Arkansas
AR • South
Quality of Life Score
42.07
State Comparison
Arkansas vs South Carolina
Arkansas is cheaper overall, while $100 goes further in Arkansas, South Carolina has higher incomes, Arkansas has lower state income tax, and Arkansas gets more sunshine.
Arkansas
15
/ 31
metrics won
Score
VS
South Carolina
16
/ 31
metrics won
AR wins Housing
AR wins Quality of Life
SC wins Climate
SC wins Income
Quality of Life
Composite score — income, affordability, education, health, and safety.
Arkansas
vs
South Carolina
winner
South Carolina scores higher on quality of life — 3.58 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 8.7 points cheaper overall
Arkansas has the lower cost-of-living index. Arkansas is at 87.6, while South Carolina is at 96.3.
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Real Dollar Value
$100 goes $3.83 further in Arkansas
After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $113.40 of local buying power in Arkansas, versus $109.57 in South Carolina.
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Income
South Carolina income is 22.1% higher
South Carolina has the higher median household income at $63,623, compared with $52,123 in Arkansas.
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Jobs
Arkansas minimum wage is $3.75 higher
Arkansas has the higher statewide minimum wage at $11.00/hr, compared with $7.25/hr in South Carolina.
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Housing
South Carolina homes cost about 1.6x more
Arkansas has the lower median home value at $154,200, versus $245,200 in South Carolina.
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Taxes
Arkansas has lower state income tax
Arkansas has the lower state income tax rate. Its top rate is 4.40%, compared with 6.50% in South Carolina.
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Arkansas
- Gross salary
- —
- State income tax (top rate 4.4%)
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- After state tax
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- Real buying power (BEA RPP)
- —
South Carolina
- Gross salary
- —
- State income tax (top rate 6.5%)
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- After state tax
- —
- 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, 94.7 for South Carolina). 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 health coverage access proxy is stronger.
- Arkansas has more sunny days.
Cons
- Arkansas shows lower median income.
- Arkansas has higher property tax rates on average.
- Arkansas has a higher violent crime rate.
- Arkansas job growth trend is weaker.
- Arkansas health access/outcomes proxy is lower.
- Arkansas education proxy is lower.
South Carolina
At-a-glance strengths and tradeoffs
Pros: South Carolina
- South Carolina shows higher median income.
- South Carolina has lower property tax rates on average.
- South Carolina has a lower violent crime rate.
- South Carolina job growth trend is stronger.
- South Carolina health access/outcomes proxy is higher.
- South Carolina education proxy is higher.
Cons
- South Carolina has a higher overall cost of living.
- South Carolina has a higher housing cost index.
- South Carolina has higher median home values.
- South Carolina health coverage access proxy is weaker.
- South Carolina has fewer sunny days.
Full Comparison
Pick a category to focus on. General shows the most important facts at a glance.
| Metric |
AR
|
SC
|
|---|---|---|
|
Capital City
|
Little Rock | Columbia |
|
State Color
|
Solid Red | Solid Red |
|
Population
|
3,011,524
|
5,118,425
|
|
Median Income
|
$52,123
|
$63,623
|
|
Cost of Living
|
87.6
|
96.3
|
|
Median Housing Value
|
$154,200
|
$245,200
|
|
Property Tax
|
0.55%
|
0.48%
|
|
State Income Tax
|
4.40%
|
6.50%
|
|
Minimum Wage
|
$11.00/hr
|
$7.25/hr
|
|
Gas Price
|
$3.610/gal
|
$3.820/gal
|
|
Electricity Rates
|
12.35 c/kWh
|
15.41 c/kWh
|
|
Livability Score
|
42.07
|
45.65
|
|
Average Temperature
|
60.4°F
|
62.4°F
|
|
Sunny Days
|
123 days
|
115 days
|
|
Land Area
|
53,179 sq mi
|
32,020 sq mi
|
|
Population Density
|
56.6 per sq mi
|
159.9 per sq mi
|
|
Statehood
|
June 15, 1836 (#25)
|
May 23, 1788 (#8)
|
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 96.3 in South Carolina. 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 $3.820/gal in South Carolina. Lower pump prices can cut everyday driving costs.
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Minimum Wage
Arkansas has the higher minimum wage
State minimum wage: $11.00/hr in Arkansas vs $7.25/hr in South Carolina. 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 15.41 c/kWh in South Carolina. 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 3.85x in South Carolina. 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 20.9% in South Carolina. A lower percentage means rent takes a smaller bite out of a typical household budget.
See full dataExplore by Category
Dive Deeper
Each link opens a full one-on-one breakdown for that metric — national rankings, charts, and context.
Population
South Carolina has a larger population than Arkansas by 2,106,901 people.
Population Density
South Carolina is more densely populated than Arkansas.
Bachelor's Degree
South Carolina has a higher college-educated share than Arkansas.
Advanced Degree
South Carolina has a higher advanced-degree share than Arkansas.
People Also Ask
Arkansas vs South Carolina - Common Questions
Q Is Arkansas cheaper to live in than South Carolina?
Arkansas has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Arkansas scores 87.6 versus 96.3 for South Carolina - a gap of 8.7 points.
Q Where does $100 go further - Arkansas or South Carolina?
$100 goes further in Arkansas. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $113.40 in Arkansas, compared with $109.57 in South Carolina.
Q Which state is bigger - Arkansas or South Carolina?
Arkansas is larger, covering 53,179 sq mi compared with 32,020 sq mi for South Carolina - roughly 1.7x the size.
Q Does Arkansas or South Carolina have more people?
South Carolina has the larger population at 5,118,425, compared with 3,011,524 in Arkansas.
Q Which state has higher household income - Arkansas or South Carolina?
South Carolina has the higher median household income at $63,623, versus $52,123 in Arkansas.
Q Which state has lower income taxes - Arkansas or South Carolina?
Arkansas has the lower state income tax top rate at 4.40%, compared with 6.50% in South Carolina.
Q Is housing cheaper in Arkansas or South Carolina?
Homes are cheaper in Arkansas, where the median home value is $154,200, versus $245,200 in South Carolina.
Q Which state is more densely populated - Arkansas or South Carolina?
South Carolina is more densely populated at 159.9 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.