Cost of Living in Arkansas
Based on 3 cities we track in Arkansas.
Cost of living in Arkansas is shaped mostly by rent across the 3 cities we track there. A one-bedroom apartment runs around $817 a month — 24% lower than the $1,076 median across the 51 states we track.
Median household income across those cities is $59,074, 11% lower than the $66,029 median across the states we track. Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax.
State Medians
Median 1BR Rent
$817
Median Home Value
$221,200
Median Income
$59,074
Avg Temperature
61.7°F
Medians across the Arkansas cities we track — not a statewide population-weighted figure.
State Taxes
State Sales Tax
6.5%
State Income Tax (top rate)
Up to 3.90%
Cities in Arkansas
Compare Arkansas with
AlabamaAlaskaArizonaCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming
Arkansas cost of living — FAQ
- Is Arkansas expensive to live in?
- Arkansas is among the more affordable of the 51 states we track. Its median one-bedroom rent of $817 ranks #43 of 51 and is 24% lower than the $1,076 median.
- What is the average rent in Arkansas?
- Across the 3 cities we track in Arkansas, average rent runs a studio around $709, a one-bedroom around $817, a two-bedroom around $999, a three-bedroom around $1,292 per month (US Census ACS).
- What is the median home price in Arkansas?
- The median home value across the cities we track in Arkansas is $221,200 — 18% lower than the $270,100 median across the states we track.
- Does Arkansas have a state income tax?
- Yes — Arkansas's top state income tax rate is 3.90% (most filers pay less than the top rate). Its state sales tax rate is 6.5%; local jurisdictions may add more.
- How much do you need to earn to live in Arkansas?
- To keep a one-bedroom rent of $817 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year. Median household income across the cities we track in Arkansas is $59,074.
Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year; NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010; Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).