CostIndexUSA

Austin, TX vs Little Rock, AR Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

TX
Austin
98.1
overall index
$1,550/mo rent
More AffordableAR
Little Rock
89.4
overall index
$1,200/mo rent

Little Rock is moderately cheaper than Austin — 8.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Austin, you would need $72,900 in Little Rock. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing43.3%
Austin
120.4
Little Rock
68.3
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Austin
93.8
Little Rock
93.6
🚗 Transportation1.0%
Austin
101.1
Little Rock
100.1
🏥 Healthcare1.0%
Austin
91.4
Little Rock
90.5
Utilities9.0%
Austin
82
Little Rock
74.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Austin to see what you'd need to earn in Little Rock to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Little Rock, AR
$72,900
$7,100 less needed in Little Rock

Formula: salary × (89.4 ÷ 98.1) = salary × 0.9113. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Austin, TX

Median Home Price
$420,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,550
Housing Index
120.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
22.6×

Little Rock, AR

Median Home Price
$222,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,200
Housing Index
68.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.4×

Austin has 43.3% lower housing costs compared to Little Rock.

Income & Job Market

Austin, TX

Median Household Income
$98,500
Per Capita Income
$56,100
Unemployment Rate
3.9%
Population
978,908
Top Industries
TechnologyGovernmentHealthcareEducationEntertainment

Little Rock, AR

Median Household Income
$66,200
Per Capita Income
$37,700
Unemployment Rate
3.4%
Population
202,591
Top Industries
GovernmentHealthcareRetailFinanceManufacturing

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Austin, TX
5.3×income-to-rent ratio

81% of income left after rent (median)

Little Rock, AR
4.6×income-to-rent ratio

78% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.