Is $38,000 a good salary in Arkansas?

$38,000 in Arkansas provides a monthly take-home of approximately $2,585 after taxes. Across major Arkansas cities, this salary is rated comfortable, with an average monthly surplus of $838.

What is the cost of living on $38,000 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 $38,000 take-home pay of $2,585/month, you would have roughly $838/month remaining.

Living in Arkansas · 2026

Is $38,000 enough to live in Arkansas?

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

Statewide verdict:Comfortable

Monthly take-home

$2,585

Avg monthly expenses

$1,747

Avg monthly surplus

$838

Savings potential

~32%

After-tax take-home in Arkansas

Gross salary$38,000

Federal income tax− $2,454

State income tax− $1,616

Social Security− $2,356

Medicare− $551

Annual take-home$31,023

Effective tax rate18.36%

How $38,000 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

Comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$900

Food

$383

Transport

$145

Utilities

$137

Healthcare

$166

Total: $1,731/mo

Surplus: $854/mo

Rent burden: 34.8% — Manageable (25–35%)

Full Little Rock analysis →

Fort Smith

COL index: 0.77× national avg

Comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$780

Food

$370

Transport

$135

Utilities

$127

Healthcare

$154

Total: $1,566/mo

Surplus: $1,019/mo

Rent burden: 30.2% — Manageable (25–35%)

Full Fort Smith analysis →

Fayetteville

COL index: 0.91× national avg

Comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,050

Food

$396

Transport

$159

Utilities

$150

Healthcare

$182

Total: $1,937/mo

Surplus: $648/mo

Rent burden: 40.6% — High (35–50%)

Full Fayetteville analysis →

Springdale

COL index: 0.89× national avg

Comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,020

Food

$392

Transport

$156

Utilities

$147

Healthcare

$178

Total: $1,893/mo

Surplus: $692/mo

Rent burden: 39.5% — High (35–50%)

Full Springdale analysis →

Jonesboro

COL index: 0.80× national avg

Comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$850

Food

$374

Transport

$140

Utilities

$132

Healthcare

$160

Total: $1,656/mo

Surplus: $929/mo

Rent burden: 32.9% — Manageable (25–35%)

Full Jonesboro analysis →

Conway

COL index: 0.82× national avg

Comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$880

Food

$378

Transport

$144

Utilities

$135

Healthcare

$164

Total: $1,701/mo

Surplus: $884/mo

Rent burden: 34.0% — Manageable (25–35%)

Full Conway analysis →

50 / 30 / 20 Budget Planner

Based on your monthly take-home of $2,585 ($31,020/yr)

Needs 50%Wants 30%Savings 20%

Needs50%

$1,293

per month

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

Wants30%

$776

per month

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

Savings20%

$517

per month

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

Needs / year

$15,510

Wants / year

$9,306

Savings / year

$6,204

Salary Intelligence

Moderate salary in Little Rock

Rent takes 35% of take-home income, which is above the ideal 25% but still manageable. Savings will be limited; consider lower-cost housing to improve your financial position.

Lifestyle score: 7/10 (Very Good)

Lifestyle Assessment

A $38,000 salary comfortably supports a very good single lifestyle in Little Rock, Arkansas, with approximately $854/month (~33% 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), $38,000 here has the purchasing power of roughly $84,699 in San Francisco or $89,277 in New York City. Your dollar goes significantly further here.

State & National Benchmark

$38,000 is 22% above the Arkansas individual median ($31,200) and 32% below the US national median of $56,000.

State individual median

$31,200

+22%

State household median

$52,528

-28%

Tax reduction strategies

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

Contribute to a Traditional IRA — Up to $1,540 in federal tax (22% bracket)

$38,000 vs. Arkansas income benchmarks

Individual median (Arkansas)

$31,200

+22% vs. this salary

Household median (Arkansas)

$52,528

-28% 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.