Is it cheaper to live in Fayetteville or Nashua?

Fayetteville, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $990 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 40% below Nashua, NH's $1,660, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Fayetteville versus $55,000 in Nashua.

Which has lower taxes, Fayetteville or Nashua?

Fayetteville is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Nashua under New Hampshire's (no state income tax and no state sales tax).

Fayetteville vs Nashua Cost of Living 2026

Fayetteville

Arkansas

$990/mo est.

Nashua

New Hampshire

$1,660/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $990 in Fayetteville, AR versus $1,660 in Nashua, NH. Overall, Fayetteville, AR is roughly 40% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Nashua, NH, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $59,074 in Fayetteville, AR and $92,457 in Nashua, NH — about 36% higher in Nashua, NH. Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax; New Hampshire has no state income tax and no state sales tax.

Fayetteville, AR

Nashua, NH

Rent

Studio

$709

$1,127

+59% in Nashua, NH

1 Bedroom

$817

$1,383

+69% in Nashua, NH

2 Bedroom

$999

$1,699

+70% in Nashua, NH

3 Bedroom

$1,430

$1,951

+36% in Nashua, NH

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$322,500

$373,100

+16% in Nashua, NH

Income

Median Household Income

$59,074

$92,457

+57% in Nashua, NH

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$46,610

$56,530

+21% in Nashua, NH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

28.7 yr

39.7 yr

+11.0 yr in Nashua, NH

Homeownership

41.9%

56.4%

+14.5 pp in Nashua, NH

Bachelor's+ (25+)

49.8%

40.5%

+9.3 pp in Fayetteville, AR

Avg Commute

18.2 min

25.3 min

+7.1 min in Nashua, NH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

429.4

164.9

+62% in Fayetteville, AR

Property Crime

2,392.2

1,269

+47% 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

49.2°F

+7.9°F in Fayetteville, AR

Annual Precipitation

48.5 in

44.6 in

+3.9 in in Fayetteville, AR

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$3.94/gal

+9% in Nashua, NH

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.1

27.0

+91% in Nashua, NH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$27.86

$21.67

+22% in Fayetteville, AR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Nashua, NH

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.92

+10% in Nashua, NH

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Fayetteville, AR

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.90

+7% in Nashua, NH

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.19

+15% in Nashua, NH

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Nashua, NH

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AR / NH)

6.5%

None

+6.5 pp in AR

Income Tax (top rate)

3.90%

None

+3.9 pp in AR

Fayetteville vs Nashua — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fayetteville or Nashua?: Fayetteville, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $990 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 40% below Nashua, NH's $1,660, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fayetteville than in Nashua?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Fayetteville versus $55,000 in Nashua.
Which has lower taxes, Fayetteville or Nashua?: Fayetteville is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Nashua under New Hampshire's (no state income tax and no 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).