State Comparison

Arizona vs Arkansas

Arkansas is cheaper overall, while $100 goes further in Arkansas, Arizona has higher incomes, Arizona has lower state income tax, and Arizona gets more sunshine.

Arizona flag
Arizona
AZ • West
Better quality of life
Quality of Life Score
51.01
Arkansas flag
Arkansas
AR • South
Quality of Life Score
42.07
Arizona flag
Arizona
18 / 31
metrics won
Wins
Arkansas flag
Arkansas
13 / 31
metrics won
Arkansas flag AR wins Housing Arkansas flag AR wins Quality of Life Arizona flag AZ wins Climate Arizona flag AZ wins Income

Quality of Life

Composite score — income, affordability, education, health, and safety.

Arizona flag Arizona winner
51.01
vs
Arkansas flag Arkansas
42.07
Arizona scores higher on quality of life — 8.94 points difference.
Quick Take

Arizona vs Arkansas

This quick read mixes affordability, housing, income, politics, density, and climate so the biggest tradeoffs show up fast.

  • Arkansas is about 2.1 times smaller than Arizona.
  • Arizona has a larger population than Arkansas by 4,139,978 people.
  • Arkansas has the lower cost-of-living index. Arkansas is at 87.6, while Arizona is at 103.1.
  • After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $113.40 of local buying power in Arkansas, versus $103.97 in Arizona.

Overview

Key differences overview

These cards keep the comparison factual first, so the biggest tradeoffs in affordability, housing, taxes, politics, climate, and day-to-day living are easy to scan.

Overall Affordability

Arkansas is 15.5 points cheaper overall

Arkansas has the lower cost-of-living index. Arkansas is at 87.6, while Arizona is at 103.1.

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Real Dollar Value

$100 goes $9.43 further in Arkansas

After BEA price-level adjustments, $100 has about $113.40 of local buying power in Arkansas, versus $103.97 in Arizona.

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Income

Arizona income is 39.2% higher

Arizona has the higher median household income at $72,581, compared with $52,123 in Arkansas.

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Jobs

Arizona minimum wage is $3.35 higher

Arizona has the higher statewide minimum wage at $14.35/hr, compared with $11.00/hr in Arkansas.

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Housing

Arizona homes cost about 2.1x more

Arkansas has the lower median home value at $154,200, versus $327,400 in Arizona.

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Taxes

Arizona has lower state income tax

Arizona has the lower state income tax rate. Its top rate is 2.50%, compared with 4.40% in Arkansas.

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Full Comparison

Pick a category to focus on. General shows the most important facts at a glance.

Metric Arizona flag AZ Arkansas flag AR
Capital City
 Phoenix Little Rock
State Color
 Swing State Solid Red
Population
 7,151,502
3,011,524
Median Income
 $72,581
$52,123
Cost of Living
 103.1
87.6
Median Housing Value
 $327,400
$154,200
Property Tax
 0.48%
0.55%
State Income Tax
 2.50%
4.40%
Minimum Wage
 $14.35/hr
$11.00/hr
Gas Price
 $4.742/gal
$3.610/gal
Electricity Rates
 15.61 c/kWh
12.35 c/kWh
Livability Score
 51.01
42.07
Average Temperature
 60.3°F
60.4°F
Sunny Days
 193 days
123 days
Land Area
 113,990 sq mi
53,179 sq mi
Population Density
 62.7 per sq mi
56.6 per sq mi
Statehood
 February 14, 1912 (#48)
June 15, 1836 (#25)
Population -> Median Income -> Cost of Living -> Median Housing Value -> Property Tax -> State Income Tax -> Minimum Wage -> Gas Price -> Electricity Rates -> Livability Score -> Average Temperature -> Sunny Days -> Land Area -> Population Density ->

Intent-Oriented

Which state fits your priorities better?

Use these cards as decision shortcuts for common goals like saving money, buying a home, finding better weather, or optimizing for work and family life.

6 of 19 shown
Saving Money

Arkansas is cheaper overall

Overall cost-of-living index: 87.6 vs 103.1 in Arizona. On a national baseline of 100, the lower score usually means cheaper day-to-day expenses.

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Gas Price

Arkansas is cheaper at the pump

Average regular gas price: $3.610/gal in Arkansas vs $4.742/gal in Arizona. Lower pump prices can cut everyday driving costs.

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Minimum Wage

Arizona has the higher minimum wage

State minimum wage: $14.35/hr in Arizona vs $11.00/hr in Arkansas. That matters most for hourly, entry-level, and part-time workers.

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Electricity Rates

Arkansas has cheaper electricity

Average residential electricity rate: 12.35 c/kWh in Arkansas vs 15.61 c/kWh in Arizona. Lower cents-per-kWh pricing can help keep utility bills down.

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Buying a Home

Arkansas is more attainable for buyers

Home-value-to-income ratio: 2.96x in Arkansas vs 4.51x in Arizona. A lower ratio means the median home is easier to afford on a median income.

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Renting

Arkansas is easier for renters

Rent-to-income ratio: 20.3% in Arkansas vs 21.7% in Arizona. A lower percentage means rent takes a smaller bite out of a typical household budget.

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Detailed Metric Pages

Grouped tabs keep the deep-dive links tighter and easier to scan.

Population
Arizona has a larger population than Arkansas by 4,139,978 people.
Population Density
Arizona is more densely populated than Arkansas.
Bachelor's Degree
Arizona has a higher college-educated share than Arkansas.
Advanced Degree
Arizona has a higher advanced-degree share than Arkansas.

People Also Ask

Arizona vs Arkansas - Common Questions

Q Is Arizona cheaper to live in than Arkansas?

Arkansas has the lower cost of living. On the national index (100 = average), Arkansas scores 87.6 versus 103.1 for Arizona - a gap of 15.5 points.

Q Where does $100 go further - Arizona or Arkansas?

$100 goes further in Arkansas. After BEA regional price adjustments, $100 is worth about $113.40 in Arkansas, compared with $103.97 in Arizona.

Q Which state is bigger - Arizona or Arkansas?

Arizona is larger, covering 113,990 sq mi compared with 53,179 sq mi for Arkansas - roughly 2.1x the size.

Q Does Arizona or Arkansas have more people?

Arizona has the larger population at 7,151,502, compared with 3,011,524 in Arkansas.

Q Which state has higher household income - Arizona or Arkansas?

Arizona has the higher median household income at $72,581, versus $52,123 in Arkansas.

Q Which state has lower income taxes - Arizona or Arkansas?

Arizona has the lower state income tax top rate at 2.50%, compared with 4.40% in Arkansas.

Q Is housing cheaper in Arizona or Arkansas?

Homes are cheaper in Arkansas, where the median home value is $154,200, versus $327,400 in Arizona.

Q Which state is more densely populated - Arizona or Arkansas?

Arizona is more densely populated at 62.7 per sq mi people per sq mi. Arkansas is more spread out at 56.6 per sq mi people per sq mi.

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Methodology

All figures are sourced from U.S. government datasets and updated annually. Page last updated: April 2026.

Core demographic data comes from the 2020 U.S. Census, with land area from U.S. Census Bureau TIGER files and statehood dates from the National Archives. Income, housing, affordability, and tax fields are maintained in our comparison dataset; purchasing-power figures use BEA Regional Price Parities. Minimum wage data comes from the U.S. Department of Labor, gas prices from AAA, and electricity rates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Political control and election fields use 2024 presidential results together with National Conference of State Legislatures data. Gun-law labels use the Giffords scorecard, alcohol system data comes from NABCA, and marijuana status uses NCSL's state cannabis laws tracker. See our editorial policy for how we review and update these pages.