Is it cheaper to live in Fayetteville or Wichita?

Wichita, KS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Fayetteville, AR's $990, mainly because of rent.

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

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

Which has lower taxes, Fayetteville or Wichita?

Fayetteville is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Wichita under Kansas's (a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax).

Fayetteville vs Wichita Cost of Living 2026

Fayetteville

Arkansas

$990/mo est.

Wichita

Kansas

$950/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $990 in Fayetteville, AR versus $950 in Wichita, KS. Overall, Wichita, KS is roughly 4% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Fayetteville, AR, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $59,074 in Fayetteville, AR and $63,072 in Wichita, KS — about 6% higher in Wichita, KS. Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax; Kansas has a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Fayetteville, AR

Wichita, KS

Rent

Studio

$709

$726

+2% in Wichita, KS

1 Bedroom

$817

$761

+7% in Fayetteville, AR

2 Bedroom

$999

$976

+2% in Fayetteville, AR

3 Bedroom

$1,430

$1,199

+16% in Fayetteville, AR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$322,500

$179,500

+44% in Fayetteville, AR

Income

Median Household Income

$59,074

$63,072

+7% in Wichita, KS

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$46,610

$47,630

+2% in Wichita, KS

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

28.7 yr

35.7 yr

+7.0 yr in Wichita, KS

Homeownership

41.9%

58.4%

+16.5 pp in Wichita, KS

Bachelor's+ (25+)

49.8%

30.9%

+18.9 pp in Fayetteville, AR

Avg Commute

18.2 min

18.9 min

+0.7 min in Wichita, KS

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

429.4

1,238.7

+188% in Wichita, KS

Property Crime

2,392.2

5,284.9

+121% in Wichita, KS

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

57.0°F

+0.1°F in Fayetteville, AR

Annual Precipitation

48.5 in

32.6 in

+15.9 in in Fayetteville, AR

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$3.85/gal

+6% in Wichita, KS

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.1

15.7

+11% in Wichita, KS

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$27.86

$25.12

+10% in Fayetteville, AR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Wichita, KS

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.66

+5% in Fayetteville, AR

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$3.63

+64% in Wichita, KS

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.77

+5% in Wichita, KS

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.10

+10% in Wichita, KS

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AR / KS)

6.5%

about equal

Income Tax (top rate)

3.90%

5.58%

+1.7 pp in KS

Fayetteville vs Wichita — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fayetteville or Wichita?: Wichita, KS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Fayetteville, AR's $990, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fayetteville than in Wichita?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Fayetteville versus $30,000 in Wichita.
Which has lower taxes, Fayetteville or Wichita?: Fayetteville is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Wichita under Kansas's (a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% 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).