CostIndexUSA

Fayetteville, NC vs Lawrence, KS Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

NC
Fayetteville
92
overall index
$1,475/mo rent
More AffordableKS
Lawrence
90.2
overall index
$1,475/mo rent

Lawrence is slightly cheaper than Fayetteville — 2.0% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Fayetteville, you would need $78,400 in Lawrence. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing2.1%
Fayetteville
73.1
Lawrence
71.6
🛒 Groceries2.7%
Fayetteville
96.6
Lawrence
94
🚗 Transportation4.5%
Fayetteville
103.1
Lawrence
98.5
🏥 Healthcare4.5%
Fayetteville
93.3
Lawrence
89.1
Utilities+1.7%
Fayetteville
87.8
Lawrence
89.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Lawrence, KS
$78,400
$1,600 less needed in Lawrence

Formula: salary × (90.2 ÷ 92) = salary × 0.9804. 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×

Lawrence, KS

Median Home Price
$320,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,475
Housing Index
71.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.1×

Fayetteville has 2.1% lower housing costs compared to Lawrence.

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

Lawrence, KS

Median Household Income
$67,000
Per Capita Income
$38,200
Unemployment Rate
5.2%
Population
98,004
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnologyRetailManufacturing

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)

Lawrence, KS
3.8×income-to-rent ratio

74% 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.