CostIndexUSA

Fayetteville, NC vs Waterbury, CT Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableNC
Fayetteville
92
overall index
$1,475/mo rent
CT
Waterbury
99.8
overall index
$1,325/mo rent

Fayetteville is moderately cheaper than Waterbury — 8.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Fayetteville, you would need $86,800 in Waterbury. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+21.9%
Fayetteville
73.1
Waterbury
89.1
🛒 Groceries+0.7%
Fayetteville
96.6
Waterbury
97.3
🚗 Transportation+4.6%
Fayetteville
103.1
Waterbury
107.8
🏥 Healthcare+4.5%
Fayetteville
93.3
Waterbury
97.5
Utilities+68.1%
Fayetteville
87.8
Waterbury
147.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Waterbury, CT
$86,800
$6,800 more needed in Waterbury

Formula: salary × (99.8 ÷ 92) = salary × 1.0848. 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×

Waterbury, CT

Median Home Price
$420,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,325
Housing Index
89.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
26.4×

Waterbury has 21.9% 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

Waterbury, CT

Median Household Income
$81,300
Per Capita Income
$46,300
Unemployment Rate
5.3%
Population
114,403
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingFinanceEducationGovernment

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)

Waterbury, CT
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.