CostIndexUSA

Fayetteville, NC vs Mesa, AZ Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableNC
Fayetteville
92
overall index
$1,475/mo rent
AZ
Mesa
103.3
overall index
$1,725/mo rent

Fayetteville is moderately cheaper than Mesa — 12.3% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Fayetteville, you would need $89,800 in Mesa. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+65.8%
Fayetteville
73.1
Mesa
121.2
🛒 Groceries1.7%
Fayetteville
96.6
Mesa
95
🚗 Transportation+5.9%
Fayetteville
103.1
Mesa
109.2
🏥 Healthcare+5.9%
Fayetteville
93.3
Mesa
98.8
Utilities+6.3%
Fayetteville
87.8
Mesa
93.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Mesa, AZ
$89,800
$9,800 more needed in Mesa

Formula: salary × (103.3 ÷ 92) = salary × 1.1228. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Fayetteville, NC

Median Home Price
$251,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,475
Housing Index
73.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.2×

Mesa, AZ

Median Home Price
$442,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,725
Housing Index
121.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.4×

Mesa has 65.8% higher housing costs compared to Fayetteville.

Income & Job Market

Fayetteville, NC

Median Household Income
$61,200
Per Capita Income
$34,900
Unemployment Rate
6.5%
Population
208,501
Top Industries
MilitaryHealthcareRetailGovernmentManufacturing

Mesa, AZ

Median Household Income
$85,700
Per Capita Income
$48,800
Unemployment Rate
3.8%
Population
518,012
Top Industries
TechnologyHealthcareRetailManufacturingAerospace

Affordability at a Glance

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

Fayetteville, NC
3.5×income-to-rent ratio

71% of income left after rent (median)

Mesa, AZ
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.