Is it cheaper to live in Fayetteville or Philadelphia?

Fayetteville, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $990 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 31% below Philadelphia, PA's $1,430, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Fayetteville versus $48,000 in Philadelphia.

Which has lower taxes, Fayetteville or Philadelphia?

Fayetteville is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Philadelphia under Pennsylvania's (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax).

Fayetteville vs Philadelphia Cost of Living 2026

Fayetteville

Arkansas

$990/mo est.

Philadelphia

Pennsylvania

$1,430/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $990 in Fayetteville, AR versus $1,430 in Philadelphia, PA. Overall, Fayetteville, AR is roughly 31% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Philadelphia, PA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $59,074 in Fayetteville, AR and $60,698 in Philadelphia, PA — about 3% higher in Philadelphia, PA. Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax; Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax.

Fayetteville, AR

Philadelphia, PA

Rent

Studio

$709

$1,126

+59% in Philadelphia, PA

1 Bedroom

$817

$1,189

+46% in Philadelphia, PA

2 Bedroom

$999

$1,394

+40% in Philadelphia, PA

3 Bedroom

$1,430

$1,406

+2% in Fayetteville, AR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$322,500

$232,400

+28% in Fayetteville, AR

Income

Median Household Income

$59,074

$60,698

+3% in Philadelphia, PA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$46,610

$54,310

+17% in Philadelphia, PA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

28.7 yr

35.1 yr

+6.4 yr in Philadelphia, PA

Homeownership

41.9%

52.3%

+10.4 pp in Philadelphia, PA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

49.8%

34.6%

+15.2 pp in Fayetteville, AR

Avg Commute

18.2 min

32.0 min

+13.8 min in Philadelphia, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

429.4

917.1

+114% in Philadelphia, PA

Property Crime

2,392.2

4,615.3

+93% in Philadelphia, PA

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

about equal

Annual Precipitation

48.5 in

about equal

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$3.94/gal

+9% in Philadelphia, PA

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.50

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.1

21.7

+54% in Philadelphia, PA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$27.86

$26.08

+6% in Fayetteville, AR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Philadelphia, PA

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.92

+10% in Philadelphia, PA

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Fayetteville, AR

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.90

+7% in Philadelphia, PA

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.19

+15% in Philadelphia, PA

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Philadelphia, PA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AR / PA)

6.5%

+0.5 pp in AR

Income Tax (top rate)

3.90%

3.07%

+0.8 pp in AR

Fayetteville vs Philadelphia — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fayetteville or Philadelphia?: Fayetteville, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $990 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 31% below Philadelphia, PA's $1,430, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fayetteville than in Philadelphia?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Fayetteville versus $48,000 in Philadelphia.
Which has lower taxes, Fayetteville or Philadelphia?: Fayetteville is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Philadelphia under Pennsylvania's (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% 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).