Living Cost Compare
Fayetteville

Arkansas

$990/mo est.

vs
West Valley City

Utah

$1,330/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $990 in Fayetteville, AR versus $1,330 in West Valley City, UT. Overall, Fayetteville, AR is roughly 26% cheaper to live in day-to-day than West Valley City, UT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $59,074 in Fayetteville, AR and $88,604 in West Valley City, UT — about 33% higher in West Valley City, 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.

Rent

Studio
$709
$1,085
+53% in West Valley City, UT
1 Bedroom
$817
$1,191
+46% in West Valley City, UT
2 Bedroom
$999
$1,333
+33% in West Valley City, UT
3 Bedroom
$1,430
$1,723
+20% in West Valley City, UT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$322,500
$377,300
+17% in West Valley City, UT

Income

Median Household Income
$59,074
$88,604
+50% in West Valley City, UT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$46,610
$55,240
+19% in West Valley City, UT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
28.7 yr
30.3 yr
+1.6 yr in West Valley City, UT
Homeownership
41.9%
71.1%
+29.2 pp in West Valley City, UT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
49.8%
15.7%
+34.1 pp in Fayetteville, AR
Avg Commute
18.2 min
22.2 min
+4.0 min in West Valley City, UT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
429.4
471.8
+10% in West Valley City, UT
Property Crime
2,392.2
1,855.5
+22% 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
52.8°F
+4.3°F in Fayetteville, AR
Annual Precipitation
48.5 in
16.1 in
+32.4 in in Fayetteville, AR

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$4.27/gal
+18% in West Valley City, 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 West Valley City, UT
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$2.04
+17% in West Valley City, UT
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Fayetteville, AR
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$7.36
+14% in West Valley City, UT
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.01
+6% in West Valley City, UT
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.70
+14% in West Valley City, 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 West Valley City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fayetteville or West Valley City?
Fayetteville, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $990 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 26% below West Valley City, UT's $1,330, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fayetteville than in West Valley City?
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 West Valley City.
Which has lower taxes, Fayetteville or West Valley City?
Fayetteville is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); West Valley City 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).