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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Arkansas is a genuine bargain: 1 of the 1 cities in this ranking come in below the national cost-of-living average. Little Rock leads at an index of 68 with rent at just $1,171/month — 38% less than the $1,895 national median. Here are the numbers, sourced from federal data updated in 2026.
#1 Ranked: Little Rock — cost index 68, rent $1,171/mo, income $60,583
1 of 1 cities come in below the national cost-of-living average of 111
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
Arkansas is a genuine bargain: 1 of the 1 cities in this ranking come in below the national cost-of-living average. Little Rock leads at an index of 68 with rent at just $1,171/month — 38% less than the $1,895 national median. Here are the numbers, sourced from federal data updated in 2026.
Little Rock earns its position at #1 through a combination that's hard to replicate. The 68 cost index sits 43 points below the national baseline, and the $60,583 median income means purchasing power here is amplified by the low cost base. Homes list at $214,773 — $252,597 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. On the cost side, Housing leads the way at 68, while Healthcare trails at 94.
The ranking uses a composite of 2026 data from Census Bureau population/income surveys, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary benchmarks, and Tax Foundation tax rates. And for the typical household, little Rock (index 68, rent $1,171). Each city profile below links to the full detail page with 12-month trends, salary breakdowns, and cost category comparisons.
Zooming out, Here's the state-level backdrop: Arkansas averages a 68 cost index, $1,171/mo rent, and $60,583 income across 1 cities. That's $724 less than the national rent average. One of the nation's most affordable states — and that context shapes every city in this ranking.
Bottom line: Little Rock leads this ranking for clear, data-backed reasons — but the "best" city depends on your priorities. You get the picture. 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.
| Rank | City | Cost Index | Median Rent | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Little Rock | 68 | $1,171 | 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). 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.
Little Rock ranks #1 in Arkansas for this analysis with a cost index of 68 and median income of $60,583.
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.
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.