What is the cost of living in Little Rock, AR?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Little Rock has an overall cost of living index of 96, which is 1.0x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Arkansas, Little Rock has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Arkansas's index of 85.
The standard of living in Little Rock ranks as #59 most affordable out of the 70 places we measured in Arkansas. By definition, that implies Little Rock ranks as the #11 most expensive place in the Natural State.
For more reading on life in Little Rock, check out:
Little Rock Cost Of Living Vs. Arkansas
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Little Rock. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Little Rock is 98.
The Groceries index in Little Rock is 95.
The Health index in Little Rock is 95.
The Housing index in Little Rock is 100.
The Transportation index in Little Rock is 90.
The Utilities index in Little Rock is 91.
| Living Expense | Little Rock | Arkansas | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 96 | 85 | 100 |
| Services | 98 | 95 | 100 |
| Groceries | 95 | 93 | 100 |
| Health | 95 | 68 | 100 |
| Housing | 100 | 96 | 100 |
| Transportation | 90 | 92 | 100 |
| Utilities | 91 | 92 | 100 |
Little Rock 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 Little Rock Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Little Rock, 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 Little Rock is $216,518.
The Median Rent in Little Rock is $1,106.
The Median Income in Little Rock is $63,003.
The Home Value To Income in Little Rock is 3.4x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Little Rock is 0.21x.
| Statistic | Little Rock | Arkansas | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $216,518 | $222,050 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,106 | $947 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $63,003 | $60,773 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.4x | 3.7x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.21x | 0.19x | 0.21x |
Little Rock, AR Costs By Category
Detailed Little Rock Services costs vs. Arkansas
| Item | Little Rock | 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 Little Rock Groceries costs vs. Arkansas
| Item | Little Rock | 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 Little Rock Health costs vs. Arkansas
| Item | Little Rock | Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $115.17 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $132.33 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $81.53 | $113.29 |
Detailed Little Rock Transportation costs vs. Arkansas
| Item | Little Rock | Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.05 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $53.11 | $59.92 |
Detailed Little Rock Utilities costs vs. Arkansas
| Item | Little Rock | Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $166.99 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $205.18 | $192.25 |
Little Rock SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Little Rock
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Little Rock. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
North Little Rock, AR has a cost of living index of 89, 0.9x Little Rock.
Benton, AR has a cost of living index of 91, 0.9x Little Rock.
Sherwood, AR has a cost of living index of 94, 1.0x Little Rock.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Little Rock |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Little Rock, AR | 64,538 | 89 | 0.9x |
| Benton, AR | 36,595 | 91 | 0.9x |
| Sherwood, AR | 33,070 | 94 | 1.0x |
| Jacksonville, AR | 29,221 | 89 | 0.9x |
| Bryant, AR | 21,504 | 92 | 1.0x |
| Maumelle, AR | 19,373 | 101 | 1.1x |
| East End, AR | 6,912 | 91 | 0.9x |
