CostIndexUSA

Fayetteville, NC vs Rochester, NY Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableNC
Fayetteville
92
overall index
$1,475/mo rent
NY
Rochester
97
overall index
$1,475/mo rent

Fayetteville is moderately cheaper than Rochester — 5.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Fayetteville, you would need $84,300 in Rochester. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+19.7%
Fayetteville
73.1
Rochester
87.5
🛒 Groceries+3.2%
Fayetteville
96.6
Rochester
99.7
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Fayetteville
103.1
Rochester
102.6
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Fayetteville
93.3
Rochester
92.9
Utilities+51.7%
Fayetteville
87.8
Rochester
133.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Rochester, NY
$84,300
$4,300 more needed in Rochester

Formula: salary × (97 ÷ 92) = salary × 1.0543. 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×

Rochester, NY

Median Home Price
$262,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,475
Housing Index
87.5
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.8×

Rochester has 19.7% 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

Rochester, NY

Median Household Income
$73,300
Per Capita Income
$41,800
Unemployment Rate
3.9%
Population
211,328
Top Industries
HealthcareTechnologyEducationManufacturingFinance

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)

Rochester, NY
4.1×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.