Fayetteville vs Wilmington
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Fayetteville
Wilmington
The Verdict
The cost gap between these cities is 21.4%, with Fayetteville being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Fayetteville has equivalent purchasing power to $95,370 in Wilmington.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Fayetteville has the same purchasing power as $95,370 in Wilmington.
Conversely, $75,000 in Wilmington equals $58,981 in Fayetteville.
Living in Fayetteville vs Wilmington
Housing Costs
Fayetteville's housing index of 52 is lower Wilmington's 108, translating to median home prices of $213,000 vs $320,000. The $107,000 difference in home prices means roughly $6,960 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,075/mo in Fayetteville compared to $1,400/mo in Wilmington, a monthly difference of $325.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 94 in Fayetteville and 101 in Wilmington. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $447/month in Fayetteville vs $480/month in Wilmington. Fayetteville offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $396/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 98 in Fayetteville and 94 in Wilmington. Monthly utility bills average approximately $392 in Fayetteville vs $376 in Wilmington. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 106 in Fayetteville and 106 in Wilmington. 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 $48,432 in Wilmington. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $61,481 and $47,021 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 $1,130/month in Wilmington. In Fayetteville, median rent of $1,075/mo fits within this budget. In Wilmington, median rent of $1,400/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 56 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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