CostIndexUSA

Little Rock, AR vs San Luis Obispo, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableAR
Little Rock
89.4
overall index
$1,200/mo rent
CA
San Luis Obispo
108.6
overall index
$3,000/mo rent

Little Rock is significantly cheaper than San Luis Obispo — 21.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Little Rock, you would need $97,200 in San Luis Obispo. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+111.4%
Little Rock
68.3
San Luis Obispo
144.4
🛒 Groceries+12.4%
Little Rock
93.6
San Luis Obispo
105.2
🚗 Transportation+5.2%
Little Rock
100.1
San Luis Obispo
105.3
🏥 Healthcare+5.3%
Little Rock
90.5
San Luis Obispo
95.3
Utilities+98.1%
Little Rock
74.6
San Luis Obispo
147.8

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in San Luis Obispo, CA
$97,200
$17,200 more needed in San Luis Obispo

Formula: salary × (108.6 ÷ 89.4) = salary × 1.2148. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Little Rock, AR

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

San Luis Obispo, CA

Median Home Price
$880,000
Median Monthly Rent
$3,000
Housing Index
144.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
24.4×

San Luis Obispo has 111.4% higher housing costs compared to Little Rock.

Income & Job Market

Little Rock, AR

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

San Luis Obispo, CA

Median Household Income
$90,700
Per Capita Income
$51,700
Unemployment Rate
4.4%
Population
47,536
Top Industries
EducationTourismAgricultureHealthcareTechnology

Affordability at a Glance

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

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

78% of income left after rent (median)

San Luis Obispo, CA
2.5×income-to-rent ratio

60% 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.