What is the cost of living in Fayetteville, NC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Fayetteville has an overall cost of living index of 98, which is 1.0x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to North Carolina, Fayetteville has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than North Carolina's index of 95.
The standard of living in Fayetteville ranks as #72 most affordable out of the 159 places we measured in North Carolina. By definition, that implies Fayetteville ranks as the #87 most expensive place in the Tar Heel State.
For more reading on life in Fayetteville, check out:
Fayetteville Cost Of Living Vs. North Carolina
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 104.
The Groceries index in Fayetteville is 98.
The Health index in Fayetteville is 84.
The Housing index in Fayetteville is 100.
The Transportation index in Fayetteville is 101.
The Utilities index in Fayetteville is 106.
| Living Expense | Fayetteville | North Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 98 | 95 | 100 |
| Services | 104 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 98 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 84 | 89 | 100 |
| Housing | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Transportation | 101 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 106 | 101 | 100 |
Fayetteville Cost Of Living Compared To North Carolina Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around North Carolina, check out:
- Most Expensive Cities In North Carolina
- Most Affordable Cities In North Carolina
- Average Rent In North Carolina
Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Fayetteville, NC Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in North Carolina, 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 $225,534.
The Median Rent in Fayetteville is $1,250.
The Median Income in Fayetteville is $58,407.
The Home Value To Income in Fayetteville is 3.9x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Fayetteville is 0.26x.
| Statistic | Fayetteville | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $225,534 | $336,407 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,250 | $1,228 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $58,407 | $72,388 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.9x | 4.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.26x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Fayetteville, NC Costs By Category
Detailed Fayetteville Services costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Fayetteville | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.09 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $10.27 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $11.0 | $18 |
| Haircut | $19.0 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $29.58 | $45.56 |
Detailed Fayetteville Groceries costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Fayetteville | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.93 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.59 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.57 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.18 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.47 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.29 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.65 | $3.7 |
Detailed Fayetteville Health costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Fayetteville | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $141.56 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $136.38 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $100.17 | $113.29 |
Detailed Fayetteville Transportation costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Fayetteville | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.45 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $63.55 | $59.92 |
Detailed Fayetteville Utilities costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Fayetteville | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $201.14 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $187.32 | $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:
Cary, NC has a cost of living index of 123, 1.3x Fayetteville.
Apex, NC has a cost of living index of 121, 1.2x Fayetteville.
Holly Springs, NC has a cost of living index of 126, 1.3x Fayetteville.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Fayetteville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cary, NC | 179,306 | 123 | 1.3x |
| Apex, NC | 70,630 | 121 | 1.2x |
| Holly Springs, NC | 45,248 | 126 | 1.3x |
| Fuquay-Varina, NC | 40,485 | 112 | 1.1x |
| Garner, NC | 34,473 | 104 | 1.1x |
| Pinehurst, NC | 18,256 | 118 | 1.2x |
| Hope Mills, NC | 17,939 | 96 | 1.0x |
| Southern Pines, NC | 16,420 | 112 | 1.1x |
| Spring Lake, NC | 11,573 | 90 | 0.9x |
| Clinton, NC | 8,304 | 91 | 0.9x |
