Fayetteville, AR vs Slidell, LA: cost of living compared

Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).

The short answer

  • Overall, Slidell, LA is 1.5% more expensive than Fayetteville, AR (BEA, 2024).
  • To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Fayetteville works out to about $76,100 in Slidell, before taxes.
  • Most of the difference is housing, which costs 11.1% more in Slidell. Goods are 0.1% higher and other services 0.4% higher.
  • Zillow does not publish typical rent for Slidell, so rents are not compared here.
  • The gap has narrowed since 2019, when Slidell was 4.5% 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.

Try your own salary

18% matches BEA's average basket. Set your own share if housing takes more or less of your budget.

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: 11.1% higher in Slidell than in Fayetteville

Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.

  • Fayetteville, AR
  • Slidell, LA
All items
Fayetteville, AR: 91.4 Slidell, LA: 92.7
Goods
Fayetteville, AR: 93.6 Slidell, LA: 93.7
Housing (rents)
Fayetteville, AR: 76.9 Slidell, LA: 85.4
Utilities
Fayetteville, AR: 75.1 Slidell, LA: 71.7
Other services
Fayetteville, AR: 95.3 Slidell, LA: 95.7

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
Fayetteville, ARSlidell, LA
All items91.492.7
Goods93.693.7
Housing (rents)76.985.4
Utilities75.171.7
Other services95.395.7
CategoryFayettevilleSlidellSlidell vs Fayetteville
All items 91.4 92.7 +1.5%
Goods 93.6 93.7 +0.1%
Housing (rents) 76.9 85.4 +11.1%
Utilities 75.1 71.7 −4.6%
Other services 95.3 95.7 +0.4%
Salary to match $75,000 in Fayetteville $75,000 $76,100 +1.5%

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 Slidell has narrowed since 2008: 4.2 points then, 1.4 now

Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.

  • Fayetteville, AR
  • Slidell, LA
US average = 100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
Fayetteville, ARSlidell, LA
200892.696.7
200991.795.8
201092.595.9
201193.897.2
201294.397.6
201393.899.0
201493.497.8
201593.597.7
201694.398.7
201793.498.9
201890.894.2
201991.795.8
202092.795.7
202193.093.9
202290.893.2
202391.592.9
202491.492.7

Goods

  • Fayetteville, AR
  • Slidell, LA
US = 100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
Fayetteville, ARSlidell, LA
200897.097.1
200995.195.0
201096.796.9
201196.996.9
201297.297.2
201397.397.3
201497.598.0
201596.496.9
201696.997.3
201796.897.1
201893.193.6
201994.895.1
202094.394.6
202195.695.2
202293.194.0
202393.193.0
202493.693.7

Housing (rents)

  • Fayetteville, AR
  • Slidell, LA
US = 100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
Fayetteville, ARSlidell, LA
200872.792.4
200971.795.8
201070.786.1
201172.091.0
201272.592.4
201371.1101.7
201468.291.7
201570.591.7
201670.093.4
201768.6101.1
201867.886.3
201971.296.1
202071.989.8
202175.578.2
202271.680.1
202375.986.9
202476.985.4

Utilities

  • Fayetteville, AR
  • Slidell, LA
US = 100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
Fayetteville, ARSlidell, LA
200884.489.5
200982.973.9
201082.581.4
201181.978.9
201282.174.1
201382.679.8
201482.079.7
201584.278.1
201682.777.5
201781.177.0
201879.876.5
201979.277.4
202081.976.6
202182.981.4
202283.184.4
202382.676.8
202475.171.7

Other services

  • Fayetteville, AR
  • Slidell, LA
US = 100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).

Show the numbers
Fayetteville, ARSlidell, LA
200898.598.5
200998.198.3
201099.899.9
2011101.5101.3
2012101.9101.5
2013100.8100.8
2014100.6100.6
2015101.0101.4
2016101.9102.8
2017100.8100.9
201897.998.2
201997.297.2
202099.599.5
202197.298.8
202295.997.3
202395.795.6
202495.395.7

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.