Is it cheaper to live in Columbus or Little Rock?

Little Rock, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,080 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Columbus, OH's $1,270, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Columbus versus $36,000 in Little Rock.

Which has lower taxes, Columbus or Little Rock?

Columbus is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax); Little Rock under Arkansas's (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax).

Columbus vs Little Rock Cost of Living 2026

Columbus

Ohio

$1,270/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 $1,270 in Columbus, OH versus $1,080 in Little Rock, AR. Overall, Little Rock, AR is roughly 15% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Columbus, OH, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,327 in Columbus, OH and $60,583 in Little Rock, AR — about 7% higher in Columbus, OH. Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax; Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Columbus, OH

Little Rock, AR

Rent

Studio

$1,014

$981

+3% in Columbus, OH

1 Bedroom

$1,059

$904

+15% in Columbus, OH

2 Bedroom

$1,276

$1,064

+17% in Columbus, OH

3 Bedroom

$1,369

$1,292

+6% in Columbus, OH

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$234,500

$221,200

+6% in Columbus, OH

Income

Median Household Income

$65,327

$60,583

+7% in Columbus, OH

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,340

$45,790

+11% in Columbus, OH

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.0 yr

36.4 yr

+3.4 yr in Little Rock, AR

Homeownership

44.3%

54.2%

+9.9 pp in Little Rock, AR

Bachelor's+ (25+)

38.2%

44.0%

+5.8 pp in Little Rock, AR

Avg Commute

21.8 min

18.3 min

+3.5 min in Columbus, OH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

485.2

1,673

+245% in Little Rock, AR

Property Crime

3,093.9

5,251.5

+70% 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

40.1 in

49.8 in

+9.6 in in Little Rock, AR

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.18/gal

$3.62/gal

+13% in Columbus, OH

Area: Ohio vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.00

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

19.5

14.4

+26% in Columbus, OH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$22.83

$25.93

+14% in Little Rock, AR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.00

+7% in Columbus, OH

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$1.75

+5% in Little Rock, AR

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.21

+39% in Columbus, OH

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$6.45

+5% in Columbus, OH

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$1.90

+9% in Columbus, OH

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OH / AR)

5.75%

6.5%

+0.8 pp in AR

Income Tax (top rate)

2.75%

3.90%

+1.1 pp in AR

Columbus vs Little Rock — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Columbus or Little Rock?: Little Rock, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,080 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Columbus, OH's $1,270, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Columbus than in Little Rock?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Columbus versus $36,000 in Little Rock.
Which has lower taxes, Columbus or Little Rock?: Columbus is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% 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).