Living Cost Compare
Fayetteville

Arkansas

$990/mo est.

vs
Washington

District of Columbia

$2,150/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $990 in Fayetteville, AR versus $2,150 in Washington, DC. Overall, Fayetteville, AR is roughly 54% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Washington, DC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $59,074 in Fayetteville, AR and $106,287 in Washington, DC — about 44% higher in Washington, DC. Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax; District of Columbia has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Fayetteville, AR
Washington, DC

Rent

Studio
$709
$1,763
+149% in Washington, DC
1 Bedroom
$817
$1,885
+131% in Washington, DC
2 Bedroom
$999
$1,949
+95% in Washington, DC
3 Bedroom
$1,430
$2,249
+57% in Washington, DC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$322,500
$724,600
+125% in Washington, DC

Income

Median Household Income
$59,074
$106,287
+80% in Washington, DC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,610
$71,060
+52% in Washington, DC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
28.7 yr
34.9 yr
+6.2 yr in Washington, DC
Homeownership
41.9%
41.1%
+0.8 pp in Fayetteville, AR
Bachelor's+ (25+)
49.8%
63.6%
+13.8 pp in Washington, DC
Avg Commute
18.2 min
30.3 min
+12.1 min in Washington, DC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
429.4
936.3
+118% in Washington, DC
Property Crime
2,392.2
3,627.9
+52% in Washington, DC

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
58.2°F
+1.1°F in Washington, DC
Annual Precipitation
48.5 in
39.7 in
+8.8 in in Fayetteville, AR

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.94/gal
+9% in Washington, DC

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.1
24.4
+73% in Washington, DC
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$27.86
$27.28
+2% in Fayetteville, AR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.00
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.75
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.21
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.45
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AR / DC)
6.5%
6%
+0.5 pp in AR
Income Tax (top rate)
3.90%
10.75%
+6.8 pp in DC

Fayetteville vs Washington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fayetteville or Washington?
Fayetteville, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $990 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 54% below Washington, DC's $2,150, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fayetteville than in Washington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Fayetteville versus $75,000 in Washington.
Which has lower taxes, Fayetteville or Washington?
Fayetteville is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Washington under District of Columbia's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% 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).