CostIndexUSA

Jonesboro, AR vs Monroe, LA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

AR
Jonesboro
85.9
overall index
$1,325/mo rent
More AffordableLA
Monroe
83.6
overall index
$1,100/mo rent

Monroe is slightly cheaper than Jonesboro — 2.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Jonesboro, you would need $77,900 in Monroe. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing−20.4%
Jonesboro
53.8
Monroe
42.8
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Jonesboro
93.6
Monroe
93.7
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Jonesboro
100.1
Monroe
100.5
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Jonesboro
90.5
Monroe
90.9
⚡ Utilities−3.7%
Jonesboro
75
Monroe
72.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Jonesboro to see what you'd need to earn in Monroe to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
→
Equivalent salary in Monroe, LA
$77,900
$2,100 less needed in Monroe

Formula: salary × (83.6 ÷ 85.9) = salary × 0.9732. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Jonesboro, AR

Median Home Price
$196,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,325
Housing Index
53.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
12.3×

Monroe, LA

Median Home Price
$157,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,100
Housing Index
42.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
11.9×

Jonesboro has 20.4% lower housing costs compared to Monroe.

Income & Job Market

Jonesboro, AR

Median Household Income
$58,600
Per Capita Income
$33,400
Unemployment Rate
5.1%
Population
77,678
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingRetailAgriculture

Monroe, LA

Median Household Income
$50,300
Per Capita Income
$28,700
Unemployment Rate
7.3%
Population
47,252
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingGovernmentRetail

Affordability at a Glance

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

Jonesboro, AR
3.7×income-to-rent ratio

73% of income left after rent (median)

Monroe, LA
3.8×income-to-rent ratio

74% of income left after rent (median)

Jonesboro vs other cities

Jonesboro, AR
vs
Fayetteville, AR
Index: 85.9Index: 91.4
Jonesboro, AR
vs
Fort Smith, AR
Index: 85.9Index: 85.9
Jonesboro, AR
vs
Little Rock, AR
Index: 85.9Index: 89.4
Jonesboro, AR
vs
Lake Charles, LA
Index: 85.9Index: 85.9
Jonesboro, AR
vs
Appleton, WI
Index: 85.9Index: 92.4

Monroe vs other cities

Monroe, LA
vs
Baton Rouge, LA
Index: 83.6Index: 90.8
Monroe, LA
vs
Lafayette, LA
Index: 83.6Index: 87.2
Monroe, LA
vs
Lake Charles, LA
Index: 83.6Index: 85.9
Monroe, LA
vs
Charleston, WV
Index: 83.6Index: 88.7
Monroe, LA
vs
San Luis Obispo, CA
Index: 83.6Index: 108.6

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.