Arkansas’ is known for its affordable places to live, friendly people, and, of course, fried catfish.
But how do you find the most affordable place to live in Arkansas? You head to the cold, hard data. And, lucky for you, we used Saturday Night Science to crunch the numbers from the US Census in terms of median housing costs, median income, and overall cost of living for cities with over 5,000 residents in Arkansas.
If you choose to live in one of the affordable places listed below, you’ll save money for the fun things this Southern gem offers, like the Hot Springs Music Festival or a day trip to Buffalo National Park.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Table | FAQs | Summary
The 10 most affordable places to live in Arkansas
What is the most affordable place to live in Arkansas for 2026? The most affordable place to live in Arkansas is Newport.
Some of Arkansas’ most affordable cities are also Arkansas’ top 50 biggest cities. You can’t blame the good people of Arkansas for wanting to move to where the cost of living is the lowest.
Check out some more reading about Arkansas and the cheapest places in the country:
The 10 Cheapest Places To Live In Arkansas For 2026
/10
Population: 8,024
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 78
Median Income: $34,764
Median Home Price: $84,278
Median Rent: $597
More on Newport: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 5,707
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 80
Median Income: $42,283
Median Home Price: $237,504
Median Rent: $875
While the top two cities on this list have the affordability-edge for home-buyers, bronze-medalist Berryville stands out as one of the premium places to rent in Arkansas. At a median rent of $875/month, rent in Berryville is roughly half as expensive as the average rent in Arkansas. It’s also the lowest price on rent you’ll see on this list. Combined with a median income of $42,283, and Berryville has the 60th best rent to income ratio in Arkansas. Berryville is also home to Cosmic Cavern, one of the must-see natural sights of northwestern Arkansas.
More on Berryville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 10,307
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 81
Median Income: $49,361
Median Home Price: $105,164
Median Rent: $768
Camden, located in the south-central part of Arkansas, is a budget-friendly place to call home. With a median rent of $768, residents can enjoy affordable housing options without breaking the bank. Additionally, the overall cost of living in Camden is also below the national average, making it an appealing choice for those looking to save money.
Camden, with a population of over 10,307, serves as the county seat of Ouachita County. Residents can enjoy a peaceful small-town atmosphere while still having access to amenities such as shops, restaurants, and parks. With a median income of $49,361, locals are able to make a comfortable living while enjoying all that Camden has to offer.
More on Camden: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
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Population: 39,743
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 82
Median Income: $42,718
Median Home Price: $75,017
Median Rent: $855
Pine Bluff is the tenth-largest city in the state of Arkansas and the county seat of Jefferson County. It is the principal city of the Pine Bluff Metropolitan Statistical Area and part of the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Pine Bluff Combined Statistical Area. The population of the city was 49,083 in the 2010 Census with 2016 estmates showing a decline to 43,841.
More on Pine Bluff: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
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Population: 8,935
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 82
Median Income: $36,019
Median Home Price: $86,457
Median Rent: $771
Helena-West Helena, located in the lowlands between the Mississippi River and Crowley’s Ridge within Arkansas, offers a low cost of living that’s one the best in the West — er South.
With a median home value of $86,457, Helena-West Helena’s overall cost of living index comes in at 82, significantly cheaper than other cities in Arkansas. For those interested in history and blues music, you can visit the Delta Cultural Center or the King Biscuit Blues Festival on the cheap.
More on Helena-West Helena: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
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Population: 7,538
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 82
Median Income: $44,216
Median Home Price: $140,492
Median Rent: $768
It turns out that Pocahontas is more than just my favorite Disney princess; it’s also the sixth most affordable place to live in Arkansas. Pocahontas has the 17th cheapest homes for sale in the state, with a median price of $140,492. Rent is also quite affordable at $768, but it’s still a bit more affordable if you’re buying instead. And whether you’re a fan of history or just getting outdoors; at Davidsonville Historic State Park you can learn about the region’s first settlers or just go fishing on the Black River.
