CostIndexUSA

Johnson City, TN vs Little Rock, AR Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableTN
Johnson City
87.9
overall index
$1,400/mo rent
AR
Little Rock
89.4
overall index
$1,200/mo rent

Johnson City is slightly cheaper than Little Rock — 1.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Johnson City, you would need $81,400 in Little Rock. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+8.1%
Johnson City
63.2
Little Rock
68.3
🛒 Groceries2.7%
Johnson City
96.2
Little Rock
93.6
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Johnson City
99.9
Little Rock
100.1
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Johnson City
90.4
Little Rock
90.5
Utilities+3.8%
Johnson City
71.9
Little Rock
74.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Little Rock, AR
$81,400
$1,400 more needed in Little Rock

Formula: salary × (89.4 ÷ 87.9) = salary × 1.0171. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Johnson City, TN

Median Home Price
$270,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,400
Housing Index
63.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.1×

Little Rock, AR

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

Little Rock has 8.1% higher housing costs compared to Johnson City.

Income & Job Market

Johnson City, TN

Median Household Income
$56,800
Per Capita Income
$32,400
Unemployment Rate
3.9%
Population
68,006
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingRetailGovernment

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).

Johnson City, TN
3.4×income-to-rent ratio

70% 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.