CostIndexUSA

Kansas City, MO vs Little Rock, AR Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

MO
Kansas City
92.5
overall index
$1,450/mo rent
More AffordableAR
Little Rock
89.4
overall index
$1,200/mo rent

Little Rock is slightly cheaper than Kansas City — 3.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Kansas City, you would need $77,300 in Little Rock. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing21.1%
Kansas City
86.6
Little Rock
68.3
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Kansas City
94.1
Little Rock
93.6
🚗 Transportation+2.1%
Kansas City
98
Little Rock
100.1
🏥 Healthcare+2.0%
Kansas City
88.7
Little Rock
90.5
Utilities16.2%
Kansas City
89
Little Rock
74.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Little Rock, AR
$77,300
$2,700 less needed in Little Rock

Formula: salary × (89.4 ÷ 92.5) = salary × 0.9665. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Kansas City, MO

Median Home Price
$312,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,450
Housing Index
86.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.9×

Little Rock, AR

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

Kansas City has 21.1% lower housing costs compared to Little Rock.

Income & Job Market

Kansas City, MO

Median Household Income
$79,800
Per Capita Income
$45,500
Unemployment Rate
2.9%
Population
508,394
Top Industries
FinanceHealthcareManufacturingLogisticsGovernment

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).

Kansas City, MO
4.6×income-to-rent ratio

78% 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.