City Comparison

Little Rock vs Sydney

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Little Rock

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

Sydney

Australia
105
Average
$825,000
Median Home
$2,050/mo
Median Rent
$60,000
Median Income

The Verdict

20.0%

Little Rock is 20.0% less expensive than Sydney overall. A household earning $75,000 in Little Rock would need approximately $93,750 in Sydney to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
62
Little Rock
142
Sydney
Groceries
94
Little Rock
95
Sydney
Utilities
88
Little Rock
98
Sydney
Transportation
98
Little Rock
108
Sydney
Healthcare
90
Little Rock
72
Sydney

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Little Rock has the same purchasing power as $93,750 in Sydney.

Conversely, $75,000 in Sydney equals $60,000 in Little Rock.

Living in Little Rock vs Sydney

Housing Costs

Little Rock's housing index of 62 is lower Sydney's 142, translating to median home prices of $170,000 vs $825,000. The $655,000 difference in home prices means roughly $42,576 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $950/mo in Little Rock compared to $2,050/mo in Sydney, a monthly difference of $1,100.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 94 in Little Rock and 95 in Sydney. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $447/month in Little Rock vs $451/month in Sydney. 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 88 in Little Rock and 98 in Sydney. Monthly utility bills average approximately $352 in Little Rock vs $392 in Sydney. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 90 in Little Rock and 72 in Sydney. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 18-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 $60,000 in Sydney. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $56,712 and $57,143 respectively. Sydney 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 $1,400/month in Sydney. In Little Rock, median rent of $950/mo fits within this budget. In Sydney, median rent of $2,050/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 80 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Little Rock is 20.0% more affordable overall with an index of 84 vs 105.
A $75,000 salary in Little Rock has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $93,750 in Sydney, based on the cost of living difference.
Little Rock's housing index is 62 with median homes at $170,000, while Sydney's is 142 with median homes at $825,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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