Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Fayetteville, AR

For one person, living is cheaper in Fayetteville, AR: $2,098 a month against $4,941 in New York, NY, rent and utilities included – about $34,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

New York, NY, United States
Fayetteville, AR, United States
New York, NY
🇺🇸 United States
$4,941
/mo nomad
Fayetteville, AR
🇺🇸 United States
$2,098
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in New York, NY and in Fayetteville, AR

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in New York, NY and in Fayetteville, AR actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $4,941 per month in New York, NY vs $2,098 in Fayetteville, AR, rent included.

  • New York, NY $4,941
  • Fayetteville, AR $2,098

A couple spends around $7,225 per month in New York, NY vs $3,215 in Fayetteville, AR, rent included.

  • New York, NY $7,225
  • Fayetteville, AR $3,215

A family of three spends $9,509 per month in New York, NY vs $4,331 in Fayetteville, AR, rent included.

  • New York, NY $9,509
  • Fayetteville, AR $4,331

New York, NY costs about 135% more than Fayetteville, AR, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both New York, NY and Fayetteville, AR sit above the global median – New York, NY by 263%, Fayetteville, AR by 54%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
New York, NY
Fayetteville, AR
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$28.55 $28.55
$16.24 $16.24
75.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$118 $118
$78.8 $78.8
50.30%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$15.04 $15.04
$9.32 $9.32
61.37%
Cappuccino
$6.53 $6.53
$5.29 $5.29
23.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96 $3.96
$2.16 $2.16
83.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01 $3.01
$1.70 $1.70
77.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.16 $8.16
$6.05 $6.05
34.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.84 $9.84
$7.04 $7.04
39.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
New York, NY
Fayetteville, AR
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.37 $1.37
$0.90 $0.90
52.22%
White Bread (500g)
$4.97 $4.97
$3.59 $3.59
38.44%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$7.81 $7.81
$3.78 $3.78
106.61%
Eggs
$5.97 $5.97
$5.44 $5.44
9.74%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.91 $18.91
$8.13 $8.13
132.60%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$18.04 $18.04
$8.45 $8.45
113.49%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.05 $19.05
$13.52 $13.52
40.90%
Apples (1kg)
$6.76 $6.76
$4.48 $4.48
50.89%
Banana (1kg)
$2.27 $2.27
$1.53 $1.53
48.37%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.83 $6.83
$2.71 $2.71
152.03%
Tomato (1kg)
$7.09 $7.09
$3.98 $3.98
78.14%
Potato (1kg)
$4.22 $4.22
$1.98 $1.98
113.13%
Onion (1kg)
$4.65 $4.65
$2.55 $2.55
82.35%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.87 $2.87
$1.48 $1.48
93.92%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.60 $2.60
$2.00 $2.00
30.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$18.77 $18.77
$9.41 $9.41
99.47%
Wine (Bottle)
$20.13 $20.13
$14.01 $14.01
43.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.45 $3.45
$1.82 $1.82
89.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.02 $4.02
$3.15 $3.15
27.62%
🚌 Getting Around
New York, NY
Fayetteville, AR
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.91 $2.91
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$139 $139
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.08 $3.08
$2.80 $2.80
10.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.12 $2.12
$1.28 $1.28
65.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$41.96 $41.96
$30.23 $30.23
38.80%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.17 $1.17
$0.97 $0.97
20.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K $34.5K
$27.0K $27.0K
27.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K $25.9K
$26.0K $26.0K
-0.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
New York, NY
Fayetteville, AR
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$219 $219
$177 $177
23.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$74.2 $74.2
$54.9 $54.9
35.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.2 $70.2
$62.4 $62.4
12.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
New York, NY
Fayetteville, AR
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$112 $112
$30.86 $30.86
262.77%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$74.9 $74.9
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$22.14 $22.14
$9.91 $9.91
123.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
New York, NY
Fayetteville, AR
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,558 $3,558
$1,094 $1,094
225.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$62.2K $62.2K
$23.3K $23.3K
167.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
New York, NY
Fayetteville, AR
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.6 $75.6
$52.7 $52.7
43.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.2 $51.2
$41.94 $41.94
22.08%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$123 $123
$107 $107
14.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$140 $140
$139 $139
0.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
New York, NY
Fayetteville, AR
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,499 $4,499
$1,485 $1,485
203.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,078 $3,078
$974 $974
216.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$9,447 $9,447
$2,319 $2,319
307.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$5,190 $5,190
$1,792 $1,792
189.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$18.1K $18.1K
$3,758 $3,758
381.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,693 $6,693
$2,199 $2,199
204.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
New York, NY
Fayetteville, AR
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,220 $5,220
$3,634 $3,634
43.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.86
6.45
6.36%

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

Last update for New York, NY: October 26, 2026

Last update for Fayetteville, AR: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
New York, NY
$3.1K
Fayetteville, AR
$974 68.4% $2.1K
Groceries & Markets
New York, NY
$563
Fayetteville, AR
$336 40.4% $227
Eating Out
New York, NY
$440
Fayetteville, AR
$281 36.1% $159
Monthly Utilities & Internet
New York, NY
$364
Fayetteville, AR
$294 19.1% $70
Clothing & Footwear
New York, NY
$175
Fayetteville, AR
$154 12.4% $22
Getting Around
New York, NY
$164
Fayetteville, AR
$9.2 * 94.4% $155
Sport & Entertainment
New York, NY
$156
Fayetteville, AR
$51 67.6% $106

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $4,499 in New York, NY versus $1,485 in Fayetteville, AR. 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 44% higher in New York, NY, 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 $118 in New York, NY versus $79 in Fayetteville, AR. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $563 vs $336 – making Fayetteville, AR the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 New York, NY
🇺🇸 Fayetteville, AR
🕒 Local time
21:58 9:58 PM
20:58 8:58 PM
1 h behind New York, NY
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
8,804,190
93,949
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.898 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • New York, NY Fayetteville, AR 1,810 km ≈ 2 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • New York, NY
  • Fayetteville, AR

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
New York, NY vs Fayetteville, AR: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in New York, NY and in Fayetteville, AR compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $4,941 in New York, NY, $2,098 in Fayetteville, AR – Fayetteville, AR comes out roughly 58% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in New York, NY compared to Fayetteville, AR?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $7,412 per month in New York, NY and $3,148 in Fayetteville, AR. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between New York, NY and Fayetteville, AR?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Fayetteville, AR, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,485 there versus $4,499 in New York, NY.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $118 in New York, NY and $79 in Fayetteville, AR. 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 New York, NY, though the gap depends on what you buy.
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 $2,098, than in New York, NY at $4,941. In Fayetteville, AR it covers expenses comfortably, while in New York, NY it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: New York, NY or Fayetteville, AR?
Families tend to lean toward Fayetteville, AR – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How do I decide between New York, NY and Fayetteville, AR?
If budget matters most, go with Fayetteville, AR. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, New York, NY makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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