Arkansas vs California

Arkansas is cheaper overall, while $100 goes further in Arkansas, California has higher incomes, Arkansas has lower state income tax, and California gets more sunshine.

Arkansas flag
Arkansas
AR · South
18 / 33
metrics won
Winner
VS
California flag
California
CA · West
15 / 33
metrics won
AR wins Housing AR wins Quality of Life CA wins Climate CA wins Income CA wins Demographics AR wins Taxes
Continue with the moving guides: Living in Arkansas Living in California All 50 states State Match
AR 18
15 CA

What matters to you?

Tell us your priority, get a verdict

Your match

Arkansas fits you better

Arkansas wins 18 of 33 scored metrics against California.

Run the numbers

What's your salary really worth?

Arkansas

After state tax
—
Housing / month
—
Left after housing
—
Cost-adjusted remainder
—

California

After state tax
—
Housing / month
—
Left after housing
—
Cost-adjusted remainder
—

Illustrative estimate only. Uses top marginal state income tax rate, BEA Regional Price Parity, and median housing costs — excludes federal tax, utilities, insurance, childcare, and debt.

Full comparison

Every metric, side by side

Pick a category. Each row opens the full breakdown for that metric — national rank, chart, and sourcing.

Capital City
Little Rock vs Sacramento
State Color
Solid Red vs Solid Blue
Population
3,133,502
39,345,844
Median Income
$52,123
$84,097
Cost of Living
87.6
138.5
Median Housing Value
$154,200
$693,700
Property Tax
0.55%
0.70%
State Income Tax
4.40%
13.30%
Minimum Wage
$11.00/hr
$16.50/hr
Gas Price
$3.610/gal
$5.929/gal
Electricity Rates
12.35 c/kWh
30.29 c/kWh
Livability Score
42.07
50.49
Average Temperature
60.4°F
59.4°F
Sunny Days
123 days
146 days
Land Area
53,179 sq mi
163,696 sq mi
Population Density
58.9 per sq mi
240.4 per sq mi
Statehood
June 15, 1836 (#25)
September 9, 1850 (#31)

Tradeoffs

Pros and cons for each state

The biggest advantages and drawbacks pulled from affordability, housing, income, taxes, safety, health, education, jobs, and weather.

Arkansas flag

Arkansas

Pros

  • Arkansas has a lower overall cost of living.
  • Arkansas has a lower housing cost index.
  • Arkansas has lower median home values.
  • Arkansas has lower property tax rates on average.
  • Arkansas job growth trend is stronger.

Cons

  • Arkansas shows lower median income.
  • Arkansas has a higher violent crime rate.
  • Arkansas health access/outcomes proxy is lower.
  • Arkansas health coverage access proxy is weaker.
  • Arkansas education proxy is lower.
  • Arkansas has fewer sunny days.
California flag

California

Pros

  • California shows higher median income.
  • California has a lower violent crime rate.
  • California health access/outcomes proxy is higher.
  • California health coverage access proxy is stronger.
  • California education proxy is higher.
  • California has more sunny days.

Cons

  • California has a higher overall cost of living.
  • California has a higher housing cost index.
  • California has higher median home values.
  • California has higher property tax rates on average.
  • California job growth trend is weaker.

People also ask

Arkansas vs California — common questions

QIs Arkansas cheaper to live in than California?

Arkansas has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Arkansas scores 87.6 versus 138.5 for California - a gap of 50.9 points.

QWhere does $100 go further - Arkansas or California?

$100 goes further in Arkansas. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $113.40 in Arkansas, compared with $92.31 in California.

QWhich state is bigger - Arkansas or California?

California is larger, covering 163,696 sq mi compared with 53,179 sq mi for Arkansas - roughly 3.1x the size.

QDoes Arkansas or California have more people?

California has the larger population at 39,345,844, compared with 3,133,502 in Arkansas.

QWhich state has higher household income - Arkansas or California?

California has the higher median household income at $84,097, versus $52,123 in Arkansas.

QWhich state has lower income taxes - Arkansas or California?

Arkansas has the lower state income tax top rate at 4.40%, compared with 13.30% in California.

QIs housing cheaper in Arkansas or California?

Homes are cheaper in Arkansas, where the median home value is $154,200, versus $693,700 in California.

QWhich state is more densely populated - Arkansas or California?

California is more densely populated at 240.4 per sq mi people per sq mi. Arkansas is more spread out at 58.9 per sq mi people per sq mi.

Related comparisons

Alabama flag Alabama vs California California flag California vs Delaware Alaska flag Alaska vs Arkansas Arizona flag Arizona vs Arkansas

Methodology

Figures combine government datasets, named research sources, and clearly labeled derived scores. Dataset reviewed July 23, 2026.

Demographics & geography
2020 Census, American Community Survey, TIGER/Line Files, National Archives
Income, housing & cost of living
American Community Survey, BLS, BEA Regional Price Parities, and named market studies
Wages & energy
U.S. Department of Labor, AAA, U.S. EIA
Politics & law
NCSL, Giffords Law Center, NABCA

Data periods differ by metric. Open any individual comparison metric to see its primary source, data period, review date, and calculation note. Daily-changing fields such as gas prices are stored snapshots unless the page explicitly says a live feed is used.

See our editorial policy for how we review and update these pages.