City Comparison

Fayetteville vs Tulsa

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Fayetteville

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

Tulsa

Oklahoma
85
Very Affordable
$175,000
Median Home
$950/mo
Median Rent
$48,278
Median Income

The Verdict

4.7%

Living in Fayetteville costs 4.7% less than Tulsa. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Fayetteville, you would need $78,704 in Tulsa.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
52
Fayetteville
63
Tulsa
Groceries
94
Fayetteville
95
Tulsa
Utilities
98
Fayetteville
92
Tulsa
Transportation
77
Fayetteville
98
Tulsa
Healthcare
106
Fayetteville
91
Tulsa

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Fayetteville has the same purchasing power as $78,704 in Tulsa.

Conversely, $75,000 in Tulsa equals $71,471 in Fayetteville.

Living in Fayetteville vs Tulsa

Housing Costs

Fayetteville's housing index of 52 is lower Tulsa's 63, translating to median home prices of $213,000 vs $175,000. The $38,000 difference in home prices means roughly $2,472 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,075/mo in Fayetteville compared to $950/mo in Tulsa, a monthly difference of $125.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 94 in Fayetteville and 95 in Tulsa. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $447/month in Fayetteville vs $451/month in Tulsa. 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 Tulsa. Monthly utility bills average approximately $392 in Fayetteville vs $368 in Tulsa. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 106 in Fayetteville and 91 in Tulsa. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 15-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 $48,278 in Tulsa. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $61,481 and $56,798 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 $1,126/month in Tulsa. In Fayetteville, median rent of $1,075/mo fits within this budget. In Tulsa, median rent of $950/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Transportation, where the gap is 21 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Fayetteville is 4.7% more affordable overall with an index of 81 vs 85.
A $75,000 salary in Fayetteville has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $78,704 in Tulsa, based on the cost of living difference.
Fayetteville's housing index is 52 with median homes at $213,000, while Tulsa's is 63 with median homes at $175,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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