| Index | Malvern | Arkansas | National |
| Cost of living | 83 | 86 | 100 |
| Groceries | 97 | 96 | 100 |
| Health care | 96 | 95 | 100 |
| Housing | 54 | 67 | 100 |
| Transportation | 96 | 94 | 100 |
| Utilities | 93 | 93 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 93 | 93 | 100 |
| Household Items | 98 | 96 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 95 | 92 | 100 |
Knowing the cost of living in Malvern 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 Malvern stands at 83, marking it 17% lower than the national average.
Housing expenses often consume a significant portion of your net income, occasionally surpassing 30%. Fortunately, housing costs in Malvern are 45.8% 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 Malvern affordable? It's a key consideration when pondering a move, as affordability often shapes your choices. The cost of living index (we discussed it earlier), coupled with housing costs and income levels, serves as the cornerstone for determining a location's affordability. Take Malvern, for instance, where the median home price falls 50% lower than the national average, and monthly rent rates are 36.1% lower than usual. Additionally, median income levels contribute to the equation, with Malvern flaunting a median household income of $52,639, 35.3% lower than the national norm.
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 Malvern, the utilities index stands at 7% lower than the national average.
Healthcare: Healthcare expenses and insurance premiums can vary significantly depending on the specific city or state. Factors such as accessibility to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor's visits, dental care expenses, prescription costs and specialized medical care fees can all influence the overall cost of living. In Malvern, healthcare costs are 4.4% 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.
The cost of living data for Malvern shown above is based on a U.S. average baseline score of 100, making it easier to compare how far your dollar may go from one city to another. Housing uses U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all remaining values are AI-assisted estimates informed by regional pricing, climate, transportation dynamics, and local economic factors. These scores are best used for directional comparisons between 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 | $67,978 | $5,665 | $1,586 | $2,040 |
| Renters | $38,516 | $3,210 | $899 | $1,156 |
| 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. |
| Perla, AR | 209 | 79 | 20.7% |
| Leola, AR | 728 | 81 | 19.4% |
| Traskwood, AR | 360 | 81 | 19.1% |
| Friendship, AR | 236 | 81 | 19.0% |
| Magnet Cove, AR | 985 | 81 | 19.0% |
| Malvern, AR | 11,203 | 83 | 16.9% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Raymondville, TX | 11,203 | 81 | 18.6% |
| Sussex, WI | 11,204 | 112 | 11.5% |
| Burlington, WI | 11,199 | 101 | 1.3% |
| Oneida, NY | 11,198 | 97 | 3.1% |
| Damascus, OR | 11,210 | 144 | 43.8% |
| Malvern, AR | 11,203 | 83 | 16.9% |
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