State relocation profile · Federal data
Arkansas
Arkansas sits in the cheaper third of BEA RPP states, rent, wages, safety, schools and childcare below.
- 86.9
- Cost index (US=100)
- $943
- 2BR rent / mo
- $58,446
- Median salary
- 52.1
- Life Score
The verdict
As of June 2026, Arkansas ranks #23 of 51 scored US states on the composite Life Score (52.1/100, D), with its strongest marks in cost of living and rent.
- #23 of 51
- Life Score among scored states
- 52.1
- Life Score · D
- 86.9
- Cost of living (US=100)
- $58,446
- Median annual salary (BLS)
Weakest dimension: wages (2/100). State-level figures are a benchmark, individual metros can diverge sharply, so weigh each dimension against your own priorities.
According to PlainRelocate's state Life Score composite (BEA, BLS, HUD, FBI, NCES, DOL, and EPA inputs), Arkansas ranks #23 of 51 scored US states by Life Score (highest score = #1). Cost-of-living index 86.9 (100 = national average), median 2-bedroom rent $943/mo, median salary $58,446; Life Score 52.1/100 (D), strongest in cost of living and rent.
Signature: BEA RPP 86.9 ranks #1 of 51 states for lower prices (cheaper third of the corpus).
Purchasing power opens up: BEA RPP 86.9 lands in the cheaper third of US states (cuts at 93.3 / 100.7). HUD 2BR Fair Market Rent averages $943/mo statewide, against a BLS median salary of $58,446.
Composite Life Score 52.1/100 (D) sits mid-pack (#23 of 51).
Metro book is mid-sized (5 MSAs); state averages still hide corridor-level rent and wage gaps.
Life Score plate
Sheet AR · Arkansas 52.1/100 · D · #23 of 51
LIFE-D · RANK-MID · PHOTO-FINISH · RPP-CHEAP · LEAD-COST · BOOK-MOST
- LIFE-D Life Score D
- RANK-MID #23/51
- PHOTO-FINISH ±0.3 pts
- RPP-CHEAP RPP 86.9
- LEAD-COST Lead · cost of living
- BOOK-MOST 6/7 dims
Nearest Life Score peer: South Carolina (+ 0.3 pts)
Instrument codes from this state’s Life Score grade, corpus rank, peer gap, BEA RPP posture, lead dimension, and dimension book, not a moving recommendation.
Life Score neighbourhood around Arkansas
Lowest/highest poles plus states nearest Arkansas on composite Life Score. Full ladder: /rankings/.
Arkansas Life Score breakdown
Arkansas composites to 52.1/100 (D) across 6 of 7 dimensions (missing dims omitted; remaining weights renormalized); corpus place #23 of 51.
Arkansas - Life Score dimensions
Percentile vs all US states (100 = best in the nation for that dimension)
- Cost of living
Cost of living
100 /100
- Rent
Rent
96 /100
- Environment
Environment
80 /100
- Schools 32
Schools
32 /100
- Safety 6
Safety
6 /100
- Wages 2
Wages
2 /100
What this shows Arkansas's strongest dimensions are cost of living and rent; its weakest among scored dims is wages at 2/100. Each dimension is a federal-data percentile; the composite folds 6 of 7 into one comparable figure.
States near Arkansas on cost or Life Score
Nearest neighbors to Arkansas on BEA RPP or composite Life Score, a different lens than the in-state metro list below.
Similar cost of living (BEA RPP)
Metros in Arkansas
Explore detailed relocation data for 5 metropolitan areas in Arkansas. Arkansas contains 5 metropolitan statistical areas in our dataset - Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, Fort Smith, Hot Springs and more - each with its own rent, wage and crime profile that can diverge sharply from the statewide average.
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers metro · Compare metros · Cost vs quality · Methodology
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026
Arkansas cost figures follow BEA Regional Price Parities and HUD Fair Market Rents; Arkansas wages and safety follow BLS OEWS and FBI UCR. Research use only, verify at the agency source before you move.