More on Pocahontas: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
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Population: 7,410
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 82
Median Income: $38,881
Median Home Price: $131,844
Median Rent: $586
A suburb of Jonesboro, Trumann ranks as the seventh most affordable city to live in Arkansas. Folks in Trumann pay the 3smallest percentage of their income on homes statewide, so you’ll have plenty of cash left over to take advantage of all there is to do in Trumann. At $586/month, Trumann also has quite affordable rent, but remains slightly more attractive for those buying a home.
More on Trumann: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
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Population: 5,353
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 82
Median Income: $36,788
Median Home Price: $101,650
Median Rent: $704
Warren is an affordable place to live in Arkansas with a cost of living index of 82. The median home value is $101,650, and the median rent is $704. The income-to-rent ratio is 52.26, making it easy to find affordable housing options.
Aside from being affordable, Warren is a great place to live. It offers a small-town feel with only 5,353 people, making it perfect for those who prefer a quieter lifestyle. The city is also the county seat of Bradley County, which means residents have access to government services and amenities. Additionally, Warren boasts a low unemployment rate of 8.44, making it easier for residents to find work.
More on Warren: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
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Population: 17,115
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 83
Median Income: $49,244
Median Home Price: $133,852
Median Rent: $880
The cultural and business center of south-central Arkansas, El Dorado ranks as the ninth cheapest city to live in the state.
El Dorado might not be a land of untold riches like in the legends, but if you’re a lover of the arts, this city is as good as gold. Between MusicFest every year and the Murphy Arts District throughout the year, you’ll never have to wait long to catch a show in El Dorado. In any case, you’ll have plenty of money left over for tickets if you’re living in El Dorado, because residents pay the 11th smallest proportion of their income on homes statewide.
More on El Dorado: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
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Population: 7,903
Overall Cost Of Living Index: 83
Median Income: $49,399
Median Home Price: $118,229
Median Rent: $872
As you probably guessed from its name, Stuttgart, Arkansas, has a connection to Germany. Its founder was a German immigrant who named the town in the late 1800s. The town got a boost soon after from the railroad. These days, it’s more than a stopover for the train. It ranks as the number 10 most affordable place to live in Arkansas.
Positioned in the east-central part of the state, Stuttgart is about an hour outside of Little Rock, the state’s largest city and its capital. The town, with its population of 7,903 residents, is also home to the World Championship Duck Calling Contest.
It’s easy to afford a home in Stuttgart. The median income in town is $49,399 and the median home value sits at $118,229. That gives the area the number 6.0 home price-to-income ratio in Arkansas.
Even if you’re not looking to buy, you can find deals. The median rent in the area comes in at $872 per month. The overall cost of living comes in at about 15% below the national average.
More on Stuttgart: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Cheapest places to live in Arkansas FAQs
The county in Arkansas with the lowest cost of living is Monroe County. The average living wage in Monroe County is $75,058 according to MIT data. Monroe County has the lowest cost of living because it has relatively less expensive childcare and housing costs compared to Arkansas as a whole. Childcare costs $8,062 a year in Monroe County for two children compared to the Arkansas average of $13,717. Housing costs, defined as a blend of the average rent and average mortgage payment, are $7,848 per year in Monroe County compared to $9,037 on average in Arkansas.
The cost of living in Arkansas is 7.7% lower than the US average. According to MIT, the required living wage for a family of four with two working parents in Arkansas is $82,857 vs the national average for a family of four with two working parents of $89,744. The median income of a Arkansas household is $49,475.
The cheapest housing market in Arkansas is Forrest City. The average home value in Forrest City is $67,500, the lowest in the state. The average home value in Arkansas is $133,600, almost 2.0 times higher than Forrest City.
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The county in Arkansas with the lowest cost of living is Monroe County. The average living wage in Monroe County is $75,058 according to MIT data. Monroe County has the lowest cost of living because it has relatively less expensive childcare and housing costs compared to Arkansas as a whole. Childcare costs $8,062 a year in Monroe County for two children compared to the Arkansas average of $13,717. Housing costs, defined as a blend of the average rent and average mortgage payment, are $7,848 per year in Monroe County compared to $9,037 on average in Arkansas.
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Methodology: How we determined the most affordable places to live in the Natural State for 2026
Determining affordability for places in Arkansas boils down to how much it costs to live here.
