Arkansas vs Texas: cost of living compared
Statewide price levels and incomes from BEA (2024); gas prices from EIA (weekly).
Is it cheaper to live in Arkansas or Texas?
- Overall, Texas is 11.6% more expensive than Arkansas (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Arkansas works out to about $83,700 in Texas, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 65.8% more in Texas. Goods are 4.8% higher and other services 1.9% higher.
- Utility prices (electricity, gas, water) are 17.1% higher in Texas.
- After adjusting for local prices, personal income per person is $58,219 in Texas and $55,219 in Arkansas (5.4% higher in Texas; BEA, 2024, in 2017 dollars).
- Inside each state, metro price levels run from 83.8 in Eagle Pass, TX to 103.1 in Dallas, TX (Texas) and from 85.7 in Hot Springs, AR to 91.4 in Fayetteville, AR (Arkansas), US = 100.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (12.3%).
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities and real personal income by state. Statewide averages mix cities and rural areas; taxes are not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both states against the US average (100).
Housing drives the gap: 65.8% higher in Texas than in Arkansas
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Arkansas
- Texas
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Arkansas | Texas | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 86.9 | 97.1 |
| Goods | 93.6 | 98.1 |
| Housing (rents) | 58.2 | 96.5 |
| Utilities | 74.7 | 87.5 |
| Other services | 95.3 | 97.1 |
| Category | Arkansas | Texas | Texas vs Arkansas |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 86.9 | 97.1 | +11.6% |
| Goods | 93.6 | 98.1 | +4.8% |
| Housing (rents) | 58.2 | 96.5 | +65.8% |
| Utilities | 74.7 | 87.5 | +17.1% |
| Other services | 95.3 | 97.1 | +1.9% |
| Income per person, adjusted for prices | $55,219 | $58,219 | +5.4% |
| Regular gas, week of October 19, 2026* | $3.78 | $3.70 | −2.1% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Arkansas | $75,000 | $83,700 | +11.6% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Income: BEA real personal income per person, 2017 dollars. Gas: EIA weekly retail prices. *Gulf Coast region average (EIA has no separate Arkansas figure).
Cheapest and most expensive places in each state
Arkansas
- Texarkana, TX 84.0
- Hot Springs, AR 85.7
- Jonesboro, AR 85.9
- Fort Smith, AR 85.9
- Little Rock, AR 89.4
- Fayetteville, AR 91.4
- Memphis, TN 92.2
Texas
- Eagle Pass, TX 83.8
- Texarkana, TX 84.0
- McAllen, TX 85.9
- Brownsville, TX 86.0
- Laredo, TX 87.0
- Longview, TX 89.5
- Wichita Falls, TX 89.5
- Victoria, TX 89.8
- El Paso, TX 89.9
- Beaumont, TX 90.0
- Abilene, TX 90.4
- College Station, TX 91.0
- Killeen, TX 91.1
- Lubbock, TX 91.3
- Amarillo, TX 91.8
- Tyler, TX 92.2
- San Angelo, TX 92.5
- Waco, TX 92.6
- Corpus Christi, TX 92.7
- Sherman, TX 93.8
- Odessa, TX 93.9
- San Antonio, TX 94.7
- Midland, TX 95.8
- Austin, TX 98.1
- Houston, TX 98.6
- Dallas, TX 103.1
Metro areas ordered from cheapest to most expensive. BEA, 2024, US = 100.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Arkansas and Texas has been fairly stable since 2008
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Arkansas
- Texas
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Arkansas | Texas | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 88.1 | 97.1 |
| 2009 | 86.4 | 96.7 |
| 2010 | 88.6 | 97.7 |
| 2011 | 89.4 | 97.0 |
| 2012 | 89.4 | 97.7 |
| 2013 | 89.5 | 98.1 |
| 2014 | 89.4 | 98.4 |
| 2015 | 89.0 | 98.3 |
| 2016 | 89.3 | 98.1 |
| 2017 | 88.6 | 97.4 |
| 2018 | 87.1 | 97.8 |
| 2019 | 87.7 | 98.5 |
| 2020 | 88.2 | 98.8 |
| 2021 | 88.9 | 98.4 |
| 2022 | 86.9 | 97.4 |
| 2023 | 86.8 | 97.1 |
| 2024 | 86.9 | 97.1 |
Goods
- Arkansas
- Texas
