Living Cost Compare
Indianapolis

Indiana

$1,150/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 $1,150 in Indianapolis, IN versus $1,080 in Little Rock, AR. Overall, Little Rock, AR is roughly 6% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Indianapolis, IN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $62,995 in Indianapolis, IN and $60,583 in Little Rock, AR — about 4% higher in Indianapolis, IN. Indiana has a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% state sales tax; Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Indianapolis, IN
Little Rock, AR

Rent

Studio
$933
$981
+5% in Little Rock, AR
1 Bedroom
$963
$904
+6% in Indianapolis, IN
2 Bedroom
$1,132
$1,064
+6% in Indianapolis, IN
3 Bedroom
$1,304
$1,292
+1% in Indianapolis, IN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$207,000
$221,200
+7% in Little Rock, AR

Income

Median Household Income
$62,995
$60,583
+4% in Indianapolis, IN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,340
$45,790
+7% in Indianapolis, IN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.1 yr
36.4 yr
+2.3 yr in Little Rock, AR
Homeownership
55.3%
54.2%
+1.1 pp in Indianapolis, IN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
34.2%
44.0%
+9.8 pp in Little Rock, AR
Avg Commute
24.3 min
18.3 min
+6.0 min in Indianapolis, IN

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
936.6
1,673
+79% in Little Rock, AR
Property Crime
3,351.7
5,251.5
+57% 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
53.2°F
62.7°F
+9.5°F in Little Rock, AR
Annual Precipitation
42.4 in
49.8 in
+7.3 in in Little Rock, AR

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.62/gal
+8% in Indianapolis, IN

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.75
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
18.1
14.4
+21% in Indianapolis, IN
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$13.70
$25.93
+89% in Little Rock, AR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Indianapolis, IN
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.75
+5% in Little Rock, AR
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.21
+39% in Indianapolis, IN
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.45
+5% in Indianapolis, IN
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$1.90
+9% in Indianapolis, IN
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 (IN / AR)
7%
6.5%
+0.5 pp in IN
Income Tax (top rate)
2.95%
3.90%
+0.9 pp in AR

Indianapolis vs Little Rock — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Indianapolis or Little Rock?
Little Rock, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,080 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Indianapolis, IN's $1,150, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Indianapolis than in Little Rock?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Indianapolis versus $36,000 in Little Rock.
Which has lower taxes, Indianapolis or Little Rock?
Indianapolis is taxed under Indiana's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.95% and a 7% 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).