A+
12%
Overall NAT. AVG.
2%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
37%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Harrison Arkansas National
Cost of living8886100
Goods & Services10298100
Groceries9295100
Health care10188100
Housing6365100
Transportation9690100
Utilities9492100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Harrison, AR

Knowing the cost of living in Harrison 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 Harrison stands at 88, marking it 12% lower than the national average.

What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Harrison?

The most insightful perspective on a city comes from its residents. We recently surveyed 5 locals to gauge their perception of the cost of living in Harrison. The feedback revealed that 20% of respondents found the cost of living to be reasonable, with prices on the decline, while 80% regarded it as notably expensive with prices that continue to rise.

Is Harrison Affordable?

Is Harrison affordable? This is a pivotal question, especially when mulling over a move, as affordability carries substantial weight in your decision-making process. Factors such as the cost of living index (discussed earlier), housing expenses and income levels all contribute to a location's affordability. For instance, in Harrison, the median home price is 37.6% lower than the national average and monthly rent prices are 34.2% lower than the typical rates. Additionally, the median income levels play a role in affordability, with Harrison boasting a median household income of $41,393, 25.2% lower than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Harrison?

Housing: When everyone's vying for homes in popular areas, it drives up property prices and rents, making the overall cost of living surge. On the flip side, in less sought-after locales, where housing demand is low, prices tend to dip, resulting in a more economical cost of living. In Harrison, the housing index comes in at 36.6% lower than the national average.

Taxes: Cities that impose higher taxes, including sales and income taxes, can contribute to an escalated cost of living. The added expense of taxes on everyday goods like clothing and food naturally results in higher overall costs. Similarly, a higher income tax rate can further elevate the cost of living. In Harrison, the general sales tax rate starts at 6.5%, and income tax rates begin at 2%.

Utilities: Similar to the prices of any goods or services, utility expenses can fluctuate widely, contingent on variables such as climate, available energy sources, geographical location and state regulations. Costs associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can differ in magnitude, depending on the specific city or state. In Harrison, the utilities index registers at 5.9% lower than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Harrison cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. The index takes into account data from 300 independent researches, covering more than 60 goods and services across 6 different categories, to create an overall index for each area, with 100 being the average. The C2ER index does not include sales or income tax rates in their data, however AreaVibes does include both income and sales tax rates in the overall cost of living score for each area.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Harrison is 2% higher than the Arkansas average
  • The cost of living in Harrison is 12% lower than the national average
  • Harrison housing is 37% lower than the national average
  • Arkansas general sales tax is 27% higher than the national average
  • Arkansas state income tax is 23% lower than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Harrison

See all the best places to live around Harrison

Compare Harrison, AR Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$56,762$4,730$1,324$1,703
      Renters$25,861$2,155$603$776
      The percent of monthly income spent on housing can be a good indicator of the affordability of housing in Harrison, AR, as well as the overall cost of living. As a general rule of thumb, the debt-to-income ratio (DTI) for homeowners or renters should be not more than 28 percent of gross income to be spent on housing related costs and not more than 36 percent of income on all expenses, including debts. The median income for Harrison homeowners, is $56,762. This would allow for a maximum of $1,324 per month to be spent on housing costs. For renters, the median monthly income is $25,861 which would result in a maximum of $603 to be spent on rental costs.

      Arkansas Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Arkansas 6.5% 11.625%

      Arkansas Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Arkansas 2% 4.9%

      Goods & Services

      Item Harrison National avg. Difference
      Haircut $21.65$24.2610.8%
      Beauty Salon $45.00$45.561.2%
      Toothpaste $3.68$3.700.5%
      Shampoo $1.08$1.2815.5%
      Movie $11.50$12.135.2%
      Bowling $14.71$18.0018.3%

      Groceries

      Item Harrison National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.81$5.840.4%
      Fried Chicken $1.39$1.5711.8%
      Milk $4.52$4.673.2%
      Potatoes $5.22$4.935.9%
      Pizza $10.10$12.0916.4%
      Beer $10.21$10.412.0%

      Health Care

      Item Harrison National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $99.78$125.6820.6%
      Doctor $108.55$135.7820.1%
      Dentist $83.89$113.2926.0%
      Ibuprofen $10.16$10.654.6%
      Lipitor $454.89$468.602.9%

      Housing

      Item Harrison National avg. Difference
      Home Price $115,200.00$184,700.0037.6%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $1,863.97$2,346.6920.6%
      Apartment Rent $624.00$949.0034.2%

      Transportation

      Item Harrison National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.01$3.4613.0%
      Tire Balancing $52.21$59.9212.9%

      Utilities

      Item Harrison National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $150.82$193.9922.3%
      Phone $203.29$192.255.7%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Everton, AR52982.1%
      Zinc, AR676435.8%
      South Lead Hill, AR897129.2%
      Alpena, AR3838118.9%
      Western Grove, AR6668218.0%
      Harrison, AR13,1248812.4%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Monfort Heights, OH13,124982.3%
      La Grange Park, IL13,12912625.8%
      Timberlake, VA13,130982.0%
      Prince Rupert, BC13,113n/a 
      Warrenville, IL13,13711111.2%
      Harrison, AR13,1248812.4%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.