Johnson City vs Little Rock
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Johnson City
Little Rock
The Verdict
Little Rock is 1.2% less expensive than Johnson City overall. A household earning $75,000 in Johnson City would need approximately $74,118 in Little Rock to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Johnson City has the same purchasing power as $74,118 in Little Rock.
Conversely, $75,000 in Little Rock equals $75,893 in Johnson City.
Living in Johnson City vs Little Rock
Housing Costs
Johnson City's housing index of 66 is higher Little Rock's 62, translating to median home prices of $276,000 vs $170,000. The $106,000 difference in home prices means roughly $6,888 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,025/mo in Johnson City compared to $950/mo in Little Rock, a monthly difference of $75.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 95 in Johnson City and 94 in Little Rock. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $451/month in Johnson City vs $447/month in Little Rock. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 95 in Johnson City and 88 in Little Rock. Monthly utility bills average approximately $380 in Johnson City vs $352 in Little Rock. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 94 in Johnson City and 90 in Little Rock. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $55,400 in Johnson City and $47,638 in Little Rock. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $65,176 and $56,712 respectively. Johnson City residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,293/month to housing in Johnson City vs $1,112/month in Little Rock. In Johnson City, median rent of $1,025/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 Transportation, where the gap is 10 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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