Loading
Assembling your view…
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Dollar for dollar, few states match Arkansas's value. 1 out of 1 cities undercut the national cost index of 112. Leading the pack: Little Rock at index 89, where median rent of $1,171/month saves renters $8,688/year versus the national median.
#1 Ranked: Little Rock — cost index 89, rent $1,171/mo, income $60,583
1 of 1 cities keep rent under 30% of $100K gross income
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
| Rank | City | Median Rent | Rent % of Gross | Cost Index | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Little Rock | $1,171 | 14% | 89 | Details |
Dollar for dollar, few states match Arkansas's value. 1 out of 1 cities undercut the national cost index of 112. Leading the pack: Little Rock at index 89, where median rent of $1,171/month saves renters $8,688/year versus the national median.
Dive into Little Rock's numbers: cost index 89 (23 points below national average), rent $1,171/month, income $60,583, and a home price of $214,773. The city's cost profile isn't flat — Housing is the cheapest category at 71, while Healthcare runs 91. With 203,842 residents, it balances mid-size city convenience with manageable costs.
If you're ready to act on this, three things to do next: 1) Click into the city pages for the top 3 and check rent trends — direction matters more than the snapshot. 2) Run your income through the salary calculator for a personalized cost comparison. 3) Compare your top two picks head-to-head on our comparison page. The data is here; the decision is yours.
203,842 residents · Arkansas
The #1 spot goes to Little Rock, and the breakdown explains why. Renters here pay $1,171/month — saving renters $8,688 per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Housing is the standout at index 71, making it one of the cheapest in the country for that category. The weak spot? Healthcare at 91. At a 23% rent-to-income ratio, there's genuine breathing room in the average household budget.
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Little Rock | 3.9% | 9.47% | 0.57% | $71,397 |
Little Rock ranks #1 in Arkansas for this analysis with a cost index of 89 and median income of $60,583.
Yes. On a $100K salary in Little Rock, rent would consume about 14% of your gross monthly income. Financial experts recommend keeping rent under 30%. You're well within that guideline.
Our cost of living index uses real Zillow rent data as the foundation, indexed to 100 (national median). Sub-categories (housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare) are derived from the overall index with regional adjustments. Data is updated monthly.
City data is refreshed monthly from Census Bureau population estimates, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary data, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Last updated: 2026.
The median 1-bedroom rent in Little Rock is $1,171/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $724 below the national median of $1,895/month.
After federal taxes, FICA (7.65%), and 3.9% state income tax, estimated take-home on $100K in Little Rock is approximately $71,397/year ($5,950/month). After median rent of $1,171/month, you'd have roughly $57,345/year for all other expenses.
The median home price in Little Rock is $214,773, which is 3.5× the local median income. It's on the edge of affordability for median-income households. The national median home price is $467,370.
Arkansas has a 3.9% state income tax rate. Combined state and local sales tax averages 9.47%, and the effective property tax rate is 0.57%.
This ranking was generated using data current as of early 2026. Population and income data comes from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5-year estimates). Rent and home price data is from Zillow's monthly releases. Tax rates are from the Tax Foundation's 2025 edition. Rankings are refreshed monthly.