Is it cheaper to live in Columbia or Little Rock?

Little Rock, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,080 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Columbia, SC's $1,220, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Columbia than in Little Rock?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Columbia versus $36,000 in Little Rock.

Which has lower taxes, Columbia or Little Rock?

Columbia is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax); Little Rock under Arkansas's (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax).

Columbia vs Little Rock Cost of Living 2026

Columbia

South Carolina

$1,220/mo est.

Little Rock

Arkansas

$1,080/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,220 in Columbia, SC versus $1,080 in Little Rock, AR. Overall, Little Rock, AR is roughly 11% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Columbia, SC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $55,653 in Columbia, SC and $60,583 in Little Rock, AR — about 8% higher in Little Rock, AR. South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax; Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Columbia, SC

Little Rock, AR

Rent

Studio

$802

$981

+22% in Little Rock, AR

1 Bedroom

$1,026

$904

+12% in Columbia, SC

2 Bedroom

$1,164

$1,064

+9% in Columbia, SC

3 Bedroom

$1,338

$1,292

+3% in Columbia, SC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$243,500

$221,200

+9% in Columbia, SC

Income

Median Household Income

$55,653

$60,583

+9% in Little Rock, AR

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$46,430

$45,790

+1% in Columbia, SC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

28.7 yr

36.4 yr

+7.7 yr in Little Rock, AR

Homeownership

47.3%

54.2%

+6.9 pp in Little Rock, AR

Bachelor's+ (25+)

46.1%

44.0%

+2.1 pp in Columbia, SC

Avg Commute

17.4 min

18.3 min

+0.9 min in Little Rock, AR

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

769.9

1,673

+117% in Little Rock, AR

Property Crime

3,265.1

5,251.5

+61% 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

64.9°F

62.7°F

+2.2°F in Columbia, SC

Annual Precipitation

45.4 in

49.8 in

+4.4 in in Little Rock, AR

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.62/gal

+8% in Columbia, SC

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.6

14.1

+9% in Columbia, SC

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$29.07

$27.86

+4% in Columbia, SC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.75

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (SC / AR)

6.5%

+0.5 pp in AR

Income Tax (top rate)

6.00%

3.90%

+2.1 pp in SC

Columbia vs Little Rock — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Columbia or Little Rock?: Little Rock, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,080 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Columbia, SC's $1,220, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Columbia than in Little Rock?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Columbia versus $36,000 in Little Rock.
Which has lower taxes, Columbia or Little Rock?: Columbia is taxed under South Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% 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).