Living Cost Compare
Chicago

Illinois

$1,490/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 $1,490 in Chicago, IL versus $1,080 in Little Rock, AR. Overall, Little Rock, AR is roughly 28% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Chicago, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $75,134 in Chicago, IL and $60,583 in Little Rock, AR — about 19% higher in Chicago, IL. Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax; Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Chicago, IL
Little Rock, AR

Rent

Studio
$1,186
$981
+17% in Chicago, IL
1 Bedroom
$1,258
$904
+28% in Chicago, IL
2 Bedroom
$1,406
$1,064
+24% in Chicago, IL
3 Bedroom
$1,554
$1,292
+17% in Chicago, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$315,200
$221,200
+30% in Chicago, IL

Income

Median Household Income
$75,134
$60,583
+19% in Chicago, IL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,720
$45,790
+16% in Chicago, IL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.7 yr
36.4 yr
+0.7 yr in Little Rock, AR
Homeownership
45.5%
54.2%
+8.7 pp in Little Rock, AR
Bachelor's+ (25+)
43.3%
44.0%
+0.7 pp in Little Rock, AR
Avg Commute
33.5 min
18.3 min
+15.2 min in Chicago, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
539.8
1,673
+210% in Little Rock, AR
Property Crime
3,489.9
5,251.5
+50% 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
52.7°F
62.7°F
+10.0°F in Little Rock, AR
Annual Precipitation
38.0 in
49.8 in
+11.8 in in Little Rock, AR

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.29/gal
$3.62/gal
+16% in Chicago, IL

Area: Chicago vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.50
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
23.9
14.4
+40% in Chicago, IL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.39
$25.93
+68% in Little Rock, AR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Chicago, IL
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.75
+5% in Little Rock, AR
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.21
+39% in Chicago, IL
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.45
+5% in Chicago, IL
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$1.90
+9% in Chicago, IL
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IL / AR)
6.25%
6.5%
+0.3 pp in AR
Income Tax (top rate)
4.95%
3.90%
+1.1 pp in IL

Chicago vs Little Rock — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Chicago or Little Rock?
Little Rock, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,080 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Chicago, IL's $1,490, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Chicago than in Little Rock?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $50,000 a year in Chicago versus $36,000 in Little Rock.
Which has lower taxes, Chicago or Little Rock?
Chicago is taxed under Illinois's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% 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).