CostIndexUSA

Fayetteville, NC vs Lakeland, FL Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableNC
Fayetteville
92
overall index
$1,475/mo rent
FL
Lakeland
97.1
overall index
$1,825/mo rent

Fayetteville is moderately cheaper than Lakeland — 5.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Fayetteville, you would need $84,400 in Lakeland. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+31.2%
Fayetteville
73.1
Lakeland
95.9
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Fayetteville
96.6
Lakeland
96.2
🚗 Transportation+0.7%
Fayetteville
103.1
Lakeland
103.8
🏥 Healthcare+0.6%
Fayetteville
93.3
Lakeland
93.9
Utilities1.0%
Fayetteville
87.8
Lakeland
86.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Lakeland, FL
$84,400
$4,400 more needed in Lakeland

Formula: salary × (97.1 ÷ 92) = salary × 1.0554. 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×

Lakeland, FL

Median Home Price
$295,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,825
Housing Index
95.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
13.5×

Lakeland has 31.2% 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

Lakeland, FL

Median Household Income
$66,900
Per Capita Income
$38,100
Unemployment Rate
3.7%
Population
119,428
Top Industries
HealthcareLogisticsManufacturingRetailAgriculture

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)

Lakeland, FL
3.1×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.