You need to understand your costs relative to what people in the rest of the state are paying.
With that logic in mind, we derived several cost of living statistics from the latest Census American Community Survey 2020-2024 for Arkansas using Saturday Night Science. We indexed the cost of living statistics across the following categories:
- Housing
- Transportation
- Services
- Groceries
- Healthcare
- Utilities
These are then weighted together to produce an overall cost of living index where 100 is the United States average. Anything below 100 is relatively affordable. Anything over 100 is relatively expensive.
We applied the biggest weight to housing as it typically accounts for 25% or more of your budget. Additionally, housing costs are the highest variant cost across a state. We then compare these cost of living metrics for each place in Arkansas to figure out which is the least expensive.
The “Cost of Living Index” allows you to rank all of the 68 places in Arkansas that have more than 5,000 people from least expensive to most expensive. Any ties went to the larger city.
The place in Arkansas with the lowest cost of living according to the data is Newport.
We updated this article for 2026. This report reflects our eleventh time ranking the cheapest places to live in Arkansas.
Arkansas Affordabilility Summary
This is an accurate list of the most affordable places to live in Arkansas for 2026, if you’re looking at the cost of living numbers in Arkansas.
The cheapest cities in Arkansas are Newport, Berryville, Camden, Pine Bluff, Helena-West Helena, Pocahontas, Trumann, Warren, El Dorado, and Stuttgart.
Here’s a look at the most expensive cities in Arkansas according to the data:
- Cave Springs
- Bentonville
- Tontitown
For more Arkansas reading, check out:
Cheapest Places To Live In Arkansas
| Rank | City | Population | Cost Of Living Index | Median Income | Home Prices | Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Newport | 8,024 | 78 | $34,764 | $84,278 | $597 |
| 2 | Berryville | 5,707 | 80 | $42,283 | $237,504 | $875 |
| 3 | Camden | 10,307 | 81 | $49,361 | $105,164 | $768 |
| 4 | Pine Bluff | 39,743 | 82 | $42,718 | $75,017 | $855 |
| 5 | Helena-West Helena | 8,935 | 82 | $36,019 | $86,457 | $771 |
| 6 | Pocahontas | 7,538 | 82 | $44,216 | $140,492 | $768 |
| 7 | Trumann | 7,410 | 82 | $38,881 | $131,844 | $586 |
| 8 | Warren | 5,353 | 82 | $36,788 | $101,650 | $704 |
| 9 | El Dorado | 17,115 | 83 | $49,244 | $133,852 | $880 |
| 10 | Stuttgart | 7,903 | 83 | $49,399 | $118,229 | $872 |
| 11 | Mena | 5,582 | 83 | $47,428 | $192,538 | $639 |
| 12 | Walnut Ridge | 5,434 | 83 | $45,027 | $129,711 | $739 |
| 13 | Cherokee Village | 5,046 | 83 | $37,326 | $150,230 | $951 |
| 14 | Blytheville | 12,790 | 84 | $47,865 | $96,160 | $855 |
| 15 | Magnolia | 10,894 | 84 | $56,127 | $145,078 | $633 |
| 16 | Clarksville | 9,526 | 84 | $37,373 | $186,109 | $760 |
| 17 | Monticello | 8,257 | 84 | $27,238 | $163,403 | $707 |
| 18 | West Memphis | 23,929 | 85 | $42,674 | $131,756 | $870 |
