Living Cost Compare
Fayetteville

Arkansas

$990/mo est.

vs
Fort Wayne

Indiana

$980/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $990 in Fayetteville, AR versus $980 in Fort Wayne, IN. Overall, Fort Wayne, IN is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Fayetteville, AR, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $59,074 in Fayetteville, AR and $60,293 in Fort Wayne, IN — about 2% higher in Fort Wayne, IN. Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax; Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax.

Fayetteville, AR
Fort Wayne, IN

Rent

Studio
$709
$798
+13% in Fort Wayne, IN
1 Bedroom
$817
$782
+4% in Fayetteville, AR
2 Bedroom
$999
$984
+2% in Fayetteville, AR
3 Bedroom
$1,430
$1,100
+23% in Fayetteville, AR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$322,500
$169,700
+47% in Fayetteville, AR

Income

Median Household Income
$59,074
$60,293
+2% in Fort Wayne, IN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,610
$47,700
+2% in Fort Wayne, IN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
28.7 yr
35.0 yr
+6.3 yr in Fort Wayne, IN
Homeownership
41.9%
62.2%
+20.3 pp in Fort Wayne, IN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
49.8%
28.5%
+21.3 pp in Fayetteville, AR
Avg Commute
18.2 min
21.4 min
+3.2 min in Fort Wayne, IN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
429.4
308.9
+28% in Fayetteville, AR
Property Crime
2,392.2
2,245.4
+6% 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
57.1°F
50.5°F
+6.6°F in Fayetteville, AR
Annual Precipitation
48.5 in
38.3 in
+10.2 in in Fayetteville, AR

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.85/gal
+6% in Fort Wayne, IN

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.1
17.5
+24% in Fort Wayne, IN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$27.86
$24.52
+12% in Fayetteville, AR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Fort Wayne, IN
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.66
+5% in Fayetteville, AR
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$3.63
+64% in Fort Wayne, IN
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.77
+5% in Fort Wayne, IN
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.10
+10% in Fort Wayne, IN
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AR / IN)
6.5%
7%
+0.5 pp in IN
Income Tax (top rate)
3.90%
2.95%
+0.9 pp in AR

Fayetteville vs Fort Wayne — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fayetteville or Fort Wayne?
Fort Wayne, IN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $980 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Fayetteville, AR's $990, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fayetteville than in Fort Wayne?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Fayetteville versus $31,000 in Fort Wayne.
Which has lower taxes, Fayetteville or Fort Wayne?
Fayetteville is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Fort Wayne under Indiana's (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% 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).