A+
11%
Overall NAT. AVG.
2%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
28%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Hot Springs Arkansas National
Cost of living8986100
Goods & Services10298100
Groceries9695100
Health care8988100
Housing7265100
Transportation8990100
Utilities9392100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Hot Springs, AR

Understanding the cost of living in Hot Springs can help future residents assess whether their current financial situation aligns with the expenses they will encounter. It enables them to plan for potential changes in their budget and lifestyle. The Hot Springs cost of living index is 89, which is 11% lower than the national average. The cost of living index is calculated by taking into account multiple categories, which encompass both the cost of everyday expenditures and larger expenses as well.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Hot Springs?

Nobody knows their city better than the people who actually live there. So, we asked 8 local residents how they would rate the cost of living in Hot Springs and this is how they responded. 38% of people said that the cost of living was affordable, with prices decreasing, while 63% of people said that the cost of living was very expensive and prices continue to rise.

Is Hot Springs Affordable?

Is Hot Springs an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Hot Springs, the median home price is 31% lower than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 21.1% lower than the usual rates. Income levels in Hot Springs come in at $40,125, which is 27.5% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Hot Springs?

Urbanization: Urban areas with a wealth of amenities and employment opportunities tend to come with a higher price tag for living. Why? Well, more people want to be there, which drives up home prices and rents. On the flip side, less densely populated rural areas or places where there's not as much demand usually mean fewer attractions, things to do and slower job growth. That often results in a lower cost of living.

Healthcare: Healthcare costs and insurance premiums can fluctuate greatly based on the city or state. Access to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor\’s visits, dentist costs, medication costs and specialized care costs can all impact the cost of living. In Hot Springs, the healthcare costs are 11.2% lower than the national average.

Taxes: Cities that enforce higher taxes, covering both sales taxes and income taxes, can be a factor contributing to a higher cost of living. Paying more in taxes for everyday essentials like clothing and food inevitably leads to higher expenses. A higher income tax rate can further contribute to an overall elevated cost of living. In Hot Springs, the baseline sales tax rate begins at 6.5%, and income tax rates start at 2%.

Where is the Data From?

The Hot Springs cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. Published on a quarterly basis, it compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services. These items have been meticulously selected to represent various consumer expenditure categories, in 6 categories. Weightings assigned to cost differentials draw from government survey data tracking spending patterns among professional and executive households. While the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Hot Springs is 4% higher than the Arkansas average
  • The cost of living in Hot Springs is 11% lower than the national average
  • Hot Springs housing is 28% lower than the national average
  • Arkansas general sales tax is 27% higher than the national average
  • Arkansas state income tax is 11% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Hot Springs

See all the best places to live around Hot Springs

Compare Hot Springs, AR Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$51,837$4,320$1,209$1,555
      Renters$28,575$2,381$667$857
      To approximate the cost of living and the housing affordability in Hot Springs, AR, we can look at the percentage of income that is available to be spent on monthly housing, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). To stay on the safe side, a consumer should not spend more than 28% of his or her gross income on housing-related expenses and costs and not more than 36% of income on all expenses and debts. Homeowners in Hot Springs have a median income of $51,837. Therefore, the amount that a consumer should spend on housing costs should be no more than $1,209 per month to avoid calamity and poverty. The renters in the city have an income of about $28,575, which would make their monthly maximum allowable rental costs $667.

      Arkansas Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Arkansas 6.5% 11.625%

      Arkansas Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Arkansas 2% 5.5%

      Goods & Services

      Item Hot Springs National avg. Difference
      Haircut $26.67$24.269.9%
      Beauty Salon $54.14$45.5618.8%
      Toothpaste $3.75$3.701.3%
      Shampoo $1.07$1.2816.4%
      Movie $11.78$12.132.9%
      Bowling $17.78$18.001.2%

      Groceries

      Item Hot Springs National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.15$5.8411.8%
      Fried Chicken $1.39$1.5711.4%
      Milk $4.52$4.673.2%
      Potatoes $5.23$4.936.0%
      Pizza $10.47$12.0913.3%
      Beer $9.83$10.415.6%

      Health Care

      Item Hot Springs National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $113.39$125.689.8%
      Doctor $185.50$135.7836.6%
      Dentist $94.42$113.2916.7%
      Ibuprofen $10.08$10.655.4%
      Lipitor $409.22$468.6012.7%

      Housing

      Item Hot Springs National avg. Difference
      Home Price $127,500.00$184,700.0031.0%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,950.05$2,346.6916.9%
      Apartment Rent $749.00$949.0021.1%

      Transportation

      Item Hot Springs National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.10$3.4610.4%
      Tire Balancing $66.08$59.9210.3%

      Utilities

      Item Hot Springs National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $166.58$193.9914.1%
      Phone $205.55$192.256.9%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Mountain Pine, AR5167623.5%
      Magnet Cove, AR9648218.1%
      Malvern, AR10,8868416.2%
      Piney, AR4,5188613.7%
      Rockport, AR8198712.9%
      Hot Springs, AR38,6978910.7%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Mission Bend, TX38,6931021.6%
      Clovis, NM38,7019010.3%
      Issaquah, WA38,70717676.1%
      Wausau, WI38,6858415.7%
      Wheeling, IL38,6841087.7%
      Hot Springs, AR38,6978910.7%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.