Living Cost Compare
Colorado Springs

Colorado

$1,470/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 $1,470 in Colorado Springs, CO versus $1,080 in Little Rock, AR. Overall, Little Rock, AR is roughly 27% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Colorado Springs, CO, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $83,198 in Colorado Springs, CO and $60,583 in Little Rock, AR — about 27% higher in Colorado Springs, CO. Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax; Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Colorado Springs, CO
Little Rock, AR

Rent

Studio
$998
$981
+2% in Colorado Springs, CO
1 Bedroom
$1,305
$904
+31% in Colorado Springs, CO
2 Bedroom
$1,504
$1,064
+29% in Colorado Springs, CO
3 Bedroom
$1,881
$1,292
+31% in Colorado Springs, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$420,700
$221,200
+47% in Colorado Springs, CO

Income

Median Household Income
$83,198
$60,583
+27% in Colorado Springs, CO
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$52,710
$45,790
+13% in Colorado Springs, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.6 yr
36.4 yr
+0.8 yr in Little Rock, AR
Homeownership
61.3%
54.2%
+7.1 pp in Colorado Springs, CO
Bachelor's+ (25+)
41.9%
44.0%
+2.1 pp in Little Rock, AR
Avg Commute
22.8 min
18.3 min
+4.5 min in Colorado Springs, CO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
722.1
1,673
+132% in Little Rock, AR
Property Crime
3,488.7
5,251.5
+51% 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
49.0°F
62.7°F
+13.7°F in Little Rock, AR
Annual Precipitation
16.5 in
49.8 in
+33.2 in in Little Rock, AR

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.25/gal
$3.62/gal
+15% in Colorado Springs, CO

Area: Colorado vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.2
14.4
+11% in Colorado Springs, CO
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.92
$25.93
+118% in Little Rock, AR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.00
+17% in Colorado Springs, CO
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.75
+14% in Colorado Springs, CO
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in Little Rock, AR
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.45
+12% in Colorado Springs, CO
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$1.90
+6% in Colorado Springs, CO
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.62
+12% in Colorado Springs, CO

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CO / AR)
2.9%
6.5%
+3.6 pp in AR
Income Tax (top rate)
4.40%
3.90%
+0.5 pp in CO

Colorado Springs vs Little Rock — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Colorado Springs or Little Rock?
Little Rock, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,080 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 27% below Colorado Springs, CO's $1,470, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Colorado Springs than in Little Rock?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $52,000 a year in Colorado Springs versus $36,000 in Little Rock.
Which has lower taxes, Colorado Springs or Little Rock?
Colorado Springs is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% 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).