Is it cheaper to live in Fayetteville or Provo?

Fayetteville, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $990 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% below Provo, UT's $1,120, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Fayetteville versus $39,000 in Provo.

Which has lower taxes, Fayetteville or Provo?

Fayetteville is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Provo under Utah's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax).

Fayetteville vs Provo Cost of Living 2026

Fayetteville

Arkansas

$990/mo est.

Provo

Utah

$1,120/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $990 in Fayetteville, AR versus $1,120 in Provo, UT. Overall, Fayetteville, AR is roughly 12% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Provo, UT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $59,074 in Fayetteville, AR and $62,800 in Provo, UT — about 6% higher in Provo, UT. Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax; Utah has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax.

Fayetteville, AR

Provo, UT

Rent

Studio

$709

$1,009

+42% in Provo, UT

1 Bedroom

$817

$978

+20% in Provo, UT

2 Bedroom

$999

$1,128

+13% in Provo, UT

3 Bedroom

$1,430

$1,381

+3% in Fayetteville, AR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$322,500

$437,100

+36% in Provo, UT

Income

Median Household Income

$59,074

$62,800

+6% in Provo, UT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$46,610

$48,010

+3% in Provo, UT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

28.7 yr

23.7 yr

+5.0 yr in Fayetteville, AR

Homeownership

41.9%

39.9%

+2.0 pp in Fayetteville, AR

Bachelor's+ (25+)

49.8%

45.0%

+4.8 pp in Fayetteville, AR

Avg Commute

18.2 min

18.5 min

+0.3 min in Provo, UT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

429.4

205.7

+52% in Fayetteville, AR

Property Crime

2,392.2

1,280.6

+46% 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

53.4°F

+3.7°F in Fayetteville, AR

Annual Precipitation

48.5 in

19.8 in

+28.8 in in Fayetteville, AR

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$4.27/gal

+18% in Provo, UT

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.1

13.4

+5% in Fayetteville, AR

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$27.86

$11.84

+58% in Fayetteville, AR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.82

+20% in Provo, UT

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$2.04

+17% in Provo, UT

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Fayetteville, AR

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$7.36

+14% in Provo, UT

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.01

+6% in Provo, UT

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.70

+14% in Provo, UT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AR / UT)

6.5%

6.1%

+0.4 pp in AR

Income Tax (top rate)

3.90%

4.50%

+0.6 pp in UT

Fayetteville vs Provo — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fayetteville or Provo?: Fayetteville, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $990 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% below Provo, UT's $1,120, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fayetteville than in Provo?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Fayetteville versus $39,000 in Provo.
Which has lower taxes, Fayetteville or Provo?: Fayetteville is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Provo under Utah's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% 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).