Is Fayetteville expensive to live in?

Fayetteville is among the more affordable of the 158 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $817 per month ranks #132 of 158 and is 22% lower than the $1,043 median.

What is the average rent in Fayetteville?

Average rent in Fayetteville, AR runs a studio around $709, a one-bedroom around $817, a two-bedroom around $999, a three-bedroom around $1,430 per month (US Census ACS).

How much do you need to earn to live in Fayetteville?

To keep a one-bedroom rent of $817 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year. The median household income here is $59,074.

How much does it cost to live in Fayetteville per month?

A rough monthly baseline for one person in Fayetteville is about $990 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Cost of Living in Fayetteville, AR

Population 97,227 · Arkansas

~$990/mo est.1BR $817Home $322,500

Compare with:

The cost of living in Fayetteville, AR is driven mostly by housing. A one-bedroom apartment rents for around $817 a month — 22% lower than the $1,043 median across the 158 large US cities we track. Studios average $709 and two-bedrooms $999.

Median household income here is $59,074, 13% lower than the $67,696 median of the cities we track. Adding typical electricity and heating to one-bedroom rent, a rough monthly baseline for one person is about $990 before food and transport. Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Rent1BR $817

Studio

$709

1 Bedroom

$817

2 Bedroom

$999

3 Bedroom

$1,430

Buying a Home$322,500

Median Home Value

$322,500

Income$59,074

Median Household Income

$59,074

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$46,610

Household income: Census ACS, city. Metro median wage: BLS OEWS, all occupations, 2025 (metro area).

GroceriesSouth

Milk (gal)

$4.00

Bread (lb)

$1.75

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

Average prices, South (BLS, 2026-07-01). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

Utilities14.1¢/kWh

Electricity

14.1¢/kWh

Natural Gas

$27.86/MCF

Residential, state-level averages (EIA, 2026-06-01). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Gas$3.62/gal

Regular Gasoline (Gulf Coast (PADD 3))

$3.62/gal

EIA weekly retail average, week of 2026-08-31.

State Taxes (AR)6.5% sales

State Sales Tax

6.50%

State Income Tax (top rate)

Up to 3.90%

State-level rates. Local sales taxes may add more. Income tax shown is the top marginal rate; most filers pay less.

Crime429.4 violent

Violent Crime (per 100k/yr)

429.4

Property Crime (per 100k/yr)

2,392.2

FBI Crime Data Explorer, Fayetteville Police Department (2024). Offenses per 100,000 residents per year. Agency reporting practices vary, so cross-city comparisons are approximate.

People & LifestyleAge 28.7 yrs

Median Age

28.7 yrs

Homeownership

41.9%

Bachelor's+ (25+)

49.8%

Avg Commute

18.2 min

Climate57.1°F

Avg Annual Temperature

57.1°F

Annual Precipitation

48.5 in

Fayetteville cost of living — FAQ

Is Fayetteville expensive to live in?: Fayetteville is among the more affordable of the 158 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $817 per month ranks #132 of 158 and is 22% lower than the $1,043 median.
What is the average rent in Fayetteville?: Average rent in Fayetteville, AR runs a studio around $709, a one-bedroom around $817, a two-bedroom around $999, a three-bedroom around $1,430 per month (US Census ACS).
How much do you need to earn to live in Fayetteville?: To keep a one-bedroom rent of $817 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year. The median household income here is $59,074.
How much does it cost to live in Fayetteville per month?: A rough monthly baseline for one person in Fayetteville is about $990 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Compare Fayetteville with nearby cities

Fayetteville vs Fort Smith Fayetteville vs Springfield Fayetteville vs Tulsa Fayetteville vs Little Rock Fayetteville vs Oklahoma City Fayetteville vs Norman

Nearby cities

Fort Smith, AR 49 mi Springfield, MO 93 mi Tulsa, OK 103 mi Little Rock, AR 139 mi Oklahoma City, OK 193 mi Norman, OK 193 mi

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981-2010 (climate); EIA (gas, utilities); BLS Average Price Data (groceries) & OEWS (metro wage); transit agencies (fares); FBI Crime Data Explorer (crime); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes). Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + utilities; not a full cost of living.