City Comparison

Fayetteville vs San Antonio

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Fayetteville

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

San Antonio

Texas
90
Below Average
$250,000
Median Home
$1,200/mo
Median Rent
$53,420
Median Income

The Verdict

10.0%

Living in Fayetteville costs 10.0% less than San Antonio. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Fayetteville, you would need $83,333 in San Antonio.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
52
Fayetteville
78
San Antonio
Groceries
94
Fayetteville
93
San Antonio
Utilities
98
Fayetteville
96
San Antonio
Transportation
77
Fayetteville
101
San Antonio
Healthcare
106
Fayetteville
95
San Antonio

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Fayetteville has the same purchasing power as $83,333 in San Antonio.

Conversely, $75,000 in San Antonio equals $67,500 in Fayetteville.

Living in Fayetteville vs San Antonio

Housing Costs

Fayetteville's housing index of 52 is lower San Antonio's 78, translating to median home prices of $213,000 vs $250,000. The $37,000 difference in home prices means roughly $2,400 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,075/mo in Fayetteville compared to $1,200/mo in San Antonio, a monthly difference of $125.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 94 in Fayetteville and 93 in San Antonio. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $447/month in Fayetteville vs $442/month in San Antonio. 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 96 in San Antonio. Monthly utility bills average approximately $392 in Fayetteville vs $384 in San Antonio. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 106 in Fayetteville and 95 in San Antonio. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 11-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 $53,420 in San Antonio. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $61,481 and $59,356 respectively. Fayetteville residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite lower nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,162/month to housing in Fayetteville vs $1,246/month in San Antonio. In Fayetteville, median rent of $1,075/mo fits within this budget. In San Antonio, median rent of $1,200/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 26 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Fayetteville is 10.0% more affordable overall with an index of 81 vs 90.
A $75,000 salary in Fayetteville has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $83,333 in San Antonio, based on the cost of living difference.
Fayetteville's housing index is 52 with median homes at $213,000, while San Antonio's is 78 with median homes at $250,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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