City Comparison

Little Rock vs Medford

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Little Rock

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

Medford

Oregon
106
Above Average
$406,000
Median Home
$1,375/mo
Median Rent
$73,200
Median Income

The Verdict

20.8%

Little Rock is 20.8% less expensive than Medford overall. A household earning $75,000 in Little Rock would need approximately $94,643 in Medford to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
62
Little Rock
139
Medford
Groceries
94
Little Rock
108
Medford
Utilities
88
Little Rock
97
Medford
Transportation
98
Little Rock
108
Medford
Healthcare
90
Little Rock
100
Medford

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Little Rock has the same purchasing power as $94,643 in Medford.

Conversely, $75,000 in Medford equals $59,434 in Little Rock.

Living in Little Rock vs Medford

Housing Costs

Little Rock's housing index of 62 is lower Medford's 139, translating to median home prices of $170,000 vs $406,000. The $236,000 difference in home prices means roughly $15,336 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $950/mo in Little Rock compared to $1,375/mo in Medford, a monthly difference of $425.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 94 in Little Rock and 108 in Medford. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $447/month in Little Rock vs $513/month in Medford. Little Rock offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $792/year.

Utility Expenses

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

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 90 in Little Rock and 100 in Medford. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 10-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $47,638 in Little Rock and $73,200 in Medford. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $56,712 and $69,057 respectively. Medford residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,112/month to housing in Little Rock vs $1,708/month in Medford. In Little Rock, median rent of $950/mo fits within this budget. In Medford, median rent of $1,375/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 77 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Little Rock is 20.8% more affordable overall with an index of 84 vs 106.
A $75,000 salary in Little Rock has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $94,643 in Medford, based on the cost of living difference.
Little Rock's housing index is 62 with median homes at $170,000, while Medford's is 139 with median homes at $406,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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