CostIndexUSA

Chattanooga, TN vs Little Rock, AR Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

TN
Chattanooga
91.5
overall index
$1,500/mo rent
More AffordableAR
Little Rock
89.4
overall index
$1,200/mo rent

Little Rock is slightly cheaper than Chattanooga — 2.3% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Chattanooga, you would need $78,200 in Little Rock. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing10.8%
Chattanooga
76.6
Little Rock
68.3
🛒 Groceries2.5%
Chattanooga
96
Little Rock
93.6
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Chattanooga
100.1
Little Rock
100.1
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Chattanooga
90.5
Little Rock
90.5
Utilities≈ Equal
Chattanooga
74.2
Little Rock
74.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Little Rock, AR
$78,200
$1,800 less needed in Little Rock

Formula: salary × (89.4 ÷ 91.5) = salary × 0.9770. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Chattanooga, TN

Median Home Price
$314,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,500
Housing Index
76.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.4×

Little Rock, AR

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

Chattanooga has 10.8% lower housing costs compared to Little Rock.

Income & Job Market

Chattanooga, TN

Median Household Income
$68,700
Per Capita Income
$39,200
Unemployment Rate
4.4%
Population
181,099
Top Industries
ManufacturingHealthcareTourismTechnologyLogistics

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).

Chattanooga, TN
3.8×income-to-rent ratio

74% 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.