CostIndexUSA

Lexington, KY vs Little Rock, AR Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

KY
Lexington
92.9
overall index
$1,500/mo rent
More AffordableAR
Little Rock
89.4
overall index
$1,200/mo rent

Little Rock is slightly cheaper than Lexington — 3.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Lexington, you would need $77,000 in Little Rock. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing11.4%
Lexington
77.1
Little Rock
68.3
🛒 Groceries2.7%
Lexington
96.2
Little Rock
93.6
🚗 Transportation1.6%
Lexington
101.7
Little Rock
100.1
🏥 Healthcare1.6%
Lexington
92
Little Rock
90.5
Utilities≈ Equal
Lexington
74.6
Little Rock
74.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Little Rock, AR
$77,000
$3,000 less needed in Little Rock

Formula: salary × (89.4 ÷ 92.9) = salary × 0.9623. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Lexington, KY

Median Home Price
$313,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,500
Housing Index
77.1
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×

Lexington has 11.4% lower housing costs compared to Little Rock.

Income & Job Market

Lexington, KY

Median Household Income
$70,000
Per Capita Income
$39,900
Unemployment Rate
3.8%
Population
322,570
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingAgricultureGovernment

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).

Lexington, KY
3.9×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.