City Comparison

Fayetteville vs Yuma

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Fayetteville

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

Yuma

Arizona
92
Below Average
$284,000
Median Home
$1,100/mo
Median Rent
$54,100
Median Income

The Verdict

12.0%

The cost gap between these cities is 12.0%, with Fayetteville being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Fayetteville has equivalent purchasing power to $85,185 in Yuma.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
52
Fayetteville
82
Yuma
Groceries
94
Fayetteville
101
Yuma
Utilities
98
Fayetteville
102
Yuma
Transportation
77
Fayetteville
97
Yuma
Healthcare
106
Fayetteville
87
Yuma

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Fayetteville has the same purchasing power as $85,185 in Yuma.

Conversely, $75,000 in Yuma equals $66,033 in Fayetteville.

Living in Fayetteville vs Yuma

Housing Costs

Fayetteville's housing index of 52 is lower Yuma's 82, translating to median home prices of $213,000 vs $284,000. The $71,000 difference in home prices means roughly $4,620 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 Yuma, a monthly difference of $25.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 94 in Fayetteville and 101 in Yuma. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $447/month in Fayetteville vs $480/month in Yuma. 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 102 in Yuma. Monthly utility bills average approximately $392 in Fayetteville vs $408 in Yuma. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 106 in Fayetteville and 87 in Yuma. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 19-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 $54,100 in Yuma. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $61,481 and $58,804 respectively. Fayetteville residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite lower nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,162/month to housing in Fayetteville vs $1,262/month in Yuma. In Fayetteville, median rent of $1,075/mo fits within this budget. In Yuma, median rent of $1,100/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 30 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Fayetteville is 12.0% more affordable overall with an index of 81 vs 92.
A $75,000 salary in Fayetteville has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $85,185 in Yuma, based on the cost of living difference.
Fayetteville's housing index is 52 with median homes at $213,000, while Yuma's is 82 with median homes at $284,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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