Fayetteville, NC vs Wilmington, NC

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Fayetteville is 19.5% cheaper than Wilmington. With a cost index of 82 vs 102, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Fayetteville to Wilmington should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Fayetteville is $1,179/month compared to $1,311/month in Wilmington — a 10% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Fayetteville is more affordable at $171,900 median vs $350,300.

Median household income in Fayetteville is $56,395 compared to $63,900 in Wilmington (-11.7%). The higher salaries in Wilmington partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Fayetteville spend roughly 25.1% of their income on rent, more than the 24.6% in Wilmington.