Fayetteville, AR vs New Orleans, LA: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, New Orleans, LA is 1.4% more expensive than Fayetteville, AR (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Fayetteville works out to about $76,000 in New Orleans, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 11.9% more in New Orleans. Goods are 0.1% higher and other services 0.4% higher.
- Typical asking rent is $1,577 a month in New Orleans and $1,571 in Fayetteville, nearly the same (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $257,000 in New Orleans and $364,000 in Fayetteville.
- The gap has narrowed since 2019, when New Orleans was 3.3% more expensive than Fayetteville.
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Housing drives the gap: 11.9% higher in New Orleans than in Fayetteville
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Fayetteville, AR
- New Orleans, LA
All items Fayetteville, AR: 91.4 New Orleans, LA: 92.6
Goods Fayetteville, AR: 93.6 New Orleans, LA: 93.7
Housing (rents) Fayetteville, AR: 76.9 New Orleans, LA: 86.0
Utilities Fayetteville, AR: 75.1 New Orleans, LA: 71.2
Other services Fayetteville, AR: 95.3 New Orleans, LA: 95.7
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Fayetteville, AR | New Orleans, LA | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 91.4 | 92.6 |
| Goods | 93.6 | 93.7 |
| Housing (rents) | 76.9 | 86.0 |
| Utilities | 75.1 | 71.2 |
| Other services | 95.3 | 95.7 |
| Category | Fayetteville | New Orleans | New Orleans vs Fayetteville |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 91.4 | 92.6 | +1.4% |
| Goods | 93.6 | 93.7 | +0.1% |
| Housing (rents) | 76.9 | 86.0 | +11.9% |
| Utilities | 75.1 | 71.2 | −5.2% |
| Other services | 95.3 | 95.7 | +0.4% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,571 | $1,577 | +0.4% |
| Typical home value | $364,000 | $257,000 | −29.5% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Fayetteville | $75,000 | $76,000 | +1.4% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Fayetteville and New Orleans has narrowed since 2008: 5.7 points then, 1.2 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Fayetteville, AR
- New Orleans, LA
US average = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Fayetteville, AR | New Orleans, LA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 92.6 | 98.2 |
| 2009 | 91.7 | 96.1 |
| 2010 | 92.5 | 97.6 |
| 2011 | 93.8 | 97.7 |
| 2012 | 94.3 | 97.9 |
| 2013 | 93.8 | 97.4 |
| 2014 | 93.4 | 97.5 |
| 2015 | 93.5 | 96.7 |
| 2016 | 94.3 | 98.2 |
| 2017 | 93.4 | 96.5 |
| 2018 | 90.8 | 93.7 |
| 2019 | 91.7 | 94.7 |
| 2020 | 92.7 | 95.7 |
| 2021 | 93.0 | 94.4 |
| 2022 | 90.8 | 93.7 |
| 2023 | 91.5 | 91.2 |
| 2024 | 91.4 | 92.6 |
Goods
- Fayetteville, AR
- New Orleans, LA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Fayetteville, AR | New Orleans, LA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 97.0 | 97.1 |
| 2009 | 95.1 | 94.9 |
| 2010 | 96.7 | 96.9 |
| 2011 | 96.9 | 96.8 |
| 2012 | 97.2 | 97.0 |
| 2013 | 97.3 | 97.2 |
| 2014 | 97.5 | 97.8 |
| 2015 | 96.4 | 96.7 |
| 2016 | 96.9 | 97.2 |
| 2017 | 96.8 | 97.0 |
| 2018 | 93.1 | 93.6 |
| 2019 | 94.8 | 95.1 |
| 2020 | 94.3 | 94.6 |
| 2021 | 95.6 | 95.2 |
| 2022 | 93.1 | 94.0 |
| 2023 | 93.1 | 93.0 |
| 2024 | 93.6 | 93.7 |
Housing (rents)
- Fayetteville, AR
- New Orleans, LA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Fayetteville, AR | New Orleans, LA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 72.7 | 102.9 |
| 2009 | 71.7 | 98.9 |
| 2010 | 70.7 | 97.4 |
| 2011 | 72.0 | 94.9 |
| 2012 | 72.5 | 95.9 |
| 2013 | 71.1 | 92.9 |
| 2014 | 68.2 | 91.4 |
| 2015 | 70.5 | 88.4 |
| 2016 | 70.0 | 91.8 |
| 2017 | 68.6 | 88.1 |
| 2018 | 67.8 | 85.1 |
| 2019 | 71.2 | 89.9 |
| 2020 | 71.9 | 91.5 |
| 2021 | 75.5 | 83.2 |
| 2022 | 71.6 | 84.7 |
| 2023 | 75.9 | 77.8 |
| 2024 | 76.9 | 86.0 |
Utilities
- Fayetteville, AR
- New Orleans, LA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Fayetteville, AR | New Orleans, LA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 84.4 | 89.0 |
| 2009 | 82.9 | 74.6 |
| 2010 | 82.5 | 81.7 |
| 2011 | 81.9 | 79.9 |
| 2012 | 82.1 | 75.6 |
| 2013 | 82.6 | 80.7 |
| 2014 | 82.0 | 81.4 |
| 2015 | 84.2 | 79.6 |
| 2016 | 82.7 | 78.4 |
| 2017 | 81.1 | 76.8 |
| 2018 | 79.8 | 76.6 |
| 2019 | 79.2 | 77.8 |
| 2020 | 81.9 | 77.2 |
| 2021 | 82.9 | 80.5 |
| 2022 | 83.1 | 83.7 |
| 2023 | 82.6 | 77.6 |
| 2024 | 75.1 | 71.2 |
Other services
- Fayetteville, AR
- New Orleans, LA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Fayetteville, AR | New Orleans, LA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 98.5 | 98.4 |
| 2009 | 98.1 | 98.2 |
| 2010 | 99.8 | 99.7 |
| 2011 | 101.5 | 101.1 |
| 2012 | 101.9 | 101.4 |
| 2013 | 100.8 | 100.7 |
| 2014 | 100.6 | 100.6 |
| 2015 | 101.0 | 101.3 |
| 2016 | 101.9 | 102.7 |
| 2017 | 100.8 | 100.8 |
| 2018 | 97.9 | 98.2 |
| 2019 | 97.2 | 97.2 |
| 2020 | 99.5 | 99.5 |
| 2021 | 97.2 | 98.8 |
| 2022 | 95.9 | 97.3 |
| 2023 | 95.7 | 95.6 |
| 2024 | 95.3 | 95.7 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,577 in New Orleans vs $1,571 in Fayetteville
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Fayetteville, AR
- New Orleans, LA
