Living Cost Compare
Little Rock

Arkansas

$1,080/mo est.

vs
Warwick

Rhode Island

$1,390/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 $1,390 in Warwick, RI. Overall, Little Rock, AR is roughly 22% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Warwick, RI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $60,583 in Little Rock, AR and $87,536 in Warwick, RI — about 31% higher in Warwick, RI. Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax; Rhode Island has a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax.

Little Rock, AR
Warwick, RI

Rent

Studio
$981
$923
+6% in Little Rock, AR
1 Bedroom
$904
$1,085
+20% in Warwick, RI
2 Bedroom
$1,064
$1,629
+53% in Warwick, RI
3 Bedroom
$1,292
$1,569
+21% in Warwick, RI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$221,200
$322,000
+46% in Warwick, RI

Income

Median Household Income
$60,583
$87,536
+44% in Warwick, RI
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$45,790
$53,680
+17% in Warwick, RI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.4 yr
44.6 yr
+8.2 yr in Warwick, RI
Homeownership
54.2%
73.4%
+19.2 pp in Warwick, RI
Bachelor's+ (25+)
44.0%
33.2%
+10.8 pp in Little Rock, AR
Avg Commute
18.3 min
25.0 min
+6.7 min in Warwick, RI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,673
79.5
+95% in Little Rock, AR
Property Crime
5,251.5
1,149.5
+78% 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
51.6°F
+11.1°F in Little Rock, AR
Annual Precipitation
49.8 in
47.2 in
+2.6 in in Little Rock, AR

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.94/gal
+9% in Warwick, RI

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.1
29.2
+107% in Warwick, RI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$27.86
$25.75
+8% in Little Rock, AR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Warwick, RI
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.92
+10% in Warwick, RI
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Little Rock, AR
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.90
+7% in Warwick, RI
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.19
+15% in Warwick, RI
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in Warwick, RI

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AR / RI)
6.5%
7%
+0.5 pp in RI
Income Tax (top rate)
3.90%
5.99%
+2.1 pp in RI

Little Rock vs Warwick — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Little Rock or Warwick?
Little Rock, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,080 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 22% below Warwick, RI's $1,390, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Little Rock than in Warwick?
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 Warwick.
Which has lower taxes, Little Rock or Warwick?
Little Rock is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Warwick under Rhode Island's (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% 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).