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Cost question

Is Arkansas expensive to live in?

A direct, data-backed answer using cost-of-living exposure, housing cost signals, rent pressure, and income context.

11

/ 100

Cost-of-living risk

Short answer

No. Statewide cost pressure is relatively low.

Arkansas (AR) has a score of 11, compared against other states. The score reflects rent, housing-cost, home-value, rent-to-income, and rent-growth signals where available. Coverage: State-backed. This answer uses state-level cost data for Arkansas; city pages may use city, county, metro, or state-backed data depending on source coverage.

Source and freshness

Score versionV3
CoverageState-backed
Latest year2024

ACS 2023-2024 5-year

View data freshness →

Top drivers in this score

  • Rent growth (YoY)

    +3.6%

    Risk pressure percentile: 30

  • Rent as % of household income

    27.6%

    Risk pressure percentile: 12

  • Median gross rent

    $947

    Risk pressure percentile: 4

How this compares

Relative risk score10.8
Median (states)52.0
Delta vs median-41.2

Approximate percentile: 11 of 100

Coverage and confidence

Scope usedState-backed
Metric coverage5/5
ConfidenceHigh confidence

Most core metrics are available at state level.

Metrics used

Median gross rent$947
Median home value$188,000
Median monthly housing costs$894
Rent as % of household income27.6%
Rent growth (YoY)+3.6%

Why it matters

Cost of living affects financial risk because fixed costs can absorb income before households address debt, savings, transportation, healthcare, or emergency expenses.

View full cost risk detail

Common follow-ups

Is Arkansas expensive to live in?

Arkansas (AR) has a score of 11, compared against other states. The score reflects rent, housing-cost, home-value, rent-to-income, and rent-growth signals where available. Coverage: State-backed. This answer uses state-level cost data for Arkansas; city pages may use city, county, metro, or state-backed data depending on source coverage.

What cost data is used for Arkansas?

FinancialRiskIQ uses public indicators such as median gross rent, monthly housing costs, home value, rent-to-income ratio, and rent growth. This state answer uses ACS 2023-2024 5-year (2024).

Does this describe every household in the state?

No. The answer describes state-level conditions using aggregated public data, not individual household budgets.