What is the cost of living in Hot Springs, AR?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Hot Springs has an overall cost of living index of 89, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Arkansas, Hot Springs has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than Arkansas's index of 85.
The standard of living in Hot Springs ranks as #35 most affordable out of the 70 places we measured in Arkansas. By definition, that implies Hot Springs ranks as the #35 most expensive place in the Natural State.
For more reading on life in Hot Springs, check out:
Hot Springs Cost Of Living Vs. Arkansas
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Hot Springs. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Hot Springs is 98.
The Groceries index in Hot Springs is 97.
The Health index in Hot Springs is 73.
The Housing index in Hot Springs is 95.
The Transportation index in Hot Springs is 92.
The Utilities index in Hot Springs is 92.
| Living Expense | Hot Springs | Arkansas | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 89 | 85 | 100 |
| Services | 98 | 95 | 100 |
| Groceries | 97 | 93 | 100 |
| Health | 73 | 68 | 100 |
| Housing | 95 | 96 | 100 |
| Transportation | 92 | 92 | 100 |
| Utilities | 92 | 92 | 100 |
Hot Springs 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 Hot Springs Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Hot Springs, 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 Hot Springs is $243,825.
The Median Rent in Hot Springs is $914.
The Median Income in Hot Springs is $47,760.
The Home Value To Income in Hot Springs is 5.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Hot Springs is 0.23x.
| Statistic | Hot Springs | Arkansas | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $243,825 | $222,050 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $914 | $947 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $47,760 | $60,773 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.1x | 3.7x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.23x | 0.19x | 0.21x |
Hot Springs, AR Costs By Category
Detailed Hot Springs Services costs vs. Arkansas
| Item | Hot Springs | Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.07 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $11.78 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $17.78 | $18 |
| Haircut | $26.67 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $54.14 | $45.56 |
Detailed Hot Springs Groceries costs vs. Arkansas
| Item | Hot Springs | Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.15 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.39 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.52 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.23 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.47 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $9.83 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.75 | $3.7 |
Detailed Hot Springs Health costs vs. Arkansas
| Item | Hot Springs | Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $113.39 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $185.5 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $94.42 | $113.29 |
Detailed Hot Springs Transportation costs vs. Arkansas
| Item | Hot Springs | Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.1 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $66.08 | $59.92 |
Detailed Hot Springs Utilities costs vs. Arkansas
| Item | Hot Springs | Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $166.58 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $205.55 | $192.25 |
Hot Springs SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Hot Springs
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Hot Springs. 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 Hot Springs.
Benton, AR has a cost of living index of 91, 1.0x Hot Springs.
Bryant, AR has a cost of living index of 92, 1.0x Hot Springs.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Hot Springs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rock, AR | 203,436 | 96 | 1.1x |
| Benton, AR | 36,595 | 91 | 1.0x |
| Bryant, AR | 21,504 | 92 | 1.0x |
| Maumelle, AR | 19,373 | 101 | 1.1x |
| Malvern, AR | 10,953 | 85 | 1.0x |
| Arkadelphia, AR | 10,099 | 87 | 1.0x |
| Morrilton, AR | 7,080 | 88 | 1.0x |
| East End, AR | 6,912 | 91 | 1.0x |