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Fayetteville, AR | New Orleans, LA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $871 | $1,098 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $893 | $1,129 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $888 | $1,136 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $897 | $1,123 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $908 | $1,143 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $931 | $1,140 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $934 | $1,132 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $937 | $1,138 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $960 | $1,135 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $974 | $1,155 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $984 | $1,153 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $980 | $1,154 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $998 | $1,161 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $1,006 | $1,179 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $1,014 | $1,171 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $1,014 | $1,176 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $1,031 | $1,195 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $1,045 | $1,211 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $1,047 | $1,208 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $1,042 | $1,218 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $1,072 | $1,228 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,080 | $1,236 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,097 | $1,252 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,105 | $1,260 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,139 | $1,280 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,173 | $1,310 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,228 | $1,362 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,251 | $1,413 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,274 | $1,446 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,338 | $1,470 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,399 | $1,473 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,400 | $1,459 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,426 | $1,474 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,434 | $1,494 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,451 | $1,501 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,437 | $1,500 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,459 | $1,508 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,483 | $1,528 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,503 | $1,541 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,508 | $1,543 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,524 | $1,561 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,544 | $1,562 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,552 | $1,551 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,558 | $1,545 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,563 | $1,561 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,568 | $1,575 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,571 | $1,577 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $257,000 in New Orleans vs $364,000 in Fayetteville
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Fayetteville, AR
- New Orleans, LA
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Fayetteville, AR | New Orleans, LA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $157K | $211K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $158K | $214K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $161K | $216K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $164K | $219K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $167K | $219K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $170K | $222K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $173K | $224K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $177K | $225K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $180K | $223K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $183K | $222K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $186K | $223K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $189K | $226K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $192K | $229K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $194K | $226K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $196K | $227K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $198K | $227K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $201K | $232K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $204K | $237K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $207K | $239K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $209K | $241K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $213K | $248K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $216K | $250K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $222K | $251K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $234K | $258K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $244K | $262K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $257K | $270K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $271K | $277K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $283K | $282K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $299K | $286K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $319K | $291K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $322K | $290K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $323K | $282K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $322K | $278K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $327K | $274K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $333K | $266K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $336K | $259K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $339K | $257K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $343K | $257K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $345K | $254K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $349K | $253K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $353K | $252K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $353K | $252K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $356K | $253K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $361K | $254K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $364K | $257K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $364K | $258K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $364K | $257K | $366K |
More about each city
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.