What is the cost of living in Van Buren, AR?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Van Buren has an overall cost of living index of 85, which is 0.8x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Arkansas, Van Buren has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Arkansas's index of 85.
The standard of living in Van Buren ranks as #21 most affordable out of the 70 places we measured in Arkansas. By definition, that implies Van Buren ranks as the #49 most expensive place in the Natural State.
For more reading on life in Van Buren, check out:
Van Buren Cost Of Living Vs. Arkansas
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Van Buren. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Van Buren is 95.
The Groceries index in Van Buren is 96.
The Health index in Van Buren is 74.
The Housing index in Van Buren is 95.
The Transportation index in Van Buren is 90.
The Utilities index in Van Buren is 95.
| Living Expense | Van Buren | Arkansas | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 85 | 85 | 100 |
| Services | 95 | 95 | 100 |
| Groceries | 96 | 93 | 100 |
| Health | 74 | 68 | 100 |
| Housing | 95 | 96 | 100 |
| Transportation | 90 | 92 | 100 |
| Utilities | 95 | 92 | 100 |
Van Buren 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 Van Buren Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Van Buren, 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 Van Buren is $204,826.
The Median Rent in Van Buren is $847.
The Median Income in Van Buren is $61,149.
The Home Value To Income in Van Buren is 3.3x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Van Buren is 0.17x.
Van Buren, AR Costs By Category
Detailed Van Buren Services costs vs. Arkansas
Detailed Van Buren Groceries costs vs. Arkansas
Detailed Van Buren Health costs vs. Arkansas
Detailed Van Buren Transportation costs vs. Arkansas
Van Buren SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Van Buren
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Van Buren. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Fayetteville, AR has a cost of living index of 101, 1.2x Van Buren.
Fort Smith, AR has a cost of living index of 86, 1.0x Van Buren.
Tahlequah, OK has a cost of living index of 88, 1.0x Van Buren.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Van Buren |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville, AR | 99,319 | 101 | 1.2x |
| Fort Smith, AR | 89,805 | 86 | 1.0x |
| Tahlequah, OK | 16,935 | 88 | 1.0x |
| Greenwood, AR | 9,616 | 89 | 1.0x |
| Clarksville, AR | 9,526 | 84 | 1.0x |
| Farmington, AR | 9,094 | 97 | 1.1x |
| Poteau, OK | 8,959 | 84 | 1.0x |
| Sallisaw, OK | 8,605 | 83 | 1.0x |
| Alma, AR | 5,906 | 89 | 1.0x |
| Barling, AR | 5,007 | 86 | 1.0x |
