Living Cost Compare
Anaheim

California

$2,100/mo est.

vs
Fayetteville

Arkansas

$990/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $2,100 in Anaheim, CA versus $990 in Fayetteville, AR. Overall, Fayetteville, AR is roughly 53% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Anaheim, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $90,583 in Anaheim, CA and $59,074 in Fayetteville, AR — about 35% higher in Anaheim, CA. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$1,929
$709
+63% in Anaheim, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,764
$817
+54% in Anaheim, CA
2 Bedroom
$2,171
$999
+54% in Anaheim, CA
3 Bedroom
$2,653
$1,430
+46% in Anaheim, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$771,700
$322,500
+58% in Anaheim, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$90,583
$59,074
+35% in Anaheim, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$55,850
$46,610
+17% in Anaheim, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.9 yr
28.7 yr
+7.2 yr in Anaheim, CA
Homeownership
45.9%
41.9%
+4.0 pp in Anaheim, CA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
28.8%
49.8%
+21.0 pp in Fayetteville, AR
Avg Commute
28.2 min
18.2 min
+10.0 min in Anaheim, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
597.7
429.4
+28% in Anaheim, CA
Property Crime
2,234.9
2,392.2
+7% in Fayetteville, AR

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
67.1°F
57.1°F
+10.0°F in Anaheim, CA
Annual Precipitation
13.4 in
48.5 in
+35.1 in in Fayetteville, AR

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.53/gal
$3.62/gal
+35% in Anaheim, CA

Area: Los Angeles vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00

Adult base one-way fare — OCTA vs (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
34.7
14.1
+59% in Anaheim, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.33
$27.86
+37% in Fayetteville, AR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.00
+17% in Anaheim, CA
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.75
+14% in Anaheim, CA
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in Fayetteville, AR
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.45
+12% in Anaheim, CA
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$1.90
+6% in Anaheim, CA
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.62
+12% in Anaheim, CA

Average prices — West vs South (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CA / AR)
7.25%
6.5%
+0.8 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
3.90%
+9.4 pp in CA

Anaheim vs Fayetteville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Anaheim or Fayetteville?
Fayetteville, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $990 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 53% below Anaheim, CA's $2,100, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Anaheim than in Fayetteville?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $71,000 a year in Anaheim versus $33,000 in Fayetteville.
Which has lower taxes, Anaheim or Fayetteville?
Anaheim is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); Fayetteville under Arkansas's (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).