000 difference in home prices means roughly $10,200 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,075/mo in Fayetteville compared to $1,500/mo in Raleigh, a monthly difference of $425.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 94 in Fayetteville and 100 in Raleigh. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $447/month in Fayetteville vs $475/month in Raleigh. Fayetteville offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $336/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 98 in Fayetteville and 94 in Raleigh. Monthly utility bills average approximately $392 in Fayetteville vs $376 in Raleigh. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 106 in Fayetteville and 108 in Raleigh. 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 $67,266 in Raleigh. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $61,481 and $65,947 respectively. Raleigh 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 $1,570/month in Raleigh. In Fayetteville, median rent of $1,075/mo fits within this budget. In Raleigh, median rent of $1,500/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 55 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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