What is the cost of living in Helena-West Helena, AR?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Helena-West Helena has an overall cost of living index of 82, which is 0.8x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Arkansas, Helena-West Helena has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Arkansas's index of 85.
The standard of living in Helena-West Helena ranks as #6 most affordable out of the 70 places we measured in Arkansas. By definition, that implies Helena-West Helena ranks as the #64 most expensive place in the Natural State.
For more reading on life in Helena-West Helena, check out:
Helena-West Helena Cost Of Living Vs. Arkansas
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Helena-West Helena. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Helena-West Helena is 98.
The Groceries index in Helena-West Helena is 96.
The Health index in Helena-West Helena is 48.
The Housing index in Helena-West Helena is 92.
The Transportation index in Helena-West Helena is 102.
The Utilities index in Helena-West Helena is 96.
| Living Expense | Helena-West Helena | Arkansas | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 82 | 85 | 100 |
| Services | 98 | 95 | 100 |
| Groceries | 96 | 93 | 100 |
| Health | 48 | 68 | 100 |
| Housing | 92 | 96 | 100 |
| Transportation | 102 | 92 | 100 |
| Utilities | 96 | 92 | 100 |
Helena-West Helena 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 Helena-West Helena Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Helena-West Helena, 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 Helena-West Helena is $86,457.
The Median Rent in Helena-West Helena is $771.
The Median Income in Helena-West Helena is $36,019.
The Home Value To Income in Helena-West Helena is 2.4x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Helena-West Helena is 0.26x.
| Statistic | Helena-West Helena | Arkansas | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $86,457 | $222,050 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $771 | $947 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $36,019 | $60,773 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 2.4x | 3.7x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.26x | 0.19x | 0.21x |
Helena-West Helena, AR Costs By Category
Detailed Helena-West Helena Services costs vs. Arkansas
| Item | Helena-West Helena | 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 Helena-West Helena Groceries costs vs. Arkansas
| Item | Helena-West Helena | 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 Helena-West Helena Health costs vs. Arkansas
| Item | Helena-West Helena | Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $77.39 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $124.94 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $91.51 | $113.29 |
Detailed Helena-West Helena Transportation costs vs. Arkansas
| Item | Helena-West Helena | Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.14 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $55.67 | $59.92 |
Detailed Helena-West Helena Utilities costs vs. Arkansas
| Item | Helena-West Helena | Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $163.38 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $192.72 | $192.25 |
Helena-West Helena SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Helena-West Helena
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Helena-West Helena. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Southaven, MS has a cost of living index of 95, 1.2x Helena-West Helena.
Horn Lake, MS has a cost of living index of 89, 1.1x Helena-West Helena.
West Memphis, AR has a cost of living index of 85, 1.0x Helena-West Helena.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Helena-West Helena |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southaven, MS | 56,226 | 95 | 1.2x |
| Horn Lake, MS | 26,647 | 89 | 1.1x |
| West Memphis, AR | 23,929 | 85 | 1.0x |
| Hernando, MS | 17,949 | 102 | 1.2x |
| Clarksdale, MS | 14,231 | 82 | 1.0x |
| Senatobia, MS | 8,380 | 92 | 1.1x |
| Wynne, AR | 8,120 | 89 | 1.1x |
| Batesville, MS | 7,387 | 92 | 1.1x |
