State overview · AR
What salary do you need to live comfortably in Arkansas? Real data for 1 city, updated June 2026.
| City | Salary needed | Housing / mo | Median salary | Salary gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rock | $82,552 | $1,147 | $45,790 | $36,762 |
Cost of Living in Arkansas
Little Rock requires an annual income of $82,508 to cover basic living costs, which sits roughly $15,000 below the national median of $97,658. That makes Arkansas's capital relatively affordable by national standards, though affordability is relative. The median local salary of $44,730 falls $37,778 short of what residents actually need, meaning someone earning that wage covers only about half their real cost burden. These figures reflect Little Rock alone and should not be read as a statewide picture, since CityWage does not yet track other Arkansas cities.
CityWage currently covers one city in Arkansas: Little Rock. The table below breaks down its full cost profile, including monthly housing costs of $1,147.
Frequently asked questions
What's the cost of living in Little Rock, AR?
You need about $82,552 per year to live comfortably in Little Rock, based on the 50/30/20 budget rule applied to BLS and HUD data.
Does the median salary in Little Rock cover the cost of living?
Not on its own. The median local salary of $45,790 falls about $36,762 short of the $82,552 needed to live comfortably.
Is Little Rock above or below the national average?
Little Rock runs below the national median. It needs $82,552 per year versus the national figure of $97,559.