| Index | El Dorado | Arkansas | National |
| Cost of living | 85 | 86 | 100 |
| Groceries | 98 | 96 | 100 |
| Health care | 96 | 95 | 100 |
| Housing | 58 | 67 | 100 |
| Transportation | 100 | 94 | 100 |
| Utilities | 101 | 93 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 94 | 93 | 100 |
| Household Items | 97 | 96 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 94 | 92 | 100 |
The cost of living in El Dorado affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in El Dorado is 85, which is 15% lower than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.
Housing expenses often consume a significant portion of your net income, occasionally surpassing 30%. Fortunately, housing costs in El Dorado are 42.3% below the national average. This highlights the region's exceptional affordability for both homeownership and rentals in comparison to the rest of the country. This favorable housing situation allows residents to allocate a more reasonable fraction of their income to housing, resulting in enhanced financial flexibility and improved overall financial well-being.
Is El Dorado affordable? This is a pivotal question, especially when mulling over a move, as affordability carries substantial weight in your decision-making process. Factors such as the cost of living index (discussed earlier), housing expenses and income levels all contribute to a location's affordability. For instance, in El Dorado, the median home price is 49.9% lower than the national average and monthly rent prices are 24.4% lower than the typical rates. Additionally, the median income levels play a role in affordability, with El Dorado boasting a median household income of $63,968, 21.4% lower than the national average.
Transportation: In situations where public transportation is limited or nonexistent, local residents may be required to own and maintain their own vehicles, contributing to an elevated cost of living. Monthly expenditures may encompass fuel costs, insurance premiums, routine vehicle upkeep and possibly lease or financing payments. In El Dorado, the transportation index is 0.2% lower than the national average.
Utilities: Much like any other costs, utility expenses can exhibit considerable variations, influenced by factors such as climate, available energy sources, geographic location and state regulations. The costs associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can vary significantly depending on the city or state in question. In El Dorado, the utilities index stands at 1.3% higher than the national average.
Groceries: The costs associated with groceries have witnessed substantial increases over the past 2-3 years. In select markets, food prices have escalated by more than 20% during this timeframe, whereas others have seen more restrained upticks. The variances in food expenses can exert a considerable influence on the overall cost of living in a given locale. In El Dorado, the groceries index is 2% lower than the national average.
The El Dorado cost of living estimates above use a normalized U.S. average of 100 as the baseline for comparison. Housing values incorporate local home price and rental information from the U.S. Census, while all other estimates are AI-assisted and modeled using expected everyday expenses, local market trends, climate, and transportation-related cost pressures. The results are intended for practical city-to-city comparisons.
| Cost of living index | |
| Groceries index | |
| Health care index | |
| Housing index | |
| Transportation index | |
| Utilities index | |
| Lifestyle index | |
| Household index | |
| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $75,894 | $6,325 | $1,771 | $2,277 |
| Renters | $48,330 | $4,028 | $1,128 | $1,450 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Arkansas | 6.5% | 11.625% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Arkansas | 2% | 4.9% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Louann, AR | 159 | 96 | 4.0% |
| Junction City, LA | 726 | 80 | 20.3% |
| Calion, AR | 453 | 81 | 19.1% |
| Norphlet, AR | 655 | 85 | 14.8% |
| Smackover, AR | 1,809 | 86 | 13.6% |
| El Dorado, AR | 18,461 | 85 | 14.5% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Albert Lea, MN | 18,460 | 89 | 11.0% |
| Jenison, MI | 18,457 | 103 | 2.9% |
| Melville, NY | 18,448 | 178 | 77.6% |
| Gibsonton, FL | 18,477 | 105 | 5.3% |
| Arroyo Grande, CA | 18,441 | 166 | 66.0% |
| El Dorado, AR | 18,461 | 85 | 14.5% |
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