CostIndexUSA

Fayetteville, AR vs Wichita, KS Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

AR
Fayetteville
91.4
overall index
$1,575/mo rent
More AffordableKS
Wichita
88.9
overall index
$1,150/mo rent

Wichita is slightly cheaper than Fayetteville — 2.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Fayetteville, you would need $77,800 in Wichita. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing13.9%
Fayetteville
76.9
Wichita
66.2
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Fayetteville
93.6
Wichita
94
🚗 Transportation1.6%
Fayetteville
100.1
Wichita
98.5
🏥 Healthcare1.5%
Fayetteville
90.5
Wichita
89.1
Utilities+17.8%
Fayetteville
75.1
Wichita
88.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Wichita, KS
$77,800
$2,200 less needed in Wichita

Formula: salary × (88.9 ÷ 91.4) = salary × 0.9726. 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×

Wichita, KS

Median Home Price
$213,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,150
Housing Index
66.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.4×

Fayetteville has 13.9% lower housing costs compared to Wichita.

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

Wichita, KS

Median Household Income
$67,400
Per Capita Income
$38,400
Unemployment Rate
3.5%
Population
397,532
Top Industries
AerospaceManufacturingHealthcareAgricultureEnergy

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)

Wichita, KS
4.9×income-to-rent ratio

80% 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.