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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,621 per month in Seattle, WA vs $2,148 in Fayetteville, AR, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,548 per month in Seattle, WA vs $3,338 in Fayetteville, AR, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,476 per month in Seattle, WA vs $4,528 in Fayetteville, AR, rent included.

Seattle, WA costs about 69% more than Fayetteville, AR, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Seattle, WA and Fayetteville, AR sit above the global median – Seattle, WA by 172%, Fayetteville, AR by 61%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.02 $25.02

$16.47 $16.47

51.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$60.7 $60.7

94.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.76 $13.76

$8.98 $8.98

53.23%

Cappuccino

$5.85 $5.85

$4.94 $4.94

18.42%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.05 $3.05

$2.08 $2.08

46.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 $2.39

$1.36 $1.36

75.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.93 $7.93

$5.08 $5.08

56.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.85 $7.85

$6.17 $6.17

27.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 $1.39

$0.90 $0.90

54.44%

White Bread (500g)

$4.86 $4.86

$3.38 $3.38

43.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.18 $5.18

$3.11 $3.11

66.56%

Eggs

$6.69 $6.69

$2.92 $2.92

129.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.28 $25.28

$8.08 $8.08

212.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.92 $15.92

$8.37 $8.37

90.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.16 $20.16

$13.61 $13.61

48.13%

Apples (1kg)

$6.19 $6.19

$4.55 $4.55

36.04%

Banana (1kg)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.42 $1.42

102.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.48 $5.48

$2.67 $2.67

105.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.38 $6.38

$3.88 $3.88

64.43%

Potato (1kg)

$3.09 $3.09

$1.91 $1.91

61.78%

Onion (1kg)

$3.80 $3.80

$2.41 $2.41

57.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.80 $2.80

$1.53 $1.53

83.01%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.61 $2.61

$2.00 $2.00

30.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.41 $11.41

$8.72 $8.72

30.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.59 $15.59

$14.71 $14.71

5.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 $2.99

$1.73 $1.73

72.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.23 $4.23

$2.16 $2.16

95.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$1.98 $1.98

35.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$101 $101

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.68 $2.68

$2.43 $2.43

10.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.24 $1.24

37.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.50 $29.50

$24.28 $24.28

21.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$0.80 $0.80

42.50%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$33.3K $33.3K

$23.7K $23.7K

40.58%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.5K $26.5K

$26.3K $26.3K

1.00%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$261 $261

$176 $176

48.78%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$60.4 $60.4

$52.7 $52.7

14.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.8 $75.8

$63.4 $63.4

19.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$78.8 $78.8

$71.3 $71.3

10.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.08 $40.08

Cinema Ticket

$15.82 $15.82

$12.56 $12.56

25.96%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$2,210 $2,210

$1,051 $1,051

110.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.8K $29.8K

$18.6K $18.6K

59.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.8 $69.8

$54.0 $54.0

29.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.0 $52.0

$41.67 $41.67

24.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$99.8 $99.8

17.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$116 $116

19.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,321 $2,321

$1,562 $1,562

48.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,870 $1,870

$1,014 $1,014

84.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,728 $4,728

$2,778 $2,778

70.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,569 $3,569

$2,070 $2,070

72.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,651 $7,651

$2,648 $2,648

188.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,034 $5,034

$2,263 $2,263

122.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,516 $6,516

$3,520 $3,520

85.09%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

6.58

-2.43%

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

Last update for Seattle, WA: July 26, 2026

Last update for Fayetteville, AR: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,321 in Seattle, WA versus $1,562 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 85% 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 $118 in Seattle, WA versus $61.0 in Fayetteville, AR. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $542 vs $318 – 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

Seattle, WA vs Fayetteville, AR: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $3,621 in Seattle, WA, $2,148 in Fayetteville, AR – roughly 69% apart. Seattle, WA costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,431 per month in Seattle, WA and $3,222 in Fayetteville, AR. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $118 in Seattle, WA and $61.0 in Fayetteville, AR. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 70% 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.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $3,621 in Seattle, WA and $2,148 in Fayetteville, AR. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Seattle, WA has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,148 in Fayetteville, AR to $3,621 in Seattle, WA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

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.