Cost of living in Arkansas

Everyday prices in Arkansas run 13.1% below the US average, the 1st lowest of 51 states and DC.

By Sol Lakein, founder of Slower Sundays. Updated November 2026.

13% cheaperEveryday prices¹1st lowest of 51
$318,743Typical home^2,3$1,752/mo mortgage
$1,014/mo2-bed rent⁴Utilities included
$115,851$150K in New York¹Buys the same life in Arkansas

Arkansas cities we cover

Cheapest first. Tap one for monthly costs, weather and flights.^1,2,4

Memphis area8% cheaper than average
Home
$299,950
Mortgage
$1,648/mo
2-bed rent
$1,278
See Memphis area
Fayetteville9% cheaper than average
Home
$441,000
Mortgage
$2,423/mo
2-bed rent
$1,232
See Fayetteville

Arkansas next to New York and the US

Longer bar = costs more.^1,4,2,3

ArkansasUnited StatesNew York metro

Everyday prices
13% cheaper than averageUS average · New York metro 13% pricier
Housing, rent included
42% cheaper than averageUS average · New York metro 49% pricier
2-bedroom rent$1,014/mo
35% less than the USUS $1,563 · New York metro $1,997
Typical home for sale$318,743
24% less than the USUS $419,250 · New York metro $742,000Mortgage $1,752/mo, US $2,304, New York metro $4,078. 20% down, 30-year fixed at 7.32%.

How affordable is Arkansas?

Rent and home prices next to what households earn.⁶

$68,060

Typical household incomeA year · 47th highest of 51

18%

Of income goes to rentA year of 2-bed rent ($1,014/mo) against median income ($68,060). 15th lowest of 51.

4.7

Years of income to buy a home$318,743 median listing against $68,060 income. 23rd lowest of 50.

Are people moving to Arkansas?

14,475 more people moved to Arkansas from other states than left between July 2024 and July 2025 (Census Bureau estimates).

YearLeftArrivedNet moves
2019-20+5,550
2020-21+16,218
2021-22+18,583
2022-23+17,825
2023-24+13,919
2024-25+14,475

Where Americans are moving⁵

Metro areas in Arkansas

Cheapest first. Tap one for its full cost of living.^1,4,2

Price levelUS averageShorter bar = cheaper, longer = pricier

Arkansas next to its neighbors

The states that border Arkansas, on the same measures. The number is each state's national rank on everyday prices.^1,4,2

1ArkansasThis state13% cheaper than average
2-bed rent
$1,014
Typical home
$318,743
Net moves
+14,475
2Mississippi13% cheaper than average
2-bed rent
$1,016
Typical home
$292,250
Net moves
-917
4Oklahoma12% cheaper than average
2-bed rent
$1,085
Typical home
$296,643
Net moves
+14,492
5Louisiana12% cheaper than average
2-bed rent
$1,105
Typical home
$270,000
Net moves
-14,387

Show 3 more

Arkansas by the numbers

Every figure on this page, as tables

Arkansas next to New York and the US

Place	Price level	Housing	Typical home	Monthly payment	2-bedroom rent
Arkansas	86.9	58.2	$318,743	$1,752	$1,014
United States	100.0	100.0	$419,250	$2,304	$1,563
New York metro	112.6	148.6	$742,000	$4,078	$1,997

Arkansas cities we cover

City	Typical home	Monthly payment	2-bedroom rent	Price level
Memphis area (West Memphis, AR)	$299,950	$1,648	$1,278	92.2
Fayetteville (Northwest Arkansas)	$441,000	$2,423	$1,232	91.4

Metro areas in Arkansas

Metro	Price level	2-bedroom rent	Typical home
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR	89.4	$1,170	$294,975
Fayetteville (Northwest Arkansas), AR	91.4	$1,232	$441,000
Memphis area (West Memphis, AR), TN/AR	92.2	$1,278	$299,950

Arkansas next to its neighbors

State	Price level	2-bedroom rent	Typical home	Net moves from other states
Arkansas	86.9	$1,014	$318,743	+14,475
Louisiana	88.2	$1,105	$270,000	-14,387
Missouri	90.8	$1,121	$300,000	+14,028
Mississippi	87.0	$1,016	$292,250	-917
Oklahoma	87.8	$1,085	$296,643	+14,492
Tennessee	91.9	$1,306	$429,450	+42,389
Texas	97.1	$1,533	$355,765	+67,299

Net moves from other states

Year (July to July)	Net moves from other states
2019-20	+5,550
2020-21	+16,218
2021-22	+18,583
2022-23	+17,825
2023-24	+13,919
2024-25	+14,475

States with a similar cost of living to Arkansas

Keep comparing

Arkansas cost of living: questions people ask

What is the cost of living in Arkansas?

Everyday prices in Arkansas run 13.1% below the US average, the 1st lowest of 51 states and DC (BEA, 2024). Housing costs, rent included, index at 58.2 against a US average of 100. The median listed home is $318,743 (Realtor.com, September 2026), about $1,752 a month in principal and interest. The median 2-bedroom rent is $1,014 a month, utilities included (Census, 2025). A $150,000 salary in New York buys the same as $115,851 in Arkansas.

Is Arkansas cheap or expensive to live in?

Cheaper than average. Arkansas's regional price parity is 86.9, so the same basket of goods, services and rent costs 13.1% less than the US average (BEA, 2024).

How much does a house cost in Arkansas?

The median listed home in Arkansas is $318,743 as of September 2026 (Realtor.com via FRED), against $419,250 nationally. That ranks 13th lowest of 50. With 20% down at 7.32%, principal and interest run about $1,752 a month.

How much is rent in Arkansas?

The median gross rent for a 2-bedroom in Arkansas is $1,014 a month, including utilities the renter pays, against $1,563 for the US (Census American Community Survey, 2025).

What salary in Arkansas equals $150,000 in New York?

About $115,851, using BEA regional price parities for Arkansas (86.9) and the New York metro (112.6), 2024.

Are people moving to Arkansas?

14,475 more people moved to Arkansas from other states than left between July 2024 and July 2025 (Census Bureau estimates).

Which Arkansas cities do you cover?

Memphis area ($299,950), Fayetteville ($441,000). Each has its own page with monthly costs, weather and flights.

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Notes on the numbers

1Everyday prices, housing costs and price levels: BEA regional price parities via FRED, 2024, where the US average is 100. In ranked lists, 1 is the cheapest.
2Homes: the typical home is the median listing price, Realtor.com via FRED, September 2026.
3Mortgage: Principal and interest on the median listed home with 20% down, 30-year fixed at 7.32% (Freddie Mac 30-year fixed average, week of October 22, 2026). Excludes taxes, insurance and HOA.
4Rent: Census ACS 2025 1-year, median gross rent for 2-bedroom units, including utilities.
5Net moves: US Census Bureau population estimates, net domestic migration, July to July.
6Affordability: our arithmetic on Census median gross rent (2025), Census median household income (2025) and Realtor.com median listing price (September 2026). Rank 1 is the most affordable.

Sources for this page