CostIndexUSA

Boulder, CO vs Little Rock, AR Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CO
Boulder
105.2
overall index
$2,250/mo rent
More AffordableAR
Little Rock
89.4
overall index
$1,200/mo rent

Little Rock is significantly cheaper than Boulder — 15.0% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Boulder, you would need $68,000 in Little Rock. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing56.5%
Boulder
157
Little Rock
68.3
🛒 Groceries2.6%
Boulder
96.1
Little Rock
93.6
🚗 Transportation4.5%
Boulder
104.8
Little Rock
100.1
🏥 Healthcare4.5%
Boulder
94.8
Little Rock
90.5
Utilities9.8%
Boulder
82.7
Little Rock
74.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Little Rock, AR
$68,000
$12,000 less needed in Little Rock

Formula: salary × (89.4 ÷ 105.2) = salary × 0.8498. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Boulder, CO

Median Home Price
$702,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,250
Housing Index
157
Price-to-Rent Ratio
26.0×

Little Rock, AR

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

Boulder has 56.5% lower housing costs compared to Little Rock.

Income & Job Market

Boulder, CO

Median Household Income
$95,400
Per Capita Income
$54,400
Unemployment Rate
4.7%
Population
105,112
Top Industries
TechnologyEducationResearchHealthcareOutdoor Recreation

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).

Boulder, CO
3.5×income-to-rent ratio

72% 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.