CostIndexUSA

Fayetteville, AR vs San Diego, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableAR
Fayetteville
91.4
overall index
$1,575/mo rent
CA
San Diego
111.9
overall index
$2,875/mo rent

Fayetteville is significantly cheaper than San Diego — 22.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Fayetteville, you would need $97,900 in San Diego. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+133.2%
Fayetteville
76.9
San Diego
179.3
🛒 Groceries+15.4%
Fayetteville
93.6
San Diego
108
🚗 Transportation+4.5%
Fayetteville
100.1
San Diego
104.6
🏥 Healthcare+4.5%
Fayetteville
90.5
San Diego
94.6
Utilities+132.0%
Fayetteville
75.1
San Diego
174.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in San Diego, CA
$97,900
$17,900 more needed in San Diego

Formula: salary × (111.9 ÷ 91.4) = salary × 1.2243. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Fayetteville, AR

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

San Diego, CA

Median Home Price
$904,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,875
Housing Index
179.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
26.2×

San Diego has 133.2% higher housing costs compared to Fayetteville.

Income & Job Market

Fayetteville, AR

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

San Diego, CA

Median Household Income
$103,700
Per Capita Income
$59,100
Unemployment Rate
4.7%
Population
1,386,932
Top Industries
MilitaryTechnologyTourismBiotechnologyHealthcare

Affordability at a Glance

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

Fayetteville, AR
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

76% of income left after rent (median)

San Diego, CA
3.0×income-to-rent ratio

67% 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.