CostIndexUSA

Fayetteville, NC vs San Luis Obispo, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableNC
Fayetteville
92
overall index
$1,475/mo rent
CA
San Luis Obispo
108.6
overall index
$3,000/mo rent

Fayetteville is significantly cheaper than San Luis Obispo — 18.0% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Fayetteville, you would need $94,400 in San Luis Obispo. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+97.5%
Fayetteville
73.1
San Luis Obispo
144.4
🛒 Groceries+8.9%
Fayetteville
96.6
San Luis Obispo
105.2
🚗 Transportation+2.1%
Fayetteville
103.1
San Luis Obispo
105.3
🏥 Healthcare+2.1%
Fayetteville
93.3
San Luis Obispo
95.3
Utilities+68.3%
Fayetteville
87.8
San Luis Obispo
147.8

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in San Luis Obispo, CA
$94,400
$14,400 more needed in San Luis Obispo

Formula: salary × (108.6 ÷ 92) = salary × 1.1804. 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×

San Luis Obispo, CA

Median Home Price
$880,000
Median Monthly Rent
$3,000
Housing Index
144.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
24.4×

San Luis Obispo has 97.5% 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

San Luis Obispo, CA

Median Household Income
$90,700
Per Capita Income
$51,700
Unemployment Rate
4.4%
Population
47,536
Top Industries
EducationTourismAgricultureHealthcareTechnology

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)

San Luis Obispo, CA
2.5×income-to-rent ratio

60% 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.