CostIndexUSA

Fayetteville, NC vs Louisville, KY Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableNC
Fayetteville
92
overall index
$1,475/mo rent
KY
Louisville
93.1
overall index
$1,350/mo rent

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

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

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+7.5%
Fayetteville
73.1
Louisville
78.6
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Fayetteville
96.6
Louisville
96.2
🚗 Transportation1.5%
Fayetteville
103.1
Louisville
101.6
🏥 Healthcare1.4%
Fayetteville
93.3
Louisville
92
Utilities14.6%
Fayetteville
87.8
Louisville
75

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Louisville, KY
$81,000
$1,000 more needed in Louisville

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×

Louisville, KY

Median Home Price
$270,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,350
Housing Index
78.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.7×

Louisville has 7.5% 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

Louisville, KY

Median Household Income
$68,900
Per Capita Income
$39,300
Unemployment Rate
4%
Population
633,045
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingLogisticsEducationAgriculture

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)

Louisville, KY
4.3×income-to-rent ratio

76% 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.