Is it cheaper to live in Cleveland or Fayetteville?

Cleveland, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Fayetteville, AR's $990, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Cleveland than in Fayetteville?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cleveland versus $33,000 in Fayetteville.

Which has lower taxes, Cleveland or Fayetteville?

Cleveland is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax); Fayetteville under Arkansas's (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax).

Cleveland vs Fayetteville Cost of Living 2026

Cleveland

Ohio

$940/mo est.

Fayetteville

Arkansas

$990/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $940 in Cleveland, OH versus $990 in Fayetteville, AR. Overall, Cleveland, OH is roughly 5% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Fayetteville, AR, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $39,187 in Cleveland, OH and $59,074 in Fayetteville, AR — about 34% higher in Fayetteville, AR. Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax; Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Cleveland, OH

Fayetteville, AR

Rent

Studio

$678

$709

+5% in Fayetteville, AR

1 Bedroom

$732

$817

+12% in Fayetteville, AR

2 Bedroom

$903

$999

+11% in Fayetteville, AR

3 Bedroom

$1,081

$1,430

+32% in Fayetteville, AR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$94,100

$322,500

+243% in Fayetteville, AR

Income

Median Household Income

$39,187

$59,074

+51% in Fayetteville, AR

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$50,140

$46,610

+7% in Cleveland, OH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.3 yr

28.7 yr

+7.6 yr in Cleveland, OH

Homeownership

41.2%

41.9%

+0.7 pp in Fayetteville, AR

Bachelor's+ (25+)

21.3%

49.8%

+28.5 pp in Fayetteville, AR

Avg Commute

22.9 min

18.2 min

+4.7 min in Cleveland, OH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,582

429.4

+73% in Cleveland, OH

Property Crime

4,531.3

2,392.2

+47% in Cleveland, OH

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

52.7°F

57.1°F

+4.4°F in Fayetteville, AR

Annual Precipitation

36.4 in

48.5 in

+12.2 in in Fayetteville, AR

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.80/gal

$3.62/gal

+5% in Cleveland, OH

Area: Ohio vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

19.2

14.1

+26% in Cleveland, OH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$22.83

$27.86

+22% in Fayetteville, AR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.00

+7% in Cleveland, OH

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$1.75

+5% in Fayetteville, AR

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.21

+39% in Cleveland, OH

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$6.45

+5% in Cleveland, OH

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$1.90

+9% in Cleveland, OH

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OH / AR)

5.75%

6.5%

+0.8 pp in AR

Income Tax (top rate)

2.75%

3.90%

+1.1 pp in AR

Cleveland vs Fayetteville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cleveland or Fayetteville?: Cleveland, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Fayetteville, AR's $990, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cleveland than in Fayetteville?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $29,000 a year in Cleveland versus $33,000 in Fayetteville.
Which has lower taxes, Cleveland or Fayetteville?: Cleveland is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% 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).