Living Cost Compare
Little Rock

Arkansas

$1,080/mo est.

vs
Norman

Oklahoma

$1,030/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,080 in Little Rock, AR versus $1,030 in Norman, OK. Overall, Norman, OK is roughly 5% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Little Rock, AR, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $60,583 in Little Rock, AR and $65,060 in Norman, OK — about 7% higher in Norman, OK. Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax; Oklahoma has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% state sales tax.

Little Rock, AR
Norman, OK

Rent

Studio
$981
$820
+16% in Little Rock, AR
1 Bedroom
$904
$863
+5% in Little Rock, AR
2 Bedroom
$1,064
$1,056
+1% in Little Rock, AR
3 Bedroom
$1,292
$1,377
+7% in Norman, OK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$221,200
$239,300
+8% in Norman, OK

Income

Median Household Income
$60,583
$65,060
+7% in Norman, OK
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$45,790
$47,230
+3% in Norman, OK

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.4 yr
31.6 yr
+4.8 yr in Little Rock, AR
Homeownership
54.2%
52.7%
+1.5 pp in Little Rock, AR
Bachelor's+ (25+)
44.0%
46.2%
+2.2 pp in Norman, OK
Avg Commute
18.3 min
22.2 min
+3.9 min in Norman, OK

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,673
268.6
+84% in Little Rock, AR
Property Crime
5,251.5
2,294.1
+56% 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
62.7°F
61.5°F
+1.2°F in Little Rock, AR
Annual Precipitation
49.8 in
36.5 in
+13.2 in in Little Rock, AR

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.94/gal
+9% in Norman, OK

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.4
13.4
+7% in Little Rock, AR
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$25.93
$27.15
+5% in Norman, OK

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.00
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.75
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.21
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.45
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$1.90
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.62
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AR / OK)
6.5%
4.5%
+2.0 pp in AR
Income Tax (top rate)
3.90%
4.50%
+0.6 pp in OK

Little Rock vs Norman — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Little Rock or Norman?
Norman, OK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Little Rock, AR's $1,080, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Little Rock than in Norman?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Little Rock versus $35,000 in Norman.
Which has lower taxes, Little Rock or Norman?
Little Rock is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Norman under Oklahoma's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 4.5% 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).