What is the cost of living in Barling, AR?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Barling has an overall cost of living index of 86, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Arkansas, Barling has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than Arkansas's index of 85.
The standard of living in Barling ranks as #26 most affordable out of the 70 places we measured in Arkansas. By definition, that implies Barling ranks as the #44 most expensive place in the Natural State.
For more reading on life in Barling, check out:
Barling Cost Of Living Vs. Arkansas
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Barling. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Barling is 93.
The Groceries index in Barling is 95.
The Health index in Barling is 66.
The Housing index in Barling is 95.
The Transportation index in Barling is 87.
The Utilities index in Barling is 99.
| Living Expense | Barling | Arkansas | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 86 | 85 | 100 |
| Services | 93 | 95 | 100 |
| Groceries | 95 | 93 | 100 |
| Health | 66 | 68 | 100 |
| Housing | 95 | 96 | 100 |
| Transportation | 87 | 92 | 100 |
| Utilities | 99 | 92 | 100 |
Barling 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 Barling Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Barling, 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 Barling is $193,771.
The Median Rent in Barling is $1,128.
The Median Income in Barling is $54,387.
The Home Value To Income in Barling is 3.6x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Barling is 0.25x.
Barling, AR Costs By Category
Detailed Barling Services costs vs. Arkansas
Detailed Barling Groceries costs vs. Arkansas
Detailed Barling Health costs vs. Arkansas
Detailed Barling Transportation costs vs. Arkansas
Barling SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Barling
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Barling. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Fort Smith, AR has a cost of living index of 86, 1.0x Barling.
Van Buren, AR has a cost of living index of 85, 1.0x Barling.
Greenwood, AR has a cost of living index of 89, 1.0x Barling.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Barling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Smith, AR | 89,805 | 86 | 1.0x |
| Van Buren, AR | 23,763 | 85 | 1.0x |
| Greenwood, AR | 9,616 | 89 | 1.0x |
| Alma, AR | 5,906 | 89 | 1.0x |
