City Comparison

Fayetteville vs Sioux Falls

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 Falls

South Dakota
93
Below Average
$265,000
Median Home
$1,100/mo
Median Rent
$61,714
Median Income

The Verdict

12.9%

The cost gap between these cities is 12.9%, with Fayetteville being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Fayetteville has equivalent purchasing power to $86,111 in Sioux Falls.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
52
Fayetteville
80
Sioux Falls
Groceries
94
Fayetteville
97
Sioux Falls
Utilities
98
Fayetteville
94
Sioux Falls
Transportation
77
Fayetteville
98
Sioux Falls
Healthcare
106
Fayetteville
101
Sioux Falls

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Fayetteville has the same purchasing power as $86,111 in Sioux Falls.

Conversely, $75,000 in Sioux Falls equals $65,323 in Fayetteville.

Living in Fayetteville vs Sioux Falls

Housing Costs

Fayetteville's housing index of 52 is lower Sioux Falls's 80, translating to median home prices of $213,000 vs $265,000. The $52,000 difference in home prices means roughly $3,384 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,075/mo in Fayetteville compared to $1,100/mo in Sioux Falls, a monthly difference of $25.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 94 in Fayetteville and 97 in Sioux Falls. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $447/month in Fayetteville vs $461/month in Sioux Falls. 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 94 in Sioux Falls. Monthly utility bills average approximately $392 in Fayetteville vs $376 in Sioux Falls. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 106 in Fayetteville and 101 in Sioux Falls. 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 $61,714 in Sioux Falls. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $61,481 and $66,359 respectively. Sioux Falls 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 $1,440/month in Sioux Falls. In Fayetteville, median rent of $1,075/mo fits within this budget. In Sioux Falls, median rent of $1,100/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 28 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Fayetteville is 12.9% more affordable overall with an index of 81 vs 93.
A $75,000 salary in Fayetteville has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $86,111 in Sioux Falls, based on the cost of living difference.
Fayetteville's housing index is 52 with median homes at $213,000, while Sioux Falls's is 80 with median homes at $265,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

Moving PlannersFinance BooksBudget Planners

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases