| Index | Magnolia | Arkansas | National |
| Cost of living | 85 | 86 | 100 |
| Groceries | 98 | 96 | 100 |
| Health care | 96 | 95 | 100 |
| Housing | 58 | 67 | 100 |
| Transportation | 93 | 94 | 100 |
| Utilities | 94 | 93 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 96 | 93 | 100 |
| Household Items | 98 | 96 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 97 | 92 | 100 |
Knowing the cost of living in Magnolia allows individuals to create a realistic budget. This helps them understand how their income will cover expenses and whether they need to make financial adjustments. The cost of living in any region can fluctuate due to various factors. To assess the cost of living consistently across different areas, a national average of 100 serves as the basis for the cost of living index. The cost of living in Magnolia stands at 85, marking it 15% lower than the national average.
Magnolia housing costs are 42% less than the national average, making this area an affordable place to live. Your net income can be heavily impacted by housing expenses, at times exceeding 30%. Fortunately, this area demonstrates that both homeownership and renting costs are significantly more budget-friendly than in the rest of the country. With such favorable housing affordability, Magnolia residents can earmark a more manageable portion of their income to housing.
Is Magnolia an affordable place to live? It's a good question and one that you might want to ask when considering any new city, as affordability can play a huge role in the decision making process. The cost of living index (which we covered above), as well as housing costs and income levels play a vital role in determining the affordability of an area. The median home price in Magnolia is 48.9% lower than the national average, while the average monthly rent prices are 25.8% lower than average. The affordability of any location can also be influenced by median income levels. Magnolia has a median household income of $51,791, which is 36.3% lower than the national average.
Subsidies: Certain cities or states may implement government subsidies or assistance programs with the goal of alleviating the cost of living pressures on their residents. These programs encompass a broad spectrum of support mechanisms, including Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and farming subsidies. Areas offering fewer subsidies may experience a rise in their cost of living.
Utilities: As with the prices of anything else, utility costs can exhibit significant variations, contingent on factors like climate, energy source availability, geographic location and state regulations. The expenses associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can fluctuate, either upward or downward, depending on the particular city or state. In Magnolia, the utilities index registers 6.4% lower than the national average.
Groceries: Grocery costs have continued to increase significantly over the last 2-3 years. In some markets the cost of food has gone up by more than 20% in that period. While other markets have managed to see only a moderate uptick. These food costs can have a major impact on the cost of living in any area. In Magnolia, the groceries index is 2.2% lower than the national average.
The cost of living estimates displayed for Magnolia are modeled using a U.S. average baseline of 100, helping provide a useful comparison of local living expenses. Housing calculations include U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other values are AI-assisted estimates based on regional cost patterns, climate, transportation, and everyday spending expectations. These values are intended for directional comparisons across cities.
| 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 | $74,521 | $6,210 | $1,739 | $2,236 |
| Renters | $40,275 | $3,356 | $940 | $1,208 |
| 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. |
| Buckner, AR | 317 | 71 | 29.2% |
| Stephens, AR | 1,079 | 76 | 23.9% |
| Waldo, AR | 1,423 | 78 | 22.2% |
| Emerson, AR | 201 | 80 | 20.1% |
| McNeil, AR | 491 | 80 | 19.6% |
| Magnolia, AR | 11,803 | 85 | 15.4% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Norwalk, IA | 11,804 | 101 | 0.5% |
| Peru, IN | 11,801 | 82 | 17.6% |
| Muscoy, CA | 11,809 | 126 | 26.0% |
| North Dundas, ON | 11,794 | n/a | |
| Cleveland, MS | 11,812 | 89 | 11.0% |
| Magnolia, AR | 11,803 | 85 | 15.4% |
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