City Comparison

Fayetteville vs Toledo

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Fayetteville

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

Toledo

Ohio
77
Very Affordable
$128,000
Median Home
$825/mo
Median Rent
$42,200
Median Income

The Verdict

5.2%

The cost gap between these cities is 5.2%, with Toledo being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Fayetteville has equivalent purchasing power to $71,296 in Toledo.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
52
Fayetteville
55
Toledo
Groceries
94
Fayetteville
98
Toledo
Utilities
98
Fayetteville
92
Toledo
Transportation
77
Fayetteville
101
Toledo
Healthcare
106
Fayetteville
84
Toledo

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Fayetteville has the same purchasing power as $71,296 in Toledo.

Conversely, $75,000 in Toledo equals $78,896 in Fayetteville.

Living in Fayetteville vs Toledo

Housing Costs

Fayetteville's housing index of 52 is lower Toledo's 55, translating to median home prices of $213,000 vs $128,000. The $85,000 difference in home prices means roughly $5,520 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,075/mo in Fayetteville compared to $825/mo in Toledo, a monthly difference of $250.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 94 in Fayetteville and 98 in Toledo. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $447/month in Fayetteville vs $466/month in Toledo. 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 92 in Toledo. Monthly utility bills average approximately $392 in Fayetteville vs $368 in Toledo. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 106 in Fayetteville and 84 in Toledo. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 22-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 $42,200 in Toledo. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $61,481 and $54,805 respectively. Fayetteville residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,162/month to housing in Fayetteville vs $985/month in Toledo. In Fayetteville, median rent of $1,075/mo fits within this budget. In Toledo, median rent of $825/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Transportation, where the gap is 24 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Toledo is 5.2% more affordable overall with an index of 77 vs 81.
A $75,000 salary in Fayetteville has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $71,296 in Toledo, based on the cost of living difference.
Fayetteville's housing index is 52 with median homes at $213,000, while Toledo's is 55 with median homes at $128,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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