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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
The numbers are clear: 1 of 1 cities in Arkansas beat the national cost-of-living benchmark of 112. Little Rock stands out at 89 on the index, with rent of $1,171/month and household income of $60,583. Assembled from 2026 Census, Zillow, and BLS data.
| Rank | City | Median Rent | Rent % of Gross | Cost Index | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Little Rock | $1,171 | 9% | 89 | Details |
#1 Ranked: Little Rock — cost index 89, rent $1,171/mo, income $60,583
1 of 1 cities keep rent under 30% of $150K gross income
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
The numbers are clear: 1 of 1 cities in Arkansas beat the national cost-of-living benchmark of 112. Little Rock stands out at 89 on the index, with rent of $1,171/month and household income of $60,583. Assembled from 2026 Census, Zillow, and BLS data.
On a $150K salary, the key number is $3,750/month — that's 30% of gross, the standard affordability line. And depending on your situation, little Rock ($1,171/mo, 9%) all clear that bar. After federal tax, FICA (7.65%), and state income tax, estimated take-home ranges from $103,633 to $103,633/year across these top picks.
Why Little Rock ranks #1: the numbers tell a clear story. At 89 on the cost index, residents save roughly 23% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,171/month while the median household pulls in $60,583/year. The Housing category is particularly strong at 71, though Healthcare (91) lags behind. Home prices average $214,773 — $252,597 below the national median.
This looks affordable — until you factor in healthcare. In Little Rock, the healthcare index sits at 91 — not a dealbreaker, but worth knowing about.
Bottom line: Little Rock leads this ranking for clear, data-backed reasons — but the "best" city depends on your priorities. Click into any city below to see the full detail page with 12-month trend charts, profession-specific salary data, and a breakdown of all five cost categories. If you're seriously considering a move, use our salary calculator to model your specific income against these numbers.
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Little Rock | 3.9% | 9.47% | 0.57% | $103,633 |
203,842 residents · Arkansas
What does daily life actually cost in Little Rock? Start with the 23% rent-to-income ratio — that's the kind of margin that lets people build savings. On the category level, Housing (index 71) is where the real savings show up, while Healthcare (index 91) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $60,583 — whether that matters depends on your situation — and homes at $214,773 round out a profile that ranks #1 for clear reasons.
Little Rock ranks #1 in Arkansas for this analysis with a cost index of 89 and median income of $60,583.
Yes. On a $150K salary in Little Rock, rent would consume about 9% 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 $150K in Little Rock is approximately $103,633/year ($8,636/month). After median rent of $1,171/month, you'd have roughly $89,581/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.