Cost of living in West Memphis research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means West Memphis is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.
On a city-by-city basis in Arkansas, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:
The cost of living index in West Memphis is 81, with 100 being the average.
The cost of living index in West Memphis is 0.8x lower than the national average.
West Memphis ranks as the #11 cheapest in Arkansas out of 69.
West Memphis ranks as the #158 cheapest out of 6,489 in the US.
The median home value in West Memphis is $122,469.
The median income in West Memphis is $41,860.
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, West Memphis has an overall cost of living index of 81, which is 0.8x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Arkansas, West Memphis has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Arkansas's index of 85.
The standard of living in West Memphis ranks as #11 most affordable out of the 69 places we measured in Arkansas. By definition, that implies West Memphis ranks as the #58 most expensive place in the Natural State.
For more reading on life in West Memphis, check out:
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in West Memphis. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:
The Services index in West Memphis is 93.
The Groceries index in West Memphis is 100.
The Health index in West Memphis is 85.
The Housing index in West Memphis is 56.
The Transportation index in West Memphis is 88.
The Utilities index in West Memphis is 88.
| Living Expense | West Memphis | Arkansas | National Average | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 81 | 85 | 100 | |
| Services | 93 | 99 | 100 | |
| Groceries | 100 | 95 | 100 | |
| Health | 85 | 89 | 100 | |
| Housing | 56 | 65 | 100 | |
| Transportation | 88 | 90 | 100 | |
| Utilities | 88 | 93 | 100 | |
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 2019-2023. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in West Memphis is $122,469.
The Median Rent in West Memphis is $847.
The Median Income in West Memphis is $41,860.
The Home Value To Income in West Memphis is 2.9x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in West Memphis is 0.24x.
| Statistic | West Memphis | Arkansas | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $122,469 | $218,895 | $303,400 |
| Median Rent | $847 | $914 | $1,348 |
| Median Income | $41,860 | $58,773 | $78,538 |
| Home Value To Income | 2.9x | 3.7x | 3.9x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.24x | 0.19x | 0.21x |
| Item | West Memphis | 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 |
| Item | West Memphis | 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 |
| Item | West Memphis | Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $77.39 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $124.94 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $91.51 | $113.29 |
| Item | West Memphis | Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.14 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $55.67 | $59.92 |
| Item | West Memphis | Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $163.38 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $192.72 | $192.25 |
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around West Memphis. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Memphis, TN has a cost of living index of 84, 1.0x West Memphis.
Bartlett, TN has a cost of living index of 99, 1.2x West Memphis.
Southaven, MS has a cost of living index of 96, 1.2x West Memphis.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. West Memphis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis, TN | 629,063 | 84 | 1.0x |
| Bartlett, TN | 56,998 | 99 | 1.2x |
| Southaven, MS | 55,531 | 96 | 1.2x |
| Collierville, TN | 51,212 | 114 | 1.4x |
| Olive Branch, MS | 46,538 | 97 | 1.2x |
| Germantown, TN | 40,812 | 115 | 1.4x |
| Horn Lake, MS | 26,622 | 86 | 1.1x |
| Arlington, TN | 14,989 | 110 | 1.4x |
| Marion, AR | 13,641 | 93 | 1.1x |
| Atoka, TN | 10,237 | 101 | 1.2x |