CostIndexUSA

Fayetteville, NC vs Huntsville, AL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableNC
Fayetteville
92
overall index
$1,475/mo rent
AL
Huntsville
93.1
overall index
$1,400/mo rent

Fayetteville is slightly cheaper than Huntsville — 1.2% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Fayetteville, you would need $81,000 in Huntsville. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+6.6%
Fayetteville
73.1
Huntsville
77.9
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Fayetteville
96.6
Huntsville
96.4
🚗 Transportation1.6%
Fayetteville
103.1
Huntsville
101.5
🏥 Healthcare1.5%
Fayetteville
93.3
Huntsville
91.9
Utilities4.4%
Fayetteville
87.8
Huntsville
83.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Huntsville, AL
$81,000
$1,000 more needed in Huntsville

Formula: salary × (93.1 ÷ 92) = salary × 1.0120. 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×

Huntsville, AL

Median Home Price
$307,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,400
Housing Index
77.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.3×

Huntsville has 6.6% 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

Huntsville, AL

Median Household Income
$84,900
Per Capita Income
$48,400
Unemployment Rate
2.8%
Population
215,006
Top Industries
AerospaceDefenseTechnologyHealthcareEducation

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)

Huntsville, AL
5.1×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.