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Cost of living in Little Rock, AR

Livability score 69 · cost-of-living index 89.5 (US = 100)

Little Rock, AR
Photo: Wikimedia Commons · Public domain

How Little Rock compares

Where Little Rock falls within the range of all 200 metros (marker = this city).

Cost-of-living index (US=100) 85 118 Cost-of-living index (US=100): 90 — range 85 to 118 across all metros 90 Median home price $149k $1610k Median home price: $231k — range $149k to $1610k across all metros $231k Price per sqft (more house = lower) $88 $1074 Price per sqft (more house = lower): $116 — range $88 to $1074 across all metros $116 Combined sales tax 0.0% 11.5% Combined sales tax: 9.5% — range 0.0% to 11.5% across all metros 9.5% Property tax rate 0.28% 2.76% Property tax rate: 0.70% — range 0.28% to 2.76% across all metros 0.70% Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 110 1,000 Violent crime (per 100k, state avg): 640 — range 110 to 1,000 across all metros 640 Electricity (¢/kWh) 12.3 46.6 Electricity (¢/kWh): 14.2 — range 12.3 to 46.6 across all metros 14.2 Avg summer high (°F) 65° 104° Avg summer high (°F): 93° — range 65° to 104° across all metros 93° Avg winter low (°F) -2° 72° Avg winter low (°F): 30° — range -2° to 72° across all metros 30°

Map of Little Rock

Grocery stores, parks, golf courses and more — real listings. Toggle categories in the legend.

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors · business listings via Google Maps

Cost of living

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Cost-of-living index (US=100) 89.5 metro-area #24 of 200
Grocery index (US=100) 93.1 metro-area #22 of 200
Big Mac price (est.) $5.09 metro-area #22 of 200
Median household income $62,664 metro-area #158 of 200
Median wage (all occupations) $40,726 metro-area #92 of 200

Who lives here

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Median age 37.4 years metro-area #68 of 200
Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) 32.9% metro-area #105 of 200
Foreign-born residents 4.6% metro-area #169 of 200
Homes that are owner-occupied 63.6% metro-area #134 of 200

Economy

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Unemployment rate 4.56% metro-area #56 of 200
Population growth (5-yr) +2.6% metro-area #131 of 200

Housing — what your money buys

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Median home price $231,039 metro-area #33 of 200
Home price ÷ income (affordability) 3.7× metro-area #29 of 200
1-yr home appreciation +3.5% metro-area #41 of 200
Price per square foot $116 metro-area #23 of 200
Typical home size (implied) 2,000 sqft
Median rent (monthly) $1,246 metro-area #17 of 200
Homes for sale (inventory) 3,970
Median days on market 36 metro-area #173 of 200

Taxes

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Total tax burden (est. % of income) 10.2% state #111 of 200
Combined sales tax 9.47% state #186 of 200
State income tax (top rate) 3.90%
Capital gains tax 3.90% state #73 of 200
High earners No special surtax
Social Security in retirement Not taxed — does not tax Social Security benefits
Effective property tax rate 0.70% metro-area #54 of 200
Median property tax paid $1,306 metro-area #25 of 200

Health & childcare

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Life expectancy at birth 74.4 years metro-area #166 of 200
Healthcare (annual, single adult) $6,000 state #4 of 200
Uninsured (share of residents) 8.6% metro-area #106 of 200
Primary care providers per 100k 80 metro-area #81 of 200
Childcare (annual, infant, center) $7,500 state #11 of 200

Vehicles & commute

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Annual registration $30 state #1 of 200
Vehicle property tax (annual) 1.02% of value (~$286/yr) state #143 of 200
Emissions testing Not required
Emissions detail No vehicle emissions testing
DMV & license offices 8
Avg commute to work 23 min metro-area #71 of 200
Commute by driving alone 79.3% metro-area #168 of 200
Solo drivers commuting 30+ min 31.8% metro-area #103 of 200

Utilities & fuel

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Electricity 14.2¢/kWh state #16 of 200
Avg monthly electric bill $127 state #16 of 200
Gasoline $2.95/gal state #3 of 200
Natural gas (avg monthly bill) $62 state #69 of 200
Water & sewer (avg monthly bill) $62 state #11 of 200
Home internet (avg monthly bill) $78 state #77 of 200

Insurance

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Home insurance (annual) $2,800 state #149 of 200
Auto insurance (annual) $1,900 state #86 of 200

Disaster risk & supplemental insurance

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Main natural hazards Notable hazards: tornadoes, earthquakes — separate flood/quake/windstorm policies may be needed.
FEMA National Risk Index (0–100, higher = more risk) 86.9 — Relatively Moderate metro-area #78 of 200
Flood insurance (annual, NFIP) $750 state #90 of 200
Earthquake insurance (annual) $350 state #149 of 200

Climate & air quality

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner) 55 metro-area #175 of 200
Cooling degree-days (AC load) 2,000 metro-area #138 of 200
Homes with air conditioning (state) 93% state #87 of 200
Heating degree-days (heat load) 3,200 metro-area #82 of 200
Days per year ≥ 90°F 69 metro-area #149 of 200
Days per year ≥ 100°F 6 metro-area #171 of 200
Avg summer high (state) 93°F metro-area #174 of 200
Avg winter low 30°F metro-area #89 of 200
Annual precipitation 49.0" metro-area #150 of 200
Annual snowfall 8.0" metro-area #103 of 200
Sunshine (% of possible) 60% metro-area #85 of 200
Plant hardiness zone 7b
Frost window 04-01 → 11-10

Safety

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 640 state #195 of 200
Property crime (per 100k, state avg) 2,900 state #173 of 200

Local amenities & recreation

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Grocery stores 22 metro-area #159 of 200
Parks 26
Hiking areas 8
Golf courses 13
Shooting ranges 4
Lakes 1

Permits

MetricValueScopeUS rank
Building permit difficulty (1–5) 2 state #1 of 200
Permit detail Generally easy

US rank = this metro's position among all 200 metros (1 = best: cheapest / safest / highest income, etc.). Childcare is a family cost, not included in the salary-equivalence total.

Top employers in Little Rock

Major public and private employers in the Little Rock, AR area.

EmployerSectorJobs
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Healthcare Search →
Dillard's Department Stores Retail Search →
Windstream Communications telecom Careers →
Acxiom Tech Search →
CHI – St. Vincent Healthcare Search →
Arkansas Children's Hospital Healthcare Search →

Salaries by occupation in Little Rock

Local median pay, BLS OEWS. All occupations →

OccupationMedian pay
Pharmacists $131,510
Dentists $119,850
Software Developers $103,090
Financial Managers $102,150
Data Scientists $100,370
Marketing Managers $92,830
Physical Therapists $92,680
Lawyers $92,350
Human Resources Managers $89,790
Construction Managers $85,930
Registered Nurses $79,300
Dental Hygienists $78,260
Civil Engineers $76,810
Mechanical Engineers $75,990
General & Operations Managers $71,180
Accountants & Auditors $63,370
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $54,080
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $53,960
Elementary School Teachers $52,640
Real Estate Sales Agents $49,520
Electricians $47,430
Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters $47,350
Web Developers $46,350
Carpenters $45,440
Welders, Cutters & Solderers $45,360
Graphic Designers $44,460
Physician Assistants $40,660
Medical Assistants $34,780

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