Living Cost Compare
Atlanta

Georgia

$1,780/mo est.

vs
Little Rock

Arkansas

$1,080/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,780 in Atlanta, GA versus $1,080 in Little Rock, AR. Overall, Little Rock, AR is roughly 39% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Atlanta, GA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $81,938 in Atlanta, GA and $60,583 in Little Rock, AR — about 26% higher in Atlanta, GA. Georgia has a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax; Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Atlanta, GA
Little Rock, AR

Rent

Studio
$1,669
$981
+41% in Atlanta, GA
1 Bedroom
$1,576
$904
+43% in Atlanta, GA
2 Bedroom
$1,701
$1,064
+37% in Atlanta, GA
3 Bedroom
$1,557
$1,292
+17% in Atlanta, GA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$420,600
$221,200
+47% in Atlanta, GA

Income

Median Household Income
$81,938
$60,583
+26% in Atlanta, GA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,170
$45,790
+11% in Atlanta, GA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.0 yr
36.4 yr
+2.4 yr in Little Rock, AR
Homeownership
46.3%
54.2%
+7.9 pp in Little Rock, AR
Bachelor's+ (25+)
58.4%
44.0%
+14.4 pp in Atlanta, GA
Avg Commute
26.8 min
18.3 min
+8.5 min in Atlanta, GA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
603.7
1,673
+177% in Little Rock, AR
Property Crime
3,548.3
5,251.5
+48% in Little Rock, AR

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
62.6°F
62.7°F
+0.1°F in Little Rock, AR
Annual Precipitation
49.7 in
49.8 in
+0.0 in in Little Rock, AR

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.62/gal
+6% in Atlanta, GA

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.50
—

Adult base one-way fare — MARTA vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.8
14.4
+9% in Atlanta, GA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$33.28
$25.93
+22% in Atlanta, GA

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.00
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.75
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.21
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.45
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

Average prices — South vs South (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (GA / AR)
4%
6.5%
+2.5 pp in AR
Income Tax (top rate)
5.19%
3.90%
+1.3 pp in GA

Atlanta vs Little Rock — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Atlanta or Little Rock?
Little Rock, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,080 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 39% below Atlanta, GA's $1,780, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Atlanta than in Little Rock?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Atlanta versus $36,000 in Little Rock.
Which has lower taxes, Atlanta or Little Rock?
Atlanta is taxed under Georgia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax); Little Rock under Arkansas's (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).