What is the cost of living in Alma, AR?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Alma has an overall cost of living index of 89, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Arkansas, Alma has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than Arkansas's index of 85.
The standard of living in Alma ranks as #35 most affordable out of the 70 places we measured in Arkansas. By definition, that implies Alma ranks as the #35 most expensive place in the Natural State.
For more reading on life in Alma, check out:
Alma Cost Of Living Vs. Arkansas
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Alma. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Alma is 94.
The Groceries index in Alma is 97.
The Health index in Alma is 76.
The Housing index in Alma is 96.
The Transportation index in Alma is 90.
The Utilities index in Alma is 97.
| Living Expense | Alma | Arkansas | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 89 | 85 | 100 |
| Services | 94 | 95 | 100 |
| Groceries | 97 | 93 | 100 |
| Health | 76 | 68 | 100 |
| Housing | 96 | 96 | 100 |
| Transportation | 90 | 92 | 100 |
| Utilities | 97 | 92 | 100 |
Alma Cost Of Living Compared To Arkansas Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Arkansas, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Alma Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Alma, AR Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Arkansas, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Alma is $245,961.
The Median Rent in Alma is $1,012.
The Median Income in Alma is $68,562.
The Home Value To Income in Alma is 3.6x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Alma is 0.18x.
Alma, AR Costs By Category
Detailed Alma Services costs vs. Arkansas
Detailed Alma Groceries costs vs. Arkansas
Detailed Alma Health costs vs. Arkansas
Detailed Alma Transportation costs vs. Arkansas
Alma SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Alma
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Alma. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Fayetteville, AR has a cost of living index of 101, 1.1x Alma.
Fort Smith, AR has a cost of living index of 86, 1.0x Alma.
Springdale, AR has a cost of living index of 89, 1.0x Alma.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Alma |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville, AR | 99,319 | 101 | 1.1x |
| Fort Smith, AR | 89,805 | 86 | 1.0x |
| Springdale, AR | 88,160 | 89 | 1.0x |
| Van Buren, AR | 23,763 | 85 | 1.0x |
| Greenwood, AR | 9,616 | 89 | 1.0x |
| Clarksville, AR | 9,526 | 84 | 0.9x |
| Farmington, AR | 9,094 | 97 | 1.1x |
| Poteau, OK | 8,959 | 84 | 0.9x |
| Sallisaw, OK | 8,605 | 83 | 0.9x |
| Barling, AR | 5,007 | 86 | 1.0x |
