Is it cheaper to live in Fayetteville or Rutland?

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

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Fayetteville versus $34,000 in Rutland.

Which has lower taxes, Fayetteville or Rutland?

Fayetteville is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Rutland under Vermont's (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax).

Fayetteville vs Rutland Cost of Living 2026

Fayetteville

Arkansas

$990/mo est.

Rutland

Vermont

$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 Rutland, VT. Overall, Fayetteville, AR is roughly 12% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Rutland, VT, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $59,074 in Fayetteville, AR and $55,000 in Rutland, VT — about 7% higher in Fayetteville, AR. Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax; Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Fayetteville, AR

Rutland, VT

Rent

Studio

$709

$893

+26% in Rutland, VT

1 Bedroom

$817

$856

+5% in Rutland, VT

2 Bedroom

$999

$1,097

+10% in Rutland, VT

3 Bedroom

$1,430

$1,207

+16% in Fayetteville, AR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$322,500

$176,400

+45% in Fayetteville, AR

Income

Median Household Income

$59,074

$55,000

+7% in Fayetteville, AR

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$46,610

—

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

28.7 yr

48.5 yr

+19.8 yr in Rutland, VT

Homeownership

41.9%

52.7%

+10.8 pp in Rutland, VT

Bachelor's+ (25+)

49.8%

32.2%

+17.6 pp in Fayetteville, AR

Avg Commute

18.2 min

14.7 min

+3.5 min in Fayetteville, AR

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

429.4

487.8

+14% in Rutland, VT

Property Crime

2,392.2

3,973.3

+66% in Rutland, VT

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

44.6°F

+12.5°F in Fayetteville, AR

Annual Precipitation

48.5 in

40.5 in

+8.0 in in Fayetteville, AR

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$3.94/gal

+9% in Rutland, VT

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.1

24.4

+73% in Rutland, VT

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$27.86

$26.07

+6% in Fayetteville, AR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Rutland, VT

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.92

+10% in Rutland, VT

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Fayetteville, AR

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.90

+7% in Rutland, VT

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.19

+15% in Rutland, VT

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Rutland, VT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AR / VT)

6.5%

+0.5 pp in AR

Income Tax (top rate)

3.90%

8.75%

+4.8 pp in VT

Fayetteville vs Rutland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fayetteville or Rutland?: Fayetteville, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $990 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% below Rutland, VT's $1,120, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fayetteville than in Rutland?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Fayetteville versus $34,000 in Rutland.
Which has lower taxes, Fayetteville or Rutland?: Fayetteville is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Rutland under Vermont's (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% 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).