Fayetteville, NC vs Raleigh, NC

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Fayetteville is 25.4% cheaper than Raleigh. With a cost index of 82 vs 110, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Fayetteville to Raleigh should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Fayetteville is $1,179/month compared to $1,468/month in Raleigh — a 20% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Fayetteville is more affordable at $171,900 median vs $377,800.

Median household income in Fayetteville is $56,395 compared to $82,424 in Raleigh (-31.6%). While Raleigh is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Fayetteville spend roughly 25.1% of their income on rent, more than the 21.4% in Raleigh.