City Comparison

Fayetteville vs Sioux City

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Fayetteville

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

Sioux City

Iowa
86
Below Average
$182,000
Median Home
$875/mo
Median Rent
$65,500
Median Income

The Verdict

5.8%

The cost gap between these cities is 5.8%, with Fayetteville being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Fayetteville has equivalent purchasing power to $79,630 in Sioux City.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
52
Fayetteville
74
Sioux City
Groceries
94
Fayetteville
97
Sioux City
Utilities
98
Fayetteville
89
Sioux City
Transportation
77
Fayetteville
92
Sioux City
Healthcare
106
Fayetteville
101
Sioux City

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Fayetteville has the same purchasing power as $79,630 in Sioux City.

Conversely, $75,000 in Sioux City equals $70,640 in Fayetteville.

Living in Fayetteville vs Sioux City

Housing Costs

Fayetteville's housing index of 52 is lower Sioux City's 74, translating to median home prices of $213,000 vs $182,000. The $31,000 difference in home prices means roughly $2,016 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,075/mo in Fayetteville compared to $875/mo in Sioux City, a monthly difference of $200.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 94 in Fayetteville and 97 in Sioux City. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $447/month in Fayetteville vs $461/month in Sioux City. 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 89 in Sioux City. Monthly utility bills average approximately $392 in Fayetteville vs $356 in Sioux City. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 106 in Fayetteville and 101 in Sioux City. 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 $65,500 in Sioux City. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $61,481 and $76,163 respectively. Sioux City 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 $1,528/month in Sioux City. In Fayetteville, median rent of $1,075/mo fits within this budget. In Sioux City, median rent of $875/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 22 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Fayetteville is 5.8% more affordable overall with an index of 81 vs 86.
A $75,000 salary in Fayetteville has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $79,630 in Sioux City, based on the cost of living difference.
Fayetteville's housing index is 52 with median homes at $213,000, while Sioux City's is 74 with median homes at $182,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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