City Comparison

Fayetteville vs Rock Hill

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Fayetteville

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

Rock Hill

South Carolina
100
Average
$305,000
Median Home
$1,125/mo
Median Rent
$65,800
Median Income

The Verdict

19.0%

Living in Fayetteville costs 19.0% less than Rock Hill. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Fayetteville, you would need $92,593 in Rock Hill.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
52
Fayetteville
79
Rock Hill
Groceries
94
Fayetteville
105
Rock Hill
Utilities
98
Fayetteville
94
Rock Hill
Transportation
77
Fayetteville
103
Rock Hill
Healthcare
106
Fayetteville
106
Rock Hill

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Fayetteville has the same purchasing power as $92,593 in Rock Hill.

Conversely, $75,000 in Rock Hill equals $60,750 in Fayetteville.

Living in Fayetteville vs Rock Hill

Housing Costs

Fayetteville's housing index of 52 is lower Rock Hill's 79, translating to median home prices of $213,000 vs $305,000. The $92,000 difference in home prices means roughly $5,976 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,075/mo in Fayetteville compared to $1,125/mo in Rock Hill, a monthly difference of $50.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 94 in Fayetteville and 105 in Rock Hill. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $447/month in Fayetteville vs $499/month in Rock Hill. Fayetteville offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $624/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 98 in Fayetteville and 94 in Rock Hill. Monthly utility bills average approximately $392 in Fayetteville vs $376 in Rock Hill. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 106 in Fayetteville and 106 in Rock Hill. 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 $65,800 in Rock Hill. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $61,481 and $65,800 respectively. Rock Hill 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 $1,535/month in Rock Hill. In Fayetteville, median rent of $1,075/mo fits within this budget. In Rock Hill, median rent of $1,125/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 27 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Fayetteville is 19.0% more affordable overall with an index of 81 vs 100.
A $75,000 salary in Fayetteville has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $92,593 in Rock Hill, based on the cost of living difference.
Fayetteville's housing index is 52 with median homes at $213,000, while Rock Hill's is 79 with median homes at $305,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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