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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 111. Little Rock stands out at 68 on the index, with rent of $1,171/month and household income of $60,583. Assembled from 2026 Census, Zillow, and BLS data.
#1 Ranked: Little Rock — cost index 68, rent $1,171/mo, income $60,583
1 of 1 cities keep rent under 30% of $75K 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 111. Little Rock stands out at 68 on the index, with rent of $1,171/month and household income of $60,583. Assembled from 2026 Census, Zillow, and BLS data.
Dive into Little Rock's numbers: cost index 68 — worth pausing on — (43 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 68, while Healthcare runs 94. With 203,842 residents, it balances mid-size city convenience with manageable costs.
Before celebrating, check the next metric: Across Arkansas, the average cost of living index is 68 — 43 points below the national median. Known for one of the nation's most affordable states, the state offers 1 tracked cities with median rents averaging $1,171/month — which, honestly, is lower than you'd expect here — . That's $724 less than the national average of $1,895. That's a difference you notice every single month. Honestly, this is the kind of city that makes you wonder why more people aren't paying attention. The numbers are right there — rent that doesn't eat your paycheck, costs that actually leave room for a life. And yet it barely shows up in the national conversation about affordable places to live. Maybe that's a good thing. Maybe that's what keeps it affordable.
Rankings quantify the landscape. And most of the time, but the decision to move is personal. Use the spotlights above to zero in on 2-3 finalists, then run your actual salary through the calculator. The question isn't just "where is it cheapest?" — it's "where does my specific income buy the life I want?" Start here. Dig deeper on the linked city pages.
| Rank | City | Median Rent | Rent % of Gross | Cost Index | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Little Rock | $1,171 | 19% | 68 | Details |
203,842 residents · Arkansas
A closer look at Little Rock: the cost index of 68 breaks down to a Housing index of 68 (strongest category) and a Healthcare index of 94 (weakest). And most of the time, median rent is $1,171/month — 38% below the national median — while household income sits at $60,583, meaning locals spend about 23% of income on rent. That's a healthy margin by any standard.
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Little Rock | 3.9% | 9.47% | 0.57% | $54,785 |
We model what a $75K salary looks like after taxes in each city: federal income tax (marginal brackets), FICA (7.65%), and state income tax. Then we compare take-home against local rent and costs to determine where the salary stretches furthest. All data is sourced from federal agencies and verified research institutions. Cost of living indices are normalized to 100 (national median) using Zillow rent as the primary signal, with sub-category adjustments derived from regional BLS price data. Rankings are updated monthly as new data is released.
Little Rock ranks #1 in Arkansas for this analysis with a cost index of 68 and median income of $60,583.
Yes. On a $75K salary in Little Rock, rent would consume about 19% 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 $75K in Little Rock is approximately $54,785/year ($4,565/month). After median rent of $1,171/month, you'd have roughly $40,733/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.