Median rent is 23% lower in Little Rock ($1,067/mo vs $1,380/mo). Buying is cheaper in Little Rock, where the median home runs $221,200 versus $315,200. Households earn more in Chicago ($75,134 vs $60,583 a year).
City A
Chicago, IL
City B
Little Rock, AR
How much would you need to earn in Little Rock, AR to maintain your standard of living from Chicago, IL?
A cost-of-living index isn't available for one of these cities yet, so we can't compute an equivalent salary.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each city's metro area. A rough estimate of overall purchasing power, not tax or take-home pay.
Metric
Chicago
Illinois
Little Rock
Arkansas
👥Population
💰Median Household Income
Annual
🏠Median Gross Rent
Per month
🏡Median Home Value
📊Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
🔑1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🔑2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🔑3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🌬️Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
🏛️Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
🧾State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
🎂Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Renters will find significantly cheaper housing in Little Rock — median rent of $1,067/mo versus $1,380/mo in Chicago, a 23% difference. Home buyers face a steeper market in Chicago: the median home is $315,200 versus $221,200 in Little Rock — 30% more expensive.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
Illinois's top income tax rate is 4.95% versus 4.40% in Arkansas, so Little Rock is more tax-friendly for high earners. Sales tax is 6.25% in Illinois and 6.50% in Arkansas; Chicago has the lower rate (local add-ons may apply in both).
Chicago
Income tax: 4.95%
Sales tax: 6.25%
Little Rock
Income tax: 4.40%
Sales tax: 6.50%
Chicago has cleaner air on average: 21.0 AQI (Good) compared to 54.0 AQI (Moderate) in the other city. Lower AQI means cleaner, healthier air.
Pick Chicago if you prioritize higher median household income ($75,134/yr).
Pick Little Rock if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,067/mo median).
Pick Chicago if you prioritize cleaner air quality (avg AQI 21.0).
Pick Little Rock if you prioritize lower state income tax (4.40%).
Is Chicago cheaper than Little Rock?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Chicago vs Little Rock?
Median rent is $1,380/mo in Chicago, IL and $1,067/mo in Little Rock, AR. Little Rock, AR has the lower rent by about 23%.
Which has higher salaries — Chicago or Little Rock?
Median household income is $75,134 in Chicago, IL and $60,583 in Little Rock, AR. Chicago, IL has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Which city has better air quality?
Chicago, IL has better air quality on average: 21.0 AQI versus 54.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
Which has lower taxes — Chicago or Little Rock?
Illinois's top income tax rate is 4.95% and Arkansas's is 4.40%. Little Rock, AR has the lower rate.
What salary do I need in Little Rock to match my Chicago income?
RPP data needed for salary equivalence calculation is not yet available.
Data last updated: December 1, 2024 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology