Before you decide to relocate to Arkansas, it’s important to research the exact cost of living around the state. And that’s what we’re going to help you do.
These are the places in Arkansas that cost a pretty penny — the most expensive cities in the state.
We used Saturday Night Science to compare the 2018-2022 American Community Survey on cost of living for the 64 places in Arkansas with more than 5,000 people.
After we saved up for months and could finally afford it, we landed on this list of the ten most expensive cities in Arkansas for 2024.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Most Expensive Places To Live In Arkansas For 2024
What’s the most expensive place to live in Arkansas? Well, HomeSnacks crunched the numbers and discovered that Maumelle is the most expensive place to live in Arkansas.
El Dorado (the cheapest place to live in Arkansas) can show these guys how to live on a budget in the coming years. Read on for how these places had costs rise faster than inflation.
And if you already knew these places were expensive, check out some more reading about Arkansas and the most expensive cities in the country:
The 10 Most Expensive Places To Live In Arkansas For 2024
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Population: 19,183
Cost Of Living Index: 106
Median Income: $89,880
Average Home Price: $293,632
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.3x
More on Maumelle: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Maumelle is 106. The median income in Maumelle comes in at $89,880 and the average home value is $293,632 for 2024.
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The overall cost of living in Cave Springs is 106. The median income in Cave Springs comes in at $143,393 and the average home value is $496,461 for 2024.
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Population: 54,513
Cost Of Living Index: 98
Median Income: $99,074
Average Home Price: $438,707
Home Price To Income Ratio: 4.4x
More on Bentonville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Bentonville is 98. The median income in Bentonville comes in at $99,074 and the average home value is $438,707 for 2024.
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Population: 20,750
Cost Of Living Index: 96
Median Income: $76,282
Average Home Price: $237,351
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.1x
More on Bryant: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Bryant is 96. The median income in Bryant comes in at $76,282 and the average home value is $237,351 for 2024.
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Population: 202,218
Cost Of Living Index: 95
Median Income: $58,697
Average Home Price: $201,487
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.4x
More on Little Rock: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Little Rock is 95. The median income in Little Rock comes in at $58,697 and the average home value is $201,487 for 2024.
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Population: 95,022
Cost Of Living Index: 95
Median Income: $56,881
Average Home Price: $342,122
Home Price To Income Ratio: 6.0x
More on Fayetteville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Fayetteville is 95. The median income in Fayetteville comes in at $56,881 and the average home value is $342,122 for 2024.
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Population: 7,991
Cost Of Living Index: 95
Median Income: $83,783
Average Home Price: $307,212
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.7x
More on Farmington: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Farmington is 95. The median income in Farmington comes in at $83,783 and the average home value is $307,212 for 2024.
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Population: 26,543
Cost Of Living Index: 94
Median Income: $69,094
Average Home Price: $231,016
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.3x
More on Cabot: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Cabot is 94. The median income in Cabot comes in at $69,094 and the average home value is $231,016 for 2024.
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Population: 35,318
Cost Of Living Index: 93
Median Income: $66,868
Average Home Price: $223,530
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.3x
More on Benton: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Benton is 93. The median income in Benton comes in at $66,868 and the average home value is $223,530 for 2024.
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Population: 32,715
Cost Of Living Index: 93
Median Income: $74,917
Average Home Price: $213,321
Home Price To Income Ratio: 2.8x
More on Sherwood: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
The overall cost of living in Sherwood is 93. The median income in Sherwood comes in at $74,917 and the average home value is $213,321 for 2024.
Methodology: How We Determined The Most Expensive Places To Live In The Natural State For 2024
The two most important things to think about when it comes to being able to afford a city in Arkansas are:
- How much money do I make?
- How much do I have to spend to live there?
You need to understand your costs in the context of how much money you make.
For example, if the median household earns $100,000 and spends $40,000 on housing, it’s actually cheaper to live there than a place with a median income of $50,000 and housing costs of $21,000. You might spend more on housing, but you have more money overall to play with.
