What is the cost of living in Forrest City, AR?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Forrest City has an overall cost of living index of 86, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Arkansas, Forrest City has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than Arkansas's index of 85.
The standard of living in Forrest City ranks as #26 most affordable out of the 70 places we measured in Arkansas. By definition, that implies Forrest City ranks as the #44 most expensive place in the Natural State.
For more reading on life in Forrest City, check out:
Forrest City Cost Of Living Vs. Arkansas
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Forrest City. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Forrest City is 102.
The Groceries index in Forrest City is 95.
The Health index in Forrest City is 49.
The Housing index in Forrest City is 101.
The Transportation index in Forrest City is 99.
The Utilities index in Forrest City is 104.
| Living Expense | Forrest City | Arkansas | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 86 | 85 | 100 |
| Services | 102 | 95 | 100 |
| Groceries | 95 | 93 | 100 |
| Health | 49 | 68 | 100 |
| Housing | 101 | 96 | 100 |
| Transportation | 99 | 92 | 100 |
| Utilities | 104 | 92 | 100 |
Forrest City 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 Forrest City Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Forrest City, 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 Forrest City is $73,435.
The Median Rent in Forrest City is $805.
The Median Income in Forrest City is $35,689.
The Home Value To Income in Forrest City is 2.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Forrest City is 0.27x.
| Statistic | Forrest City | Arkansas | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $73,435 | $222,050 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $805 | $947 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $35,689 | $60,773 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 2.1x | 3.7x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.27x | 0.19x | 0.21x |
Forrest City, AR Costs By Category
Detailed Forrest City Services costs vs. Arkansas
| Item | Forrest City | Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.11 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $11.99 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $13.75 | $18 |
| Haircut | $26.94 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $41.92 | $45.56 |
Detailed Forrest City Groceries costs vs. Arkansas
| Item | Forrest City | Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.1 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.46 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.71 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.15 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.66 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $9.95 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.62 | $3.7 |
Detailed Forrest City Health costs vs. Arkansas
| Item | Forrest City | Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $77.39 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $124.94 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $91.51 | $113.29 |
Detailed Forrest City Transportation costs vs. Arkansas
| Item | Forrest City | Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.14 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $55.67 | $59.92 |
Detailed Forrest City Utilities costs vs. Arkansas
| Item | Forrest City | Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $163.38 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $192.72 | $192.25 |
