Arkansas
AR • South
Quality of Life Score
42.07
State Comparison
Arkansas vs Florida
Arkansas is cheaper overall, while $100 goes further in Arkansas, Florida has higher incomes, Florida has lower state income tax, and Arkansas gets more sunshine.
Arkansas
14
/ 31
metrics won
Score
VS
Florida
17
/ 31
metrics won
AR wins Housing
AR wins Quality of Life
FL wins Climate
FL wins Income
Quality of Life
Composite score — income, affordability, education, health, and safety.
Arkansas
vs
Florida
winner
Florida scores higher on quality of life — 16.44 points difference.
Overview
Key differences overview
These cards keep the comparison factual first, so the biggest tradeoffs in affordability, housing, taxes, politics, climate, and day-to-day living are easy to scan.
Overall Affordability
Arkansas is 12.9 points cheaper overall
Arkansas has the lower cost-of-living index. Arkansas is at 87.6, while Florida is at 100.5.
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Real Dollar Value
$100 goes $6.95 further in Arkansas
After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $113.40 of local buying power in Arkansas, versus $106.45 in Florida.
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Income
Florida income is 30.3% higher
Florida has the higher median household income at $67,917, compared with $52,123 in Arkansas.
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Jobs
Florida minimum wage is $3.00 higher
Florida has the higher statewide minimum wage at $14.00/hr, compared with $11.00/hr in Arkansas.
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Housing
Florida homes cost about 2.3x more
Arkansas has the lower median home value at $154,200, versus $348,000 in Florida.
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Taxes
Florida has lower state income tax
Florida has the lower state income tax rate. Its top rate is 0.00%, compared with 4.40% in Arkansas.
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Arkansas
- Gross salary
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- State income tax (top rate 4.4%)
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- After state tax
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- Real buying power (BEA RPP)
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Florida
- Gross salary
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- State income tax (none)
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- After state tax
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- Real buying power (BEA RPP)
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Cost-of-Living Equivalent
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* "After state tax" uses the top marginal rate — actual effective rate is lower for most incomes. Real buying power uses BEA Regional Price Parity (86.1 for Arkansas, 100.7 for Florida). COL equivalent uses the MERIC/C2ER composite index.
Tradeoffs
Pros and cons for each state
A fast scan of the biggest advantages and drawbacks pulled from affordability, housing, income, taxes, safety, health, education, jobs, and weather.
Arkansas
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: Arkansas
- 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.
- Arkansas health coverage access proxy is stronger.
Cons
- Arkansas shows lower median income.
- Arkansas has a higher violent crime rate.
- Arkansas health access/outcomes proxy is lower.
- Arkansas education proxy is lower.
Florida
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: Florida
- Florida shows higher median income.
- Florida has a lower violent crime rate.
- Florida health access/outcomes proxy is higher.
- Florida education proxy is higher.
Cons
- Florida has a higher overall cost of living.
- Florida has a higher housing cost index.
- Florida has higher median home values.
- Florida has higher property tax rates on average.
- Florida job growth trend is weaker.
- Florida health coverage access proxy is weaker.
Full Comparison
Pick a category to focus on. General shows the most important facts at a glance.
| Metric |
AR
|
FL
|
|---|---|---|
|
Capital City
|
Little Rock | Tallahassee |
|
State Color
|
Solid Red | Solid Red |
|
Population
|
3,011,524
|
21,538,187
|
|
Median Income
|
$52,123
|
$67,917
|
|
Cost of Living
|
87.6
|
100.5
|
|
Median Housing Value
|
$154,200
|
$348,000
|
|
Property Tax
|
0.55%
|
0.76%
|
|
State Income Tax
|
4.40%
|
None (0%)
|
|
Minimum Wage
|
$11.00/hr
|
$14.00/hr
|
|
Gas Price
|
$3.610/gal
|
$4.198/gal
|
|
Electricity Rates
|
12.35 c/kWh
|
15.92 c/kWh
|
|
Livability Score
|
42.07
|
58.51
|
|
Average Temperature
|
60.4°F
|
70.7°F
|
|
Sunny Days
|
123 days
|
101 days
|
|
Land Area
|
53,179 sq mi
|
65,758 sq mi
|
|
Population Density
|
56.6 per sq mi
|
327.5 per sq mi
|
|
Statehood
|
June 15, 1836 (#25)
|
March 3, 1845 (#27)
|
Intent-Oriented
Which state fits your priorities better?
