Is it cheaper to live in Little Rock or Pittsburgh?

Little Rock, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,080 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 17% below Pittsburgh, PA's $1,300, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Little Rock versus $43,000 in Pittsburgh.

Which has lower taxes, Little Rock or Pittsburgh?

Little Rock is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Pittsburgh under Pennsylvania's (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax).

Little Rock vs Pittsburgh Cost of Living 2026

Little Rock

Arkansas

$1,080/mo est.

Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania

$1,300/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 $1,300 in Pittsburgh, PA. Overall, Little Rock, AR is roughly 17% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Pittsburgh, PA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $60,583 in Little Rock, AR and $64,137 in Pittsburgh, PA — about 6% higher in Pittsburgh, PA. Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax; Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax.

Little Rock, AR

Pittsburgh, PA

Rent

Studio

$981

$1,109

+13% in Pittsburgh, PA

1 Bedroom

$904

$1,079

+19% in Pittsburgh, PA

2 Bedroom

$1,064

$1,269

+19% in Pittsburgh, PA

3 Bedroom

$1,292

$1,450

+12% in Pittsburgh, PA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$221,200

$193,200

+13% in Little Rock, AR

Income

Median Household Income

$60,583

$64,137

+6% in Pittsburgh, PA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$45,790

$49,650

+8% in Pittsburgh, PA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.4 yr

33.5 yr

+2.9 yr in Little Rock, AR

Homeownership

54.2%

47.2%

+7.0 pp in Little Rock, AR

Bachelor's+ (25+)

44.0%

47.8%

+3.8 pp in Pittsburgh, PA

Avg Commute

18.3 min

23.1 min

+4.8 min in Pittsburgh, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,673

436

+74% in Little Rock, AR

Property Crime

5,251.5

2,315.7

+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

51.8°F

+10.9°F in Little Rock, AR

Annual Precipitation

49.8 in

39.3 in

+10.5 in in Little Rock, AR

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$3.86/gal

+7% in Pittsburgh, PA

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.4

21.6

+50% in Pittsburgh, PA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$25.93

$19.17

+26% in Little Rock, AR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Pittsburgh, PA

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.92

+10% in Pittsburgh, PA

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Little Rock, AR

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.90

+7% in Pittsburgh, PA

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.19

+15% in Pittsburgh, PA

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Pittsburgh, PA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AR / PA)

6.5%

+0.5 pp in AR

Income Tax (top rate)

3.90%

3.07%

+0.8 pp in AR

Little Rock vs Pittsburgh — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Little Rock or Pittsburgh?: Little Rock, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,080 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 17% below Pittsburgh, PA's $1,300, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Little Rock than in Pittsburgh?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Little Rock versus $43,000 in Pittsburgh.
Which has lower taxes, Little Rock or Pittsburgh?: Little Rock is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Pittsburgh under Pennsylvania's (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% 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).