| 19 | Van Buren | 23,763 | 85 | $61,149 | $204,826 | $847 |
| 20 | Harrison | 13,350 | 85 | $44,056 | $230,381 | $753 |
| 21 | Malvern | 10,953 | 85 | $46,250 | $142,161 | $764 |
| 22 | Hope | 8,671 | 85 | $37,500 | $113,807 | $823 |
| 23 | Osceola | 6,688 | 85 | $46,202 | $117,993 | $846 |
| 24 | De Queen | 6,058 | 85 | $52,522 | $171,114 | $757 |
| 25 | Fort Smith | 89,805 | 86 | $54,816 | $193,976 | $884 |
| 26 | Forrest City | 12,646 | 86 | $35,689 | $73,435 | $805 |
| 27 | Batesville | 11,445 | 86 | $51,856 | $176,298 | $882 |
| 28 | Barling | 5,007 | 86 | $54,387 | $193,771 | $1,128 |
| 29 | Arkadelphia | 10,099 | 87 | $48,657 | $183,375 | $814 |
| 30 | Heber Springs | 7,161 | 88 | $50,636 | $248,324 | $847 |
| 31 | Morrilton | 7,080 | 88 | $47,572 | $163,946 | $717 |
| 32 | Springdale | 88,160 | 89 | $69,787 | $338,447 | $1,071 |
| 33 | North Little Rock | 64,538 | 89 | $52,707 | $165,642 | $1,069 |
| 34 | Hot Springs | 37,920 | 89 | $47,760 | $243,825 | $914 |
| 35 | Jacksonville | 29,221 | 89 | $49,666 | $168,541 | $930 |
| 36 | Russellville | 29,162 | 89 | $50,877 | $212,078 | $842 |
| 37 | Greenwood | 9,616 | 89 | $66,844 | $238,464 | $836 |
| 38 | Wynne | 8,120 | 89 | $43,250 | $128,057 | $760 |
| 39 | Alma | 5,906 | 89 | $68,562 | $245,961 | $1,012 |
| 40 | Paragould | 30,215 | 90 | $56,980 | $191,096 | $925 |
| 41 | Texarkana | 29,177 | 90 | $45,835 | $167,818 | $909 |
| 42 | Beebe | 8,707 | 90 | $59,476 | $210,267 | $799 |
| 43 | Benton | 36,595 | 91 | $72,876 | $239,100 | $1,072 |
| 44 | Searcy | 23,340 | 91 | $52,170 | $216,679 | $905 |
| 45 | Mountain Home | 13,108 | 91 | $41,274 | $233,820 | $865 |
| 46 | Ward | 6,573 | 91 | $72,734 | $207,461 | $1,202 |
| 47 | Cabot | 26,960 | 92 | $75,000 | $247,084 | $1,110 |
| 48 | Bryant | 21,504 | 92 | $83,024 | $254,712 | $993 |
| 49 | Siloam Springs | 18,699 | 92 | $72,065 | $284,970 | $1,003 |
| 50 | Lowell | 10,849 | 92 | $95,527 | $360,677 | $1,136 |
| 51 | Greenbrier | 6,018 | 92 | $57,214 | $278,684 | $1,192 |
| 52 | Sheridan | 5,165 | 92 | $62,453 | $218,332 | $780 |
| 53 | Jonesboro | 80,137 | 93 | $55,424 | $222,893 | $956 |
| 54 | Prairie Grove | 7,798 | 93 | $70,701 | $317,576 | $968 |
| 55 | White Hall | 5,512 | 93 | $78,092 | $136,021 | $985 |
| 56 | Rogers | 72,981 | 94 | $86,728 | $385,742 | $1,270 |
| 57 | Sherwood | 33,070 | 94 | $81,328 | $236,102 | $1,101 |
| 58 | Little Rock | 203,436 | 96 | $63,003 | $216,518 | $1,106 |
| 59 | Conway | 67,642 | 96 | $63,004 | $244,315 | $1,011 |
| 60 | Marion | 13,623 | 97 | $78,330 | $238,641 | $1,148 |
| 61 | Farmington | 9,094 | 97 | $90,469 | $333,516 | $1,321 |
| 62 | Centerton | 21,920 | 100 | $115,713 | $349,882 | $1,465 |
| 63 | Pea Ridge | 8,108 | 100 | $95,521 | $348,117 | $1,818 |
| 64 | Fayetteville | 99,319 | 101 | $62,695 | $377,910 | $1,065 |
| 65 | Maumelle | 19,373 | 101 | $103,333 | $307,538 | $1,047 |
| 66 | Tontitown | 6,425 | 102 | $85,603 | $508,471 | $1,346 |
| 67 | Bentonville | 58,249 | 106 | $112,792 | $488,112 | $1,344 |
| 68 | Cave Springs | 6,008 | 114 | $146,473 | $570,143 | $2,222 |