CostIndexUSA

Fayetteville, AR vs San Francisco, 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 Francisco
115.6
overall index
$3,075/mo rent

Fayetteville is significantly cheaper than San Francisco — 26.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Fayetteville, you would need $101,200 in San Francisco. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+153.2%
Fayetteville
76.9
San Francisco
194.7
🛒 Groceries+15.9%
Fayetteville
93.6
San Francisco
108.5
🚗 Transportation+11.4%
Fayetteville
100.1
San Francisco
111.5
🏥 Healthcare+11.5%
Fayetteville
90.5
San Francisco
100.9
Utilities+129.8%
Fayetteville
75.1
San Francisco
172.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in San Francisco, CA
$101,200
$21,200 more needed in San Francisco

Formula: salary × (115.6 ÷ 91.4) = salary × 1.2648. 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 Francisco, CA

Median Home Price
$1,090,000
Median Monthly Rent
$3,075
Housing Index
194.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
29.5×

San Francisco has 153.2% 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 Francisco, CA

Median Household Income
$127,800
Per Capita Income
$72,800
Unemployment Rate
5%
Population
873,965
Top Industries
TechnologyFinanceTourismHealthcareMedia

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 Francisco, CA
3.5×income-to-rent ratio

71% 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.