CostIndexUSA

Little Rock, AR vs South Bend, IN Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableAR
Little Rock
89.4
overall index
$1,200/mo rent
IN
South Bend
92.9
overall index
$1,375/mo rent

Little Rock is slightly cheaper than South Bend — 3.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Little Rock, you would need $83,100 in South Bend. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+9.2%
Little Rock
68.3
South Bend
74.6
🛒 Groceries+0.6%
Little Rock
93.6
South Bend
94.2
🚗 Transportation+4.1%
Little Rock
100.1
South Bend
104.2
🏥 Healthcare+4.2%
Little Rock
90.5
South Bend
94.3
Utilities+17.6%
Little Rock
74.6
South Bend
87.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in South Bend, IN
$83,100
$3,100 more needed in South Bend

Formula: salary × (92.9 ÷ 89.4) = salary × 1.0391. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Little Rock, AR

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

South Bend, IN

Median Home Price
$221,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,375
Housing Index
74.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
13.4×

South Bend has 9.2% higher housing costs compared to Little Rock.

Income & Job Market

Little Rock, AR

Median Household Income
$66,200
Per Capita Income
$37,700
Unemployment Rate
3.4%
Population
202,591
Top Industries
GovernmentHealthcareRetailFinanceManufacturing

South Bend, IN

Median Household Income
$65,800
Per Capita Income
$37,500
Unemployment Rate
4.7%
Population
103,453
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingFinanceRetail

Affordability at a Glance

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

Little Rock, AR
4.6×income-to-rent ratio

78% of income left after rent (median)

South Bend, IN
4.0×income-to-rent ratio

75% 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.