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Arkansas | Texas | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 95.9 | 97.1 |
| 2009 | 93.8 | 96.1 |
| 2010 | 96.6 | 98.1 |
| 2011 | 96.0 | 96.5 |
| 2012 | 94.5 | 97.6 |
| 2013 | 95.4 | 97.6 |
| 2014 | 94.8 | 97.4 |
| 2015 | 94.0 | 97.1 |
| 2016 | 94.9 | 98.4 |
| 2017 | 94.5 | 97.1 |
| 2018 | 93.1 | 97.1 |
| 2019 | 94.8 | 97.9 |
| 2020 | 94.3 | 98.2 |
| 2021 | 95.6 | 98.5 |
| 2022 | 93.1 | 97.2 |
| 2023 | 93.1 | 98.1 |
| 2024 | 93.6 | 98.1 |
Housing (rents)
- Arkansas
- Texas
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Arkansas | Texas | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 58.7 | 88.0 |
| 2009 | 57.4 | 88.2 |
| 2010 | 59.8 | 89.3 |
| 2011 | 61.0 | 89.7 |
| 2012 | 60.3 | 91.1 |
| 2013 | 59.9 | 91.4 |
| 2014 | 60.2 | 93.6 |
| 2015 | 59.4 | 94.0 |
| 2016 | 59.3 | 95.6 |
| 2017 | 57.6 | 95.2 |
| 2018 | 56.2 | 95.2 |
| 2019 | 56.8 | 95.8 |
| 2020 | 56.9 | 95.8 |
| 2021 | 59.4 | 95.6 |
| 2022 | 55.7 | 97.0 |
| 2023 | 56.7 | 97.5 |
| 2024 | 58.2 | 96.5 |
Utilities
- Arkansas
- Texas
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Arkansas | Texas | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 81.2 | 101.4 |
| 2009 | 79.5 | 96.2 |
| 2010 | 78.9 | 98.1 |
| 2011 | 79.1 | 94.4 |
| 2012 | 81.8 | 93.1 |
| 2013 | 81.5 | 95.7 |
| 2014 | 81.3 | 94.9 |
| 2015 | 84.5 | 91.1 |
| 2016 | 83.7 | 91.9 |
| 2017 | 83.1 | 88.0 |
| 2018 | 79.3 | 87.5 |
| 2019 | 78.4 | 87.7 |
| 2020 | 81.6 | 85.0 |
| 2021 | 82.6 | 86.2 |
| 2022 | 82.6 | 88.7 |
| 2023 | 81.9 | 92.4 |
| 2024 | 74.7 | 87.5 |
Other services
- Arkansas
- Texas
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Arkansas | Texas | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 97.1 | 100.0 |
| 2009 | 95.8 | 100.4 |
| 2010 | 97.4 | 100.3 |
| 2011 | 98.9 | 100.1 |
| 2012 | 100.1 | 100.4 |
| 2013 | 99.8 | 101.0 |
| 2014 | 99.9 | 101.1 |
| 2015 | 99.5 | 101.1 |
| 2016 | 99.5 | 99.0 |
| 2017 | 98.1 | 98.9 |
| 2018 | 97.9 | 99.8 |
| 2019 | 97.2 | 100.5 |
| 2020 | 99.4 | 101.3 |
| 2021 | 97.2 | 100.0 |
| 2022 | 96.0 | 98.2 |
| 2023 | 95.7 | 96.6 |
| 2024 | 95.3 | 97.1 |
What incomes buy in each state
Income per person after adjusting for prices: $58,219 in Texas, $55,219 in Arkansas
Real personal income per person, constant 2017 dollars (adjusted for each state's price level and for inflation).
- Arkansas
- Texas
- United States
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, real personal income by state (SARPI), 2008–2024.
Show the numbers
| Arkansas | Texas | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | $40,969 | $46,068 | $45,816 |
| 2009 | $40,953 | $43,349 | $44,204 |
| 2010 | $40,248 | $44,078 | $44,808 |
| 2011 | $41,264 | $46,663 | $45,957 |
| 2012 | $42,999 | $47,554 | $46,796 |
| 2013 | $42,386 | $47,301 | $46,358 |
| 2014 | $44,078 | $48,959 | $47,661 |
| 2015 | $45,415 | $48,983 | $49,396 |
| 2016 | $45,881 | $47,686 | $49,828 |
| 2017 | $46,861 | $49,918 | $51,006 |
| 2018 | $48,487 | $51,551 | $52,242 |
| 2019 | $48,246 | $52,343 | $53,683 |
| 2020 | $51,212 | $53,181 | $56,514 |
| 2021 | $55,184 | $56,442 | $59,365 |
| 2022 | $53,291 | $56,452 | $57,104 |
| 2023 | $54,094 | $57,708 | $58,088 |
| 2024 | $55,219 | $58,219 | $59,195 |
More
- Cost of living in Arkansas
- Cost of living in Texas
- Reverse: moving from Texas to Arkansas
- All states ranked
Related state comparisons
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State income, sales and property taxes differ a lot between states and are not included.
- Where you live inside the state. Statewide figures average cities and rural areas; the metro lists above show the spread.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider if housing is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels and incomes are for 2024; gas prices are weekly.