Mobile, AL vs Fayetteville, NC: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Fayetteville, NC has a modeled overall cost index 2.0% lower than Mobile, AL.

Mobile, AL · modeled 2BR rent: $1,095 / month
Fayetteville, NC · modeled 2BR rent: $1,270 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Mobile, AL and Fayetteville, NC using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

Current salary in Mobile, AL

Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $22.96/month in Fayetteville, NC

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $150,276 in Fayetteville, NC

Regional cost estimates: Mobile, AL uses New Orleans, LA. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.

Overall Cost

↓ 2.0%

Less expensive

Monthly Impact

$22.96

Extra cost

Annual Impact

$276

Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Mobile, AL

Population:183K

Cost Index:

93.9

100 = national average

Typical Home:$180K

Fayetteville, NC

Population:209K

Cost Index:

92.0

100 = national average

Typical Home:$238K

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Mobile, AL

The Heart of Dixie

183K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in Alabama, this city has a population of 183K residents.

Fayetteville, NC

The Tar Heel State

209K

Population

State Tax

Yes

Located in North Carolina, this city has a population of 209K residents.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Mobile, AL vs Fayetteville, NC

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Category	Mobile, AL	Fayetteville, NC	Difference	Change
Other	$1,961/mo	$1,703/mo	↓ $258less	13.1%
Healthcare	$494/mo	$637/mo	↑ $143more	29.1%
Housing	$2,231/mo	$2,341/mo	↑ $111more	5.0%
All Utilities	$510/mo	$550/mo	↑ $40.43more	7.9%
Transportation	$1,289/mo	$1,274/mo	↓ $14.55less	1.1%
Groceries	$1,016/mo	$1,017/mo	↑ $0.73more	0.1%

Other

↓ 13.1%

Mobile, AL

$1,961

Fayetteville, NC

$1,703

Difference

$258

less

Healthcare

↑ 29.1%

Mobile, AL

$494

Fayetteville, NC

$637

Difference

$143

Housing

↑ 5.0%

Mobile, AL

$2,231

Fayetteville, NC

$2,341

Difference

$111

All Utilities

↑ 7.9%

Mobile, AL

$510

Fayetteville, NC

$550

Difference

$40.43

Transportation

↓ 1.1%

Mobile, AL

$1,289

Fayetteville, NC

$1,274

Difference

$14.55

less

Groceries

↑ 0.1%

Mobile, AL

$1,016

Fayetteville, NC

$1,017

Difference

$0.73

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio

From$865

To$1,110

↑ $245

1 Bed

From$925

To$1,130

↑ $205

2 Bed

From$1,095

To$1,270

↑ $175

3 Bed

From$1,430

To$1,690

↑ $260

Mobile, ALZIP-level data

1BR range: $730–$1,080/mo

Fayetteville, NCZIP-level data

1BR range: $990–$1,280/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500

Monthly in Mobile, AL

$7,523

Monthly in Fayetteville, NC

$22.96

Difference

Home Values

Mobile

Fayetteville

$180K

Median Value

$238K

↓ -3.5%

YoY Change

↑ +0.4%

↑ +22.1%

5-Year Change

↑ +45.9%

$55K - $308K

Price Range

$195K - $271K

Homes in Fayetteville are 32% more expensive than Mobile

Calculate payment - Mobile Calculate payment - Fayetteville

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings

↑ $335

Per year

Monthly Difference

$27.92

More take-home

Effective Rate Diff

0.2%

Rate difference

Mobile, AL

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

Alabama State Tax

Effective: 5.0%

$7.5K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 29.6%

$44.5K

Take-Home Pay

$8,794/month

$105.5K

Fayetteville, NC

Federal Income Tax

Effective: 18.9%

$25.5K

North Carolina State Tax

Effective: 4.8%

$7.1K

FICA Taxes

Social Security + Medicare

$11.5K

Total Taxes

Effective: 29.4%

$44.1K

Take-Home Pay

$8,822/month

$105.9K

Additional Tax Information

Mobile, AL Tax Rates

Sales Tax:9.1%

Property Tax:0.4%

Fayetteville, NC Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.1%

Property Tax:0.8%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

Environment

Mobile

Fayetteville

41 Good

Air Quality

46 Good

70.2%

Good Air Days

63.7%

98 High

Climate Risk

89 Moderate

🌊🌀🌡

Top Hazards

🌀🌪

▲+2.2°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.5°F

46 days

Heat Days >95°F

36 days

▲+2.2°F

2050 Outlook

▲+2.5°F

46 days

Heat Days >95°F

36 days

Before moving from Mobile, AL to Fayetteville, NC

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Fayetteville, NC for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Mobile, AL. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Mobile to Fayetteville moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Fayetteville, NC by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Mobile, AL vs Fayetteville, NC

How do the cost estimates for Mobile, AL and Fayetteville, NC compare?

Fayetteville, NC has a modeled overall cost index 2.0% lower than Mobile, AL. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Mobile, AL, the model estimates $150,276 in Fayetteville, NC. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Mobile, AL and Fayetteville, NC?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $1,095/month in Mobile, AL and $1,270/month in Fayetteville, NC. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Alabama and North Carolina on TaxTakeHome.com