Is $250,000 a good salary in Arkansas?

$250,000 in Arkansas provides a monthly take-home of approximately $14,314 after taxes. Across major Arkansas cities, this salary is rated very comfortable, with an average monthly surplus of $12,567.

What is the cost of living on $250,000 in Arkansas?

The average monthly living cost across major Arkansas cities is approximately $1,747 for a single adult (rent, food, transport, utilities, healthcare). On $250,000 take-home pay of $14,314/month, you would have roughly $12,567/month remaining.

Living in Arkansas · 2026

Is $250,000 enough to live in Arkansas?

Single adult · AR · 2026 tax brackets · Real cost-of-living data

Statewide verdict:Very comfortable

Monthly take-home

$14,314

Avg monthly expenses

$1,747

Avg monthly surplus

$12,567

Savings potential

~88%

After-tax take-home in Arkansas

Gross salary$250,000

Federal income tax− $51,378

State income tax− $11,580

Social Security− $11,203

Medicare− $4,075

Annual take-home$171,764

Effective tax rate31.29%

How $250,000 feels in Arkansas cities

Rent: HUD FMR 2026 · Food: USDA Low-Cost Plan × COL · Transport/Utilities/Healthcare: BLS CES × COL

Little Rock

COL index: 0.83× national avg

Very comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$900

Food

$383

Transport

$145

Utilities

$137

Healthcare

$166

Total: $1,731/mo

Surplus: $12,583/mo

Rent burden: 6.3% — Affordable (< 25%)

Full Little Rock analysis →

Fort Smith

COL index: 0.77× national avg

Very comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$780

Food

$370

Transport

$135

Utilities

$127

Healthcare

$154

Total: $1,566/mo

Surplus: $12,748/mo

Rent burden: 5.4% — Affordable (< 25%)

Full Fort Smith analysis →

Fayetteville

COL index: 0.91× national avg

Very comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,050

Food

$396

Transport

$159

Utilities

$150

Healthcare

$182

Total: $1,937/mo

Surplus: $12,377/mo

Rent burden: 7.3% — Affordable (< 25%)

Full Fayetteville analysis →

Springdale

COL index: 0.89× national avg

Very comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,020

Food

$392

Transport

$156

Utilities

$147

Healthcare

$178

Total: $1,893/mo

Surplus: $12,421/mo

Rent burden: 7.1% — Affordable (< 25%)

Full Springdale analysis →

Jonesboro

COL index: 0.80× national avg

Very comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$850

Food

$374

Transport

$140

Utilities

$132

Healthcare

$160

Total: $1,656/mo

Surplus: $12,658/mo

Rent burden: 5.9% — Affordable (< 25%)

Full Jonesboro analysis →

Conway

COL index: 0.82× national avg

Very comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$880

Food

$378

Transport

$144

Utilities

$135

Healthcare

$164

Total: $1,701/mo

Surplus: $12,613/mo

Rent burden: 6.1% — Affordable (< 25%)

Full Conway analysis →

50 / 30 / 20 Budget Planner

Based on your monthly take-home of $14,314 ($171,768/yr)

Needs 50%Wants 30%Savings 20%

Needs50%

$7,157

per month

›Rent / mortgage
›Groceries
›Utilities
›Insurance
›Minimum debt payments
›Transportation

Wants30%

$4,294

per month

›Dining out
›Streaming services
›Gym
›Hobbies
›Travel
›Shopping

Savings20%

$2,863

per month

›Emergency fund
›401(k) / IRA
›Investments
›Down payment fund
›Debt payoff (extra)

Needs / year

$85,884

Wants / year

$51,530

Savings / year

$34,354

Salary Intelligence

Excellent salary in Little Rock

At $250,000, housing costs only 6% of take-home income — well below the 25% threshold. This leaves strong room for savings, discretionary spending, and wealth building.

Lifestyle score: 8.9/10 (Excellent)

Lifestyle Assessment

A $250,000 salary comfortably supports a excellent single lifestyle in Little Rock, Arkansas, with approximately $12,583/month (~88% of take-home) available for savings — meeting or exceeding the recommended 20% savings rate.

Purchasing Power

Due to Little Rock's low cost of living (index: 0.83), $250,000 here has the purchasing power of roughly $557,229 in San Francisco or $587,349 in New York City. Your dollar goes significantly further here.

State & National Benchmark

$250,000 is 701% above the Arkansas individual median of $31,200 and 346% above the US national individual median of $56,000. This is a top-quartile income in this state.

State individual median

$31,200

+701%

State household median

$52,528

+376%

Tax reduction strategies

Maximize 401(k) Contributions — Up to $5,170 in federal tax (22% bracket)

401(k) Age 50+ Catch-Up Contribution — Up to $2,775 additional tax savings (37% bracket)

$250,000 vs. Arkansas income benchmarks

Individual median (Arkansas)

$31,200

+701% vs. this salary

Household median (Arkansas)

$52,528

+376% vs. this salary

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 2023

Related salary insights

Explore other salary levels in Arkansas

$40,000 $60,000 $100,000 $150,000 $200,000 $300,000

Reviewed by

Finance Editor

CPA, 10+ years in personal finance

Data Sources

•Tax calculations: IRS federal tax tables
•Rent data: HUD Fair Market Rents
•Cost-of-living index: C2ER / ACCRA Cost of Living Index

Data updated monthly using government datasets.