Median rent is 6% lower in Fayetteville ($1,003/mo vs $1,067/mo). Buying is cheaper in Little Rock, where the median home runs $221,200 versus $322,500. Households earn more in Little Rock ($60,583 vs $59,074 a year).
City A
Fayetteville, AR
City B
Little Rock, AR
How much would you need to earn in Little Rock, AR to maintain your standard of living from Fayetteville, AR?
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
Fayetteville
Arkansas
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
Median rent is modestly lower in Fayetteville at $1,003/mo compared to $1,067/mo in Little Rock (6% gap). Home buyers face a steeper market in Fayetteville: the median home is $322,500 versus $221,200 in Little Rock — 31% more expensive.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
Arkansas's top income tax rate is 4.40% versus 4.40% in Arkansas, so Little Rock is more tax-friendly for high earners. Sales tax is 6.50% in Arkansas and 6.50% in Arkansas; Little Rock has the lower rate (local add-ons may apply in both).
Fayetteville
Income tax: 4.40%
Sales tax: 6.50%
Little Rock
Income tax: 4.40%
Sales tax: 6.50%
Air quality data is available for Little Rock (avg AQI 54.0) but not yet for Fayetteville.
Is Fayetteville cheaper than Little Rock?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Fayetteville vs Little Rock?
Median rent is $1,003/mo in Fayetteville, AR and $1,067/mo in Little Rock, AR. Fayetteville, AR has the lower rent by about 6%.
Which has higher salaries — Fayetteville or Little Rock?
Median household income is $59,074 in Fayetteville, AR and $60,583 in Little Rock, AR. Little Rock, AR 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?
Air quality data is not yet available for one or both cities.
Which has lower taxes — Fayetteville or Little Rock?
Arkansas's top income tax rate is 4.40% and Arkansas's is 4.40%. Little Rock, AR has the lower rate.
What salary do I need in Little Rock to match my Fayetteville 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