Benton, AR Cost Of Living

The latest cost of living statistics for Benton. Includes statistics on rent, mortgages, healthcare, and other costs for Benton compared to the state and national averages.

Cost of living in Benton, Arkansas

Cost of living in Benton research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Benton is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in Arkansas, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

91 Cost of living index 0.9x lower vs US
#45 Cheapest in Arkansas (of 70)
#1,207 Cheapest in the U.S. (of 6,489)
$239,100 Median home value
$1,072 Median rent
$72,876 Median income
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What is the cost of living in Benton, AR?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Benton has an overall cost of living index of 91, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.

Compared to Arkansas, Benton has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Arkansas's index of 85.

The standard of living in Benton ranks as #45 most affordable out of the 70 places we measured in Arkansas. By definition, that implies Benton ranks as the #25 most expensive place in the Natural State.

For more reading on life in Benton, check out:

Benton Cost Of Living Vs. Arkansas

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Benton. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Benton is 97.

  • The Groceries index in Benton is 97.

  • The Health index in Benton is 82.

  • The Housing index in Benton is 95.

  • The Transportation index in Benton is 97.

  • The Utilities index in Benton is 96.

Living Expense Benton Arkansas National Average
Overall 91 85 100
Services 97 95 100
Groceries 97 93 100
Health 82 68 100
Housing 95 96 100
Transportation 97 92 100
Utilities 96 92 100

Benton Cost Of Living Compared To Arkansas Averages

Services
Benton 97
Arkansas avg 95
Groceries
Benton 97
Arkansas avg 93
Health
Benton 82
Arkansas avg 68
Housing
Benton 95
Arkansas avg 96
Transportation
Benton 97
Arkansas avg 92
Utilities
Benton 96
Arkansas avg 92

Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.

For more reading on cost of living around Arkansas, check out:

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Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100

Benton, AR Housing Cost Breakdown

$239,100Median Home Value
$1,072Median Rent
$72,876Median Income

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 Benton is $239,100.

  • The Median Rent in Benton is $1,072.

  • The Median Income in Benton is $72,876.

  • The Home Value To Income in Benton is 3.3x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Benton is 0.18x.

Statistic Benton Arkansas United States
Median Home Value $239,100 $222,050 $332,700
Median Rent $1,072 $947 $1,413
Median Income $72,876 $60,773 $80,734
Home Value To Income 3.3x 3.7x 4.1x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.18x 0.19x 0.21x

Benton, AR Costs By Category

Detailed Benton Services costs vs. Arkansas
Item Benton Arkansas
Shampoo $1.17 $1.28
Movie $13.35 $12.13
Bowling $15.56 $18
Haircut $28.72 $24.26
Beauty Salon $47.61 $45.56
Detailed Benton Groceries costs vs. Arkansas
Item Benton Arkansas
Ground Beef $5.76 $5.84
Fried Chicken $1.36 $1.57
Milk $4.65 $4.67
Potatoes $5.31 $4.93
Pizza $11.2 $12.09
Beer $10.24 $10.41
Toothpaste $3.61 $3.7
Detailed Benton Health costs vs. Arkansas
Item Benton Arkansas
Optometrist $115.17 $125.68
Doctor $132.33 $135.78
Dentist $81.53 $113.29
Detailed Benton Transportation costs vs. Arkansas
Item Benton Arkansas
Gasoline $3.05 $3.46
Tire Balancing $53.11 $59.92
Detailed Benton Utilities costs vs. Arkansas
Item Benton Arkansas
All Electricity $166.99 $193.99
Phone $205.18 $192.25

Benton SnackAbility

7Overall SnackAbility
Jobs 8/10
Housing 7/10
Affordability 8.5/10
Diversity 8/10
Safety 4/10
Amenities 8.5/10
Education 8/10
Commute 8/10

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Benton

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Benton. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Little Rock, AR has a cost of living index of 96, 1.1x Benton.

  • Conway, AR has a cost of living index of 96, 1.1x Benton.

  • North Little Rock, AR has a cost of living index of 89, 1.0x Benton.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Benton
Little Rock, AR 203,436 96 1.1x
Conway, AR 67,642 96 1.1x
North Little Rock, AR 64,538 89 1.0x
Sherwood, AR 33,070 94 1.0x
Jacksonville, AR 29,221 89 1.0x
Cabot, AR 26,960 92 1.0x
Bryant, AR 21,504 92 1.0x
Maumelle, AR 19,373 101 1.1x
Malvern, AR 10,953 85 0.9x
East End, AR 6,912 91 1.0x