City Comparison

Alexandria vs Little Rock

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Alexandria

Virginia
145
Expensive
$590,000
Median Home
$2,125/mo
Median Rent
$119,700
Median Income

Little Rock

Arkansas
84
Very Affordable
$170,000
Median Home
$950/mo
Median Rent
$47,638
Median Income

The Verdict

72.6%

The cost gap between these cities is 72.6%, with Little Rock being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Alexandria has equivalent purchasing power to $43,448 in Little Rock.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
201
Alexandria
62
Little Rock
Groceries
113
Alexandria
94
Little Rock
Utilities
97
Alexandria
88
Little Rock
Transportation
107
Alexandria
98
Little Rock
Healthcare
102
Alexandria
90
Little Rock

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Alexandria has the same purchasing power as $43,448 in Little Rock.

Conversely, $75,000 in Little Rock equals $129,464 in Alexandria.

Living in Alexandria vs Little Rock

Housing Costs

Alexandria's housing index of 201 is higher Little Rock's 62, translating to median home prices of $590,000 vs $170,000. The $420,000 difference in home prices means roughly $27,300 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,125/mo in Alexandria compared to $950/mo in Little Rock, a monthly difference of $1,175.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 113 in Alexandria and 94 in Little Rock. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $537/month in Alexandria vs $447/month in Little Rock. Little Rock offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $1080/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 97 in Alexandria and 88 in Little Rock. Monthly utility bills average approximately $388 in Alexandria vs $352 in Little Rock. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 102 in Alexandria and 90 in Little Rock. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 12-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $119,700 in Alexandria and $47,638 in Little Rock. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $82,552 and $56,712 respectively. Alexandria residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,793/month to housing in Alexandria vs $1,112/month in Little Rock. In Alexandria, median rent of $2,125/mo fits within this budget. In Little Rock, median rent of $950/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 139 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Little Rock is 72.6% more affordable overall with an index of 84 vs 145.
A $75,000 salary in Alexandria has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $43,448 in Little Rock, based on the cost of living difference.
Alexandria's housing index is 201 with median homes at $590,000, while Little Rock's is 62 with median homes at $170,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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