What is the cost of living in Mena, AR?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Mena has an overall cost of living index of 83, which is 0.8x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Arkansas, Mena has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Arkansas's index of 85.
The standard of living in Mena ranks as #11 most affordable out of the 70 places we measured in Arkansas. By definition, that implies Mena ranks as the #59 most expensive place in the Natural State.
For more reading on life in Mena, check out:
Mena Cost Of Living Vs. Arkansas
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Mena. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Mena is 95.
The Groceries index in Mena is 95.
The Health index in Mena is 53.
The Housing index in Mena is 97.
The Transportation index in Mena is 88.
The Utilities index in Mena is 96.
| Living Expense | Mena | Arkansas | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 83 | 85 | 100 |
| Services | 95 | 95 | 100 |
| Groceries | 95 | 93 | 100 |
| Health | 53 | 68 | 100 |
| Housing | 97 | 96 | 100 |
| Transportation | 88 | 92 | 100 |
| Utilities | 96 | 92 | 100 |
Mena 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 Mena Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Mena, 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 Mena is $192,538.
The Median Rent in Mena is $639.
The Median Income in Mena is $47,428.
The Home Value To Income in Mena is 4.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Mena is 0.16x.
Mena, AR Costs By Category
Detailed Mena Services costs vs. Arkansas
Detailed Mena Groceries costs vs. Arkansas
Detailed Mena Health costs vs. Arkansas
Detailed Mena Transportation costs vs. Arkansas
Mena SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Mena
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Mena. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Greenwood, AR has a cost of living index of 89, 1.1x Mena.
Poteau, OK has a cost of living index of 84, 1.0x Mena.
De Queen, AR has a cost of living index of 85, 1.0x Mena.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Mena |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greenwood, AR | 9,616 | 89 | 1.1x |
| Poteau, OK | 8,959 | 84 | 1.0x |
| De Queen, AR | 6,058 | 85 | 1.0x |








