Living Cost Compare
Little Rock

Arkansas

$1,080/mo est.

vs
Wilmington

Delaware

$1,230/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 $1,230 in Wilmington, DE. Overall, Little Rock, AR is roughly 12% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Wilmington, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $60,583 in Little Rock, AR and $55,269 in Wilmington, DE — about 9% higher in Little Rock, AR. Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Little Rock, AR
Wilmington, DE

Rent

Studio
$981
$1,103
+12% in Wilmington, DE
1 Bedroom
$904
$1,024
+13% in Wilmington, DE
2 Bedroom
$1,064
$1,213
+14% in Wilmington, DE
3 Bedroom
$1,292
$1,394
+8% in Wilmington, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$221,200
$224,500
+1% in Wilmington, DE

Income

Median Household Income
$60,583
$55,269
+9% in Little Rock, AR
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$45,790
$54,310
+19% in Wilmington, DE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.4 yr
37.0 yr
+0.6 yr in Wilmington, DE
Homeownership
54.2%
46.0%
+8.2 pp in Little Rock, AR
Bachelor's+ (25+)
44.0%
33.1%
+10.9 pp in Little Rock, AR
Avg Commute
18.3 min
23.0 min
+4.7 min in Wilmington, DE

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,673
1,138.2
+32% in Little Rock, AR
Property Crime
5,251.5
3,182.4
+39% 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
54.9°F
+7.8°F in Little Rock, AR
Annual Precipitation
49.8 in
43.1 in
+6.7 in in Little Rock, AR

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.86/gal
+7% in Wilmington, DE

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
14.4
19.4
+35% in Wilmington, DE
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$25.93
$22.51
+13% in Little Rock, AR

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 / DE)
6.5%
None
+6.5 pp in AR
Income Tax (top rate)
3.90%
6.60%
+2.7 pp in DE

Little Rock vs Wilmington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Little Rock or Wilmington?
Little Rock, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,080 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% below Wilmington, DE's $1,230, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Little Rock than in Wilmington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Little Rock versus $41,000 in Wilmington.
Which has lower taxes, Little Rock or Wilmington?
Little Rock is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax); Wilmington under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no 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).