CostIndexUSA

Bloomington, IL vs Fayetteville, AR Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

IL
Bloomington
93.5
overall index
$1,275/mo rent
More AffordableAR
Fayetteville
91.4
overall index
$1,575/mo rent

Fayetteville is slightly cheaper than Bloomington — 2.2% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Bloomington, you would need $78,200 in Fayetteville. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+2.9%
Bloomington
74.7
Fayetteville
76.9
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Bloomington
93.6
Fayetteville
93.6
🚗 Transportation4.3%
Bloomington
104.6
Fayetteville
100.1
🏥 Healthcare4.3%
Bloomington
94.6
Fayetteville
90.5
Utilities16.2%
Bloomington
89.6
Fayetteville
75.1

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Bloomington to see what you'd need to earn in Fayetteville to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Fayetteville, AR
$78,200
$1,800 less needed in Fayetteville

Formula: salary × (91.4 ÷ 93.5) = salary × 0.9775. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Bloomington, IL

Median Home Price
$246,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,275
Housing Index
74.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.1×

Fayetteville, AR

Median Home Price
$358,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,575
Housing Index
76.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.9×

Fayetteville has 2.9% higher housing costs compared to Bloomington.

Income & Job Market

Bloomington, IL

Median Household Income
$77,200
Per Capita Income
$44,000
Unemployment Rate
2.6%
Population
78,902
Top Industries
FinanceInsuranceEducationHealthcareManufacturing

Fayetteville, AR

Median Household Income
$77,700
Per Capita Income
$44,300
Unemployment Rate
3.5%
Population
93,949
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnologyRetailManufacturing

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Bloomington, IL
5.0×income-to-rent ratio

80% of income left after rent (median)

Fayetteville, AR
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

76% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.