With that example in mind, we derived several statistics from the latest Census American Community Survey 2018-2022 around incomes and costs. They are:
- Overall Cost Of Living Index
- Median Home Price / Median Income (lower is better)
- Median Income / Median Rent (Higher is better)
- Median Home Price
You can then compare these metrics in each of the places in Arkansas to figure out which is the most expensive.
You are left with a “Cost of Living Index” by taking the average rank of each of these metrics for each city.
So we used that cost of living index to rank all of the 64 places in Arkansas that have more than 5,000 people.
The place with the highest cost of living in Arkansas according to the data is Maumelle. We updated this article for 2024. This article is our tenth time ranking the most expensive places to live in Arkansas.
Summary: Taking A Chunk Out Of Your Paycheck In Arkansas For 2024
Well, there you have it, the places in Arkansas that have the highest cost of living, with Maumelle ranking as the most expensive city in the Natural State.
The most expensive cities in Arkansas are Maumelle, Cave Springs, Bentonville, Bryant, Little Rock, Fayetteville, Farmington, Cabot, Benton, and Sherwood.
Here’s a look at the most affordable cities in Arkansas according to the data:
- El Dorado
- Helena-West Helena
- Forrest City
For more Arkansas reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In Arkansas
- Cheapest Places To Live In Arkansas
- Most Dangerous Places in Arkansas
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Arkansas
- Safest Places In Arkansas
- Worst Places To Live In Arkansas
Most Expensive Cities In Arkansas
| Rank | City | Cost Of Living | Population | Median Income | Average Home Price | Home/Income Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maumelle | 106 | 19,183 | $89,880 | $293,632 | 3.3x |
| 2 | Cave Springs | 106 | 5,521 | $143,393 | $496,461 | 3.5x |
| 3 | Bentonville | 98 | 54,513 | $99,074 | $438,707 | 4.4x |
| 4 | Bryant | 96 | 20,750 | $76,282 | $237,351 | 3.1x |
| 5 | Little Rock | 95 | 202,218 | $58,697 | $201,487 | 3.4x |
| 6 | Fayetteville | 95 | 95,022 | $56,881 | $342,122 | 6.0x |
| 7 | Farmington | 95 | 7,991 | $83,783 | $307,212 | 3.7x |
| 8 | Cabot | 94 | 26,543 | $69,094 | $231,016 | 3.3x |
| 9 | Benton | 93 | 35,318 | $66,868 | $223,530 | 3.3x |
| 10 | Sherwood | 93 | 32,715 | $74,917 | $213,321 | 2.8x |
| 11 | Jacksonville | 92 | 29,332 | $47,121 | $149,179 | 3.2x |
| 12 | Centerton | 92 | 18,655 | $104,464 | $321,706 | 3.1x |
| 13 | Beebe | 92 | 8,447 | $55,072 | $194,728 | 3.5x |
| 14 | Ward | 92 | 6,149 | $74,688 | $191,278 | 2.6x |
| 15 | White Hall | 92 | 5,559 | $85,227 | $135,166 | 1.6x |
| 16 | Springdale | 91 | 86,705 | $59,985 | $300,208 | 5.0x |
| 17 | Jonesboro | 91 | 78,379 | $51,124 | $211,729 | 4.1x |
