Cost of Living Comparison Between Little Rock, AR and Austin, TX Cost of Living Comparison Between Little Rock, AR and Austin, TX

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,319 in Little Rock, AR versus $2,659 in Austin, TX.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,182 in Little Rock, AR versus $4,101 in Austin, TX.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,046 in Little Rock, AR versus $5,542 in Austin, TX.

Living in Little Rock, AR costs roughly 13% less than in Austin, TX, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Little Rock, AR 73% above, Austin, TX 98% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Little Rock, AR
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.08 $18.08
$19.63 $19.63
-7.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.3 $60.3
$75.1 $75.1
-19.68%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.69 $11.69
$9.92 $9.92
17.84%
Cappuccino
$4.70 $4.70
$5.67 $5.67
-17.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 $2.78
$2.77 $2.77
0.36%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44 $2.44
$2.17 $2.17
12.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.14 $5.14
$5.84 $5.84
-11.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.14 $6.14
$7.77 $7.77
-20.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Little Rock, AR
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.03 $1.03
$1.09 $1.09
-5.50%
White Bread (500g)
$3.39 $3.39
$3.41 $3.41
-0.59%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.07 $3.07
$3.43 $3.43
-10.50%
Eggs
$2.99 $2.99
$4.39 $4.39
-31.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.93 $9.93
$11.95 $11.95
-16.90%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.33 $11.33
$10.76 $10.76
5.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.77 $16.77
$14.29 $14.29
17.35%
Apples (1kg)
$4.59 $4.59
$4.84 $4.84
-5.17%
Banana (1kg)
$1.39 $1.39
$1.55 $1.55
-10.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.81 $2.81
$4.46 $4.46
-37.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.97 $3.97
$3.91 $3.91
1.53%
Potato (1kg)
$4.07 $4.07
$2.74 $2.74
48.54%
Onion (1kg)
$2.52 $2.52
$2.74 $2.74
-8.03%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.99 $1.99
$2.04 $2.04
-2.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.93 $1.93
$2.25 $2.25
-14.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.41 $8.41
$8.93 $8.93
-5.82%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.98 $11.98
$14.85 $14.85
-19.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67 $1.67
$2.35 $2.35
-28.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 $2.25
$3.57 $3.57
-36.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Little Rock, AR
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.37 $1.37
$1.47 $1.47
-6.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$35.53 $35.53
$42.98 $42.98
-17.33%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.49 $2.49
$4.28 $4.28
-41.82%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.48 $1.48
$1.84 $1.84
-19.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$23.62 $23.62
$35.54 $35.54
-33.54%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.78 $0.78
$0.72 $0.72
8.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.1K $24.1K
$25.7K $25.7K
-6.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$26.2K $26.2K
0.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Little Rock, AR
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$276 $276
$174 $174
58.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$57.3 $57.3
$60.2 $60.2
-4.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.5 $71.5
$66.3 $66.3
7.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Little Rock, AR
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$53.6 $53.6
$62.8 $62.8
-14.65%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.21 $12.21
$9.83 $9.83
24.21%
Cinema Ticket
$12.27 $12.27
$15.24 $15.24
-19.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Little Rock, AR
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,051 $1,051
$1,387 $1,387
-24.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$19.2K $19.2K
$22.2K $22.2K
-13.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Little Rock, AR
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.1 $53.1
$56.7 $56.7
-6.33%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.17 $41.17
$45.34 $45.34
-9.20%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$100 $100
$86.5 $86.5
15.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117 $117
$119 $119
-1.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Little Rock, AR
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,270 $1,270
$2,247 $2,247
-43.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$944 $944
$1,430 $1,430
-34.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,779 $1,779
$3,778 $3,778
-52.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,254 $1,254
$2,641 $2,641
-52.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,863 $1,863
$7,044 $7,044
-73.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,330 $1,330
$3,162 $3,162
-57.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Little Rock, AR
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,779 $3,779
$5,108 $5,108
-26.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.58
6.45
2.02%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Little Rock, AR: June 1, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,270 in Little Rock, AR and $2,247 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 35% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $60.0 in Little Rock, AR vs $75.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $353 vs $377 per month, with Little Rock, AR cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Little Rock, AR vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Little Rock, AR or Austin, TX?
Little Rock, AR wins on cost – living expenses run 15% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Little Rock, AR the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Little Rock, AR or Austin, TX?
On paper, Austin, TX earns 35% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Little Rock, AR vs Austin, TX?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,270 in Little Rock, AR versus $2,247 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Little Rock, AR compared to Austin, TX?
All in, you'll spend $2,319 per month in Little Rock, AR versus $2,659 in Austin, TX – a 15% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Little Rock, AR vs Austin, TX?
A monthly transit pass in Little Rock, AR runs roughly 21% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Little Rock, AR or Austin, TX?
At $2,319 in Little Rock, AR versus $2,659 in Austin, TX, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Little Rock, AR but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Little Rock, AR the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Little Rock, AR or Austin, TX?
Both work as nomad bases, but Little Rock, AR delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $2,319 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Little Rock, AR hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Little Rock, AR gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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