Fayetteville, AR vs Little Rock, AR

Little Rock is moderately more affordable than Fayetteville, with a 8.6% lower cost of living index. Fayetteville scores 89 compared to 82 for Little Rock, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Fayetteville can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Fayetteville is $1,003/month compared to $1,067/month in Little Rock — a 6% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Fayetteville has cheaper rent, Little Rock actually has lower median home values ($221,200 vs $322,500).

Median household income in Fayetteville is $59,074 compared to $60,583 in Little Rock (-2.5%). Little Rock offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Fayetteville spend roughly 20.4% of their income on rent, less than the 21.1% in Little Rock.