Is it cheaper to live in Little Rock or Rochester?

Little Rock, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,080 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below Rochester, MN's $1,280, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Little Rock versus $44,000 in Rochester.

Which has lower taxes, Little Rock or Rochester?

Little Rock is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Rochester under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax).

Little Rock vs Rochester Cost of Living 2026

Little Rock

Arkansas

$1,080/mo est.

Rochester

Minnesota

$1,280/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 $1,280 in Rochester, MN. Overall, Little Rock, AR is roughly 16% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Rochester, MN, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $60,583 in Little Rock, AR and $87,767 in Rochester, MN — about 31% higher in Rochester, MN. Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax; Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax.

Little Rock, AR

Rochester, MN

Rent

Studio

$981

$1,080

+10% in Rochester, MN

1 Bedroom

$904

$1,106

+22% in Rochester, MN

2 Bedroom

$1,064

$1,243

+17% in Rochester, MN

3 Bedroom

$1,292

$1,646

+27% in Rochester, MN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$221,200

$287,500

+30% in Rochester, MN

Income

Median Household Income

$60,583

$87,767

+45% in Rochester, MN

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$45,790

$60,620

+32% in Rochester, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.4 yr

about equal

Homeownership

54.2%

65.4%

+11.2 pp in Rochester, MN

Bachelor's+ (25+)

44.0%

50.1%

+6.1 pp in Rochester, MN

Avg Commute

18.3 min

17.2 min

+1.1 min in Little Rock, AR

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,673

158.9

+91% in Little Rock, AR

Property Crime

5,251.5

1,379

+74% 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

45.4°F

+17.3°F in Little Rock, AR

Annual Precipitation

49.8 in

33.0 in

+16.7 in in Little Rock, AR

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$3.95/gal

+9% in Rochester, MN

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs Minnesota.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.4

16.9

+18% in Rochester, MN

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$25.93

$14.95

+42% in Little Rock, AR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Rochester, MN

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.66

+5% in Little Rock, AR

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$3.63

+64% in Rochester, MN

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.77

+5% in Rochester, MN

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.10

+10% in Rochester, MN

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AR / MN)

6.5%

6.875%

+0.4 pp in MN

Income Tax (top rate)

3.90%

9.85%

+5.9 pp in MN

Little Rock vs Rochester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Little Rock or Rochester?: Little Rock, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,080 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below Rochester, MN's $1,280, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Little Rock than in Rochester?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Little Rock versus $44,000 in Rochester.
Which has lower taxes, Little Rock or Rochester?: Little Rock is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Rochester under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% 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).