Cost of Living Comparison Between Fayetteville, AR and Seattle, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Fayetteville, AR and Seattle, WA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,186 per month in Fayetteville, AR vs $3,634 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,372 per month in Fayetteville, AR vs $5,545 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,559 per month in Fayetteville, AR vs $7,456 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

Fayetteville, AR is about 40% cheaper than Seattle, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Fayetteville, AR and Seattle, WA sit above the global median – Fayetteville, AR by 63%, Seattle, WA by 170%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Fayetteville, AR
Seattle, WA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.19 $16.19
$24.77 $24.77
-34.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59.8 $59.8
$119 $119
-49.57%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.10 $9.10
$13.78 $13.78
-33.96%
Cappuccino
$4.85 $4.85
$5.61 $5.61
-13.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19 $2.19
$2.89 $2.89
-24.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.36 $1.36
$2.46 $2.46
-44.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.99 $4.99
$7.96 $7.96
-37.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.06 $6.06
$8.21 $8.21
-26.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Fayetteville, AR
Seattle, WA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.96 $0.96
$1.39 $1.39
-30.94%
White Bread (500g)
$3.48 $3.48
$4.86 $4.86
-28.40%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.11 $3.11
$5.16 $5.16
-39.73%
Eggs
$2.93 $2.93
$6.61 $6.61
-55.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.35 $8.35
$25.06 $25.06
-66.68%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.62 $8.62
$15.77 $15.77
-45.34%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.32 $13.32
$20.32 $20.32
-34.45%
Apples (1kg)
$4.57 $4.57
$6.23 $6.23
-26.65%
Banana (1kg)
$1.39 $1.39
$2.74 $2.74
-49.27%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.64 $2.64
$5.33 $5.33
-50.47%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.99 $3.99
$6.49 $6.49
-38.52%
Potato (1kg)
$1.89 $1.89
$3.09 $3.09
-38.83%
Onion (1kg)
$2.52 $2.52
$3.86 $3.86
-34.72%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.46 $1.46
$2.75 $2.75
-46.91%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.94 $1.94
$2.55 $2.55
-23.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.41 $8.41
$11.35 $11.35
-25.90%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.29 $15.29
$15.48 $15.48
-1.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 $1.63
$2.84 $2.84
-42.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18 $2.18
$4.24 $4.24
-48.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Fayetteville, AR
Seattle, WA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.01 $2.01
$2.69 $2.69
-25.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$97.8 $97.8
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.44 $2.44
$2.57 $2.57
-5.06%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.28 $1.28
$1.72 $1.72
-25.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.15 $24.15
$30.17 $30.17
-19.95%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.79 $0.79
$1.15 $1.15
-31.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.9K $23.9K
$33.3K $33.3K
-28.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7K $25.7K
$26.5K $26.5K
-3.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fayetteville, AR
Seattle, WA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$174 $174
$263 $263
-33.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.6 $52.6
$60.2 $60.2
-12.57%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$62.9 $62.9
$74.3 $74.3
-15.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Fayetteville, AR
Seattle, WA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$71.0 $71.0
$80.6 $80.6
-11.87%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$40.99 $40.99
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.70 $12.70
$15.91 $15.91
-20.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Fayetteville, AR
Seattle, WA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,045 $1,045
$2,281 $2,281
-54.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.6K $18.6K
$29.8K $29.8K
-37.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Fayetteville, AR
Seattle, WA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.2 $53.2
$70.0 $70.0
-23.98%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.05 $42.05
$53.8 $53.8
-21.88%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 $102
$119 $119
-14.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 $113
$143 $143
-21.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Fayetteville, AR
Seattle, WA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,530 $1,530
$2,312 $2,312
-33.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,038 $1,038
$1,829 $1,829
-43.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,800 $2,800
$4,694 $4,694
-40.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,106 $2,106
$3,491 $3,491
-39.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,619 $2,619
$8,154 $8,154
-67.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,188 $2,188
$5,200 $5,200
-57.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Fayetteville, AR
Seattle, WA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,593 $3,593
$6,564 $6,564
-45.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.58
6.42
2.49%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Fayetteville, AR: June 6, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,530 in Fayetteville, AR versus $2,312 in Seattle, WA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 83% higher in Seattle, WA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $60.0 in Fayetteville, AR versus $119 in Seattle, WA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $321 vs $538 – making Fayetteville, AR the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Fayetteville, AR vs Seattle, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Fayetteville, AR and Seattle, WA compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,186 in Fayetteville, AR, $3,634 in Seattle, WA – roughly 66% apart. Seattle, WA costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Fayetteville, AR compared to Seattle, WA?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,279 per month in Fayetteville, AR and $5,452 in Seattle, WA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Fayetteville, AR and Seattle, WA?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Fayetteville, AR, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $60.0 in Fayetteville, AR and $119 in Seattle, WA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 68% more in Seattle, WA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Fayetteville, AR, where all-in costs run around $2,186, than in Seattle, WA at $3,634. In Fayetteville, AR it covers expenses comfortably, while in Seattle, WA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Fayetteville, AR and Seattle, WA?
It depends on your priorities. Seattle, WA has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,186 in Fayetteville, AR to $3,634 in Seattle, WA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Fayetteville, AR or Seattle, WA safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Fayetteville, AR and Seattle, WA?
If budget matters most, go with Fayetteville, AR. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Seattle, WA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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