Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas
A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,090 in Huntsville, AL versus $1,080 in Little Rock, AR. Overall, Little Rock, AR is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Huntsville, AL, driven mainly by electricity costs.
Median household income is $70,778 in Huntsville, AL and $60,583 in Little Rock, AR — about 14% higher in Huntsville, AL. Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax; Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax.
Rent
Buying a Home
Income
People & Lifestyle
Crime (per 100k/yr)
FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.
Climate
Gas
Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).
Utilities
Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.
Groceries
Average prices — South vs South (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.
State Taxes
Huntsville vs Little Rock — FAQ
- Is it cheaper to live in Huntsville or Little Rock?
- Little Rock, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,080 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Huntsville, AL's $1,090, mainly because of electricity costs.
- How much more do you need to earn to live in Huntsville than in Little Rock?
- To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Huntsville versus $36,000 in Little Rock.
- Which has lower taxes, Huntsville or Little Rock?
- Huntsville is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% 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).