What is the cost of living in Fayetteville, AR?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Fayetteville has an overall cost of living index of 101, which is 1.0x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Arkansas, Fayetteville has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than Arkansas's index of 85.
The standard of living in Fayetteville ranks as #65 most affordable out of the 70 places we measured in Arkansas. By definition, that implies Fayetteville ranks as the #5 most expensive place in the Natural State.
For more reading on life in Fayetteville, check out:
Fayetteville Cost Of Living Vs. Arkansas
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Fayetteville. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Fayetteville is 95.
The Groceries index in Fayetteville is 92.
The Health index in Fayetteville is 119.
The Housing index in Fayetteville is 94.
The Transportation index in Fayetteville is 92.
The Utilities index in Fayetteville is 93.
| Living Expense | Fayetteville | Arkansas | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 101 | 85 | 100 |
| Services | 95 | 95 | 100 |
| Groceries | 92 | 93 | 100 |
| Health | 119 | 68 | 100 |
| Housing | 94 | 96 | 100 |
| Transportation | 92 | 92 | 100 |
| Utilities | 93 | 92 | 100 |
Fayetteville Cost Of Living Compared To Arkansas Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Arkansas, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Fayetteville Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Fayetteville, AR Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Arkansas, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Fayetteville is $377,910.
The Median Rent in Fayetteville is $1,065.
The Median Income in Fayetteville is $62,695.
The Home Value To Income in Fayetteville is 6.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Fayetteville is 0.2x.
| Statistic | Fayetteville | Arkansas | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $377,910 | $222,050 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,065 | $947 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $62,695 | $60,773 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 6.0x | 3.7x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.2x | 0.19x | 0.21x |
Fayetteville, AR Costs By Category
Detailed Fayetteville Services costs vs. Arkansas
| Item | Fayetteville | Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.08 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $11.5 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $14.71 | $18 |
| Haircut | $21.65 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $45.0 | $45.56 |
Detailed Fayetteville Groceries costs vs. Arkansas
| Item | Fayetteville | Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.81 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.39 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.52 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.22 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.1 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.21 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.68 | $3.7 |
Detailed Fayetteville Health costs vs. Arkansas
| Item | Fayetteville | Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $99.78 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $108.55 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $83.89 | $113.29 |
Detailed Fayetteville Transportation costs vs. Arkansas
| Item | Fayetteville | Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.01 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $52.21 | $59.92 |
Detailed Fayetteville Utilities costs vs. Arkansas
| Item | Fayetteville | Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $150.82 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $203.29 | $192.25 |
Fayetteville SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Fayetteville
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Fayetteville. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Springdale, AR has a cost of living index of 89, 0.9x Fayetteville.
Rogers, AR has a cost of living index of 94, 0.9x Fayetteville.
Bentonville, AR has a cost of living index of 106, 1.0x Fayetteville.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Fayetteville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Springdale, AR | 88,160 | 89 | 0.9x |
| Rogers, AR | 72,981 | 94 | 0.9x |
| Bentonville, AR | 58,249 | 106 | 1.0x |
| Van Buren, AR | 23,763 | 85 | 0.8x |
| Centerton, AR | 21,920 | 100 | 1.0x |
| Siloam Springs, AR | 18,699 | 92 | 0.9x |
| Tahlequah, OK | 16,935 | 88 | 0.9x |
| Lowell, AR | 10,849 | 92 | 0.9x |
| Farmington, AR | 9,094 | 97 | 1.0x |
| Prairie Grove, AR | 7,798 | 93 | 0.9x |