| 18 | Rogers | 91 | 69,961 | $78,075 | $333,982 | 4.3x |
| 19 | Pea Ridge | 91 | 6,851 | $93,113 | $307,676 | 3.3x |
| 20 | North Little Rock | 90 | 64,454 | $49,166 | $148,544 | 3.0x |
| 21 | Hot Springs | 89 | 38,025 | $46,537 | $237,324 | 5.1x |
| 22 | Marion | 89 | 13,635 | $77,350 | $215,239 | 2.8x |
| 23 | Lowell | 89 | 10,005 | $83,827 | $313,249 | 3.7x |
| 24 | Greenwood | 89 | 9,544 | $63,232 | $213,853 | 3.4x |
| 25 | Prairie Grove | 89 | 7,131 | $56,541 | $288,545 | 5.1x |
| 26 | Alma | 89 | 5,837 | $46,273 | $221,560 | 4.8x |
| 27 | Texarkana | 87 | 29,404 | $45,233 | $157,796 | 3.5x |
| 28 | Arkadelphia | 87 | 10,354 | $37,634 | $162,200 | 4.3x |
| 29 | Stuttgart | 87 | 8,189 | $59,124 | $104,107 | 1.8x |
| 30 | Fort Smith | 86 | 89,315 | $50,799 | $172,064 | 3.4x |
| 31 | Conway | 86 | 65,159 | $54,036 | $233,335 | 4.3x |
| 32 | Paragould | 86 | 29,690 | $54,732 | $178,485 | 3.3x |
| 33 | Searcy | 86 | 22,961 | $45,588 | $196,057 | 4.3x |
| 34 | Siloam Springs | 86 | 17,632 | $59,911 | $262,203 | 4.4x |
| 35 | Greenbrier | 86 | 5,755 | $57,234 | $248,641 | 4.3x |
| 36 | Pine Bluff | 85 | 41,172 | $39,411 | $79,285 | 2.0x |
| 37 | Van Buren | 85 | 23,398 | $56,493 | $182,864 | 3.2x |
| 38 | Batesville | 84 | 11,163 | $52,304 | $153,111 | 2.9x |
| 39 | Magnolia | 84 | 11,044 | $43,000 | $133,915 | 3.1x |
| 40 | Hope | 84 | 8,921 | $43,018 | $74,003 | 1.7x |
| 41 | Heber Springs | 84 | 7,066 | $50,472 | $233,693 | 4.6x |
| 42 | Berryville | 84 | 5,667 | $43,388 | $203,546 | 4.7x |
| 43 | Russellville | 83 | 28,946 | $43,669 | $190,613 | 4.4x |
| 44 | Mountain Home | 83 | 12,876 | $42,281 | $215,052 | 5.1x |
| 45 | Camden | 83 | 10,587 | $48,302 | $95,543 | 2.0x |
| 46 | Clarksville | 83 | 9,453 | $35,911 | $164,172 | 4.6x |
| 47 | Monticello | 83 | 8,443 | $34,176 | $153,792 | 4.5x |
| 48 | Newport | 83 | 7,984 | $32,440 | $75,772 | 2.3x |
| 49 | Pocahontas | 82 | 7,384 | $38,912 | $133,708 | 3.4x |
| 50 | Blytheville | 81 | 13,276 | $45,746 | $73,259 | 1.6x |
| 51 | Harrison | 81 | 13,154 | $39,677 | $208,474 | 5.3x |
| 52 | Malvern | 81 | 10,859 | $37,210 | $126,080 | 3.4x |
| 53 | De Queen | 81 | 6,132 | $55,207 | $150,208 | 2.7x |
| 54 | Mena | 81 | 5,605 | $53,288 | $171,634 | 3.2x |
| 55 | Walnut Ridge | 81 | 5,411 | $45,950 | $116,425 | 2.5x |
| 56 | Trumann | 80 | 7,383 | $37,618 | $114,974 | 3.1x |
| 57 | West Memphis | 79 | 24,351 | $40,904 | $107,794 | 2.6x |
| 58 | Wynne | 79 | 8,284 | $39,280 | $122,012 | 3.1x |
| 59 | Morrilton | 79 | 6,980 | $43,608 | $148,958 | 3.4x |
| 60 | Osceola | 79 | 6,911 | $44,492 | $120,733 | 2.7x |
| 61 | Warren | 79 | 5,409 | $39,222 | $92,878 | 2.4x |
| 62 | Forrest City | 78 | 13,010 | $36,368 | $64,860 | 1.8x |
| 63 | Helena-West Helena | 78 | 9,470 | $31,118 | $85,028 | 2.7x |
| 64 | El Dorado | 77 | 17,606 | $46,869 | $122,597 | 2.6x |
