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

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

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

Seattle, WA costs about 66% more than Fayetteville, AR, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.77 $24.77

$16.19 $16.19

53.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$59.8 $59.8

98.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.78 $13.78

$9.10 $9.10

51.43%

Cappuccino

$5.61 $5.61

$4.85 $4.85

15.67%

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

$2.89 $2.89

$2.19 $2.19

31.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.36 $1.36

80.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.96 $7.96

$4.99 $4.99

59.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.21 $8.21

$6.06 $6.06

35.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 $1.39

$0.96 $0.96

44.79%

White Bread (500g)

$4.86 $4.86

$3.48 $3.48

39.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.16 $5.16

$3.11 $3.11

65.92%

Eggs

$6.61 $6.61

$2.93 $2.93

125.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.06 $25.06

$8.35 $8.35

200.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.77 $15.77

$8.62 $8.62

82.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.32 $20.32

$13.32 $13.32

52.55%

Apples (1kg)

$6.23 $6.23

$4.57 $4.57

36.32%

Banana (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.39 $1.39

97.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.33 $5.33

$2.64 $2.64

101.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.49 $6.49

$3.99 $3.99

62.66%

Potato (1kg)

$3.09 $3.09

$1.89 $1.89

63.49%

Onion (1kg)

$3.86 $3.86

$2.52 $2.52

53.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.75 $2.75

$1.46 $1.46

88.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.55 $2.55

$1.94 $1.94

31.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.35 $11.35

$8.41 $8.41

34.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.48 $15.48

$15.29 $15.29

1.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 $2.84

$1.63 $1.63

74.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.24 $4.24

$2.18 $2.18

94.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.69 $2.69

$2.01 $2.01

33.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$97.8 $97.8

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 $2.57

$2.44 $2.44

5.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.72 $1.72

$1.28 $1.28

34.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$30.17 $30.17

$24.15 $24.15

24.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.15 $1.15

$0.79 $0.79

45.57%

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

$33.3K $33.3K

$23.9K $23.9K

39.32%

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

$26.5K $26.5K

$25.7K $25.7K

3.21%

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

$263 $263

$174 $174

50.94%

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

$60.2 $60.2

$52.6 $52.6

14.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.3 $74.3

$62.9 $62.9

17.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.6 $80.6

$71.0 $71.0

13.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.99 $40.99

Cinema Ticket

$15.91 $15.91

$12.70 $12.70

25.28%

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

$2,281 $2,281

$1,045 $1,045

118.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$29.8K $29.8K

$18.6K $18.6K

59.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.0 $70.0

$53.2 $53.2

31.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.8 $53.8

$42.05 $42.05

28.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 $119

$102 $102

16.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$143 $143

$113 $113

26.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,312 $2,312

$1,530 $1,530

51.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,829 $1,829

$1,038 $1,038

76.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,694 $4,694

$2,800 $2,800

67.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,491 $3,491

$2,106 $2,106

65.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,154 $8,154

$2,619 $2,619

211.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,200 $5,200

$2,188 $2,188

137.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,564 $6,564

$3,593 $3,593

82.70%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Fayetteville, AR: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,312 in Seattle, WA versus $1,530 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 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 $119 in Seattle, WA versus $60.0 in Fayetteville, AR. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $538 vs $321 – 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: $3,634 in Seattle, WA, $2,186 in Fayetteville, AR – roughly 66% apart. Seattle, WA costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,452 per month in Seattle, WA and $3,279 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 $119 in Seattle, WA and $60.0 in Fayetteville, AR. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

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.

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.

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.

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.