Use these cards as decision shortcuts for common goals like saving money, buying a home, finding better weather, or optimizing for work and family life.
6
of
16
shown
Saving Money
Arkansas is cheaper overall
Overall cost-of-living index: 87.6 vs 100.5 in Florida. On a national baseline of 100, the lower score usually means cheaper day-to-day expenses.
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Gas Price
Arkansas is cheaper at the pump
Average regular gas price: $3.610/gal in Arkansas vs $4.198/gal in Florida. Lower pump prices can cut everyday driving costs.
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Minimum Wage
Florida has the higher minimum wage
State minimum wage: $14.00/hr in Florida vs $11.00/hr in Arkansas. That matters most for hourly, entry-level, and part-time workers.
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Electricity Rates
Arkansas has cheaper electricity
Average residential electricity rate: 12.35 c/kWh in Arkansas vs 15.92 c/kWh in Florida. Lower cents-per-kWh pricing can help keep utility bills down.
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Buying a Home
Arkansas is more attainable for buyers
Home-value-to-income ratio: 2.96x in Arkansas vs 5.12x in Florida. A lower ratio means the median home is easier to afford on a median income.
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Renting
Arkansas is easier for renters
Rent-to-income ratio: 20.3% in Arkansas vs 25.5% in Florida. A lower percentage means rent takes a smaller bite out of a typical household budget.
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Dive Deeper
Each link opens a full one-on-one breakdown for that metric — national rankings, charts, and context.
People Also Ask
Arkansas vs Florida - Common Questions
Q Is Arkansas cheaper to live in than Florida?
Arkansas has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Arkansas scores 87.6 versus 100.5 for Florida - a gap of 12.9 points.
Q Where does $100 go further - Arkansas or Florida?
$100 goes further in Arkansas. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $113.40 in Arkansas, compared with $106.45 in Florida.
Q Which state is bigger - Arkansas or Florida?
Florida is larger, covering 65,758 sq mi compared with 53,179 sq mi for Arkansas - roughly 1.2x the size.
Q Does Arkansas or Florida have more people?
Florida has the larger population at 21,538,187, compared with 3,011,524 in Arkansas.
Q Which state has higher household income - Arkansas or Florida?
Florida has the higher median household income at $67,917, versus $52,123 in Arkansas.
Q Which state has lower income taxes - Arkansas or Florida?
Florida has no state income tax, while Arkansas charges up to 4.40%.
Q Is housing cheaper in Arkansas or Florida?
Homes are cheaper in Arkansas, where the median home value is $154,200, versus $348,000 in Florida.
Q Which state is more densely populated - Arkansas or Florida?
Florida is more densely populated at 327.5 per sq mi people per sq mi. Arkansas is more spread out at 56.6 per sq mi people per sq mi.
Related Comparisons
Methodology
All figures are sourced from U.S. government datasets and updated annually. Page last updated: April 2026.
Core demographic data comes from the 2020 U.S. Census, with land area from U.S. Census Bureau TIGER files and statehood dates from the National Archives. Income, housing, affordability, and tax fields are maintained in our comparison dataset; purchasing-power figures use BEA Regional Price Parities. Minimum wage data comes from the U.S. Department of Labor, gas prices from AAA, and electricity rates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Political control and election fields use 2024 presidential results together with National Conference of State Legislatures data. Gun-law labels use the Giffords scorecard, alcohol system data comes from NABCA, and marijuana status uses NCSL's state cannabis laws tracker. See our editorial policy for how we review